Setting the record straight (Moving/Living on the Big Island) (Honolulu: sale, home)

[cynthia007]

Originally Posted by stxx7

There seems to be a lot of good reasons to move to Hawaii as to what I have read and researched. I just like to inquire more than maybe needed since going there to visit 4 or 5 times b4 moving there isn't an option. I think the only thing left to research is shipping our household items....less expensive to rebuy once we get there?......

My guess would be to rebuy when you get here. There are so many people moving back to the mainland regularly that you can find great furniture, etc. at garage sales. We came here with only suitcases and have more than enough "stuff" now!

[stxx7]

Great advice! What about computers though? I read somewhere that someone put theirs in their suitcase.

[asp4ever47]

buy a laptop? I am selling my desktops and just bring the lap. If I move to Hawaii and spend all my time on my computer, then I def. moved for the wrong reason

[Genxor]

True to all responses....

Those moving to Oahu will find a larger selection of furniture stores than those moving to the Big Island.

Here in Hilo, there are about 4 furniture stores, that seem to have the same selection, and that selection is pretty slim. Remember, furniture prices are higher here , like everything else.

The airlines are not responsible if your computer is damaged in your luggage. We all know how the luggage is thrown around.

We purchased a laptop before we moved for this exact reason. Thus, your laptop is a carry-on.

[leilaniguy]

The first 2 times I moved here, I did it via USPS, (Buy the insurance). I sent cutlery, pots, pans, silverware, tools and such, that is much more costly overall to replace than bedding, clothes or furniture.

[HankDfrmSD]

We moved here (Oahu) about seventeen years ago from Placentia, CA, near Anaheim. We brought very little furniture, but enough that we needed a 20 ft container. I priced having what we would take moved by a moving company, and found I could do it for about half that, as follows:

We called Matson and asked them to make a container available. Then I hired a trucking company to bring it to our house and park it on the street. We had packed lots of our small stuff ourselves. Then I called a moving company and asked if I could hire two of their packers by the hour. They packed the container. Then we hired the trucking company to bring the container to Matson, and paid Matson to bring the container to Honolulu. On Oahu, we hired a trucking company to bring the container to our house, and we unpacked it.

A lot of details, but it sure saved a lot of money.

Hank

[MotleyCrew]

We would love to retire in HI. Our home would be paid for and our retirement income roughly $60,000 a year. No credit card bills. Is this possible?

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by asp4ever47

buy a laptop? I am selling my desktops and just bring the lap. If I move to Hawaii and spend all my time on my computer, then I def. moved for the wrong reason

Some folks do have to work long hours in order to live in Hawai'i.

In terms of desktop computers on the Big Island, we have Costco, OfficeMax, and Radio Shack, along with small shops like Falcon Computers. In addition, manufacturers like Dell, Apple, and Gateway and mail order companies like PCMall, PCWarehouse, etc. do ship to Hawai'i. On O'ahu, there are two Apple stores, Best Buy, CompUSA, Costco, Sam's Club, and many other places where one can purchase a computer. For the most part, the prices for computers in Hawai'i tend to be about 5-10% higher than elsewhere. If you need the power of a desktop computer, it's often relatively cost-effective to purchase one in Hawai'i. On a side note, the tropical environment tends to be a little harsh on computer equipment, and it's usually cheaper and easier to replace components in a desktop computer in comparison to a laptop.

Originally Posted by Genxor

Here in Hilo, there are about 4 furniture stores, that seem to have the same selection, and that selection is pretty slim. Remember, furniture prices are higher here , like everything else.

In terms of furniture on the Big Island, the industrial section of Kona is the best place to shop in terms of selection and quality. If you don't own a pickup truck, make friends with someone that owns one. O'ahu, on the other hand, has plenty of furniture stores and the prices aren't much higher than outside Hawai'i if you're willing to wait for sales. Most of the furniture stores O'ahu will ship items to Hilo for a nominal charge. In addition, the tropical environment can be harsh on furniture. Fiberboard or pressboard furniture (like much of the stuff available at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc.) tends not to hold up too well. Don't skimp on quality in order to save a few bucks.

Most folks that move to Hawai'i bring more stuff than they need. If you can buy it in Hawai'i, it's probably not that cost-effective to bring it. It the items is difficult-to-obtain in Hawai'i, then it's probably worthwhile to bring it.

Originally Posted by Jill Warner

We would love to retire in HI. Our home would be paid for and our retirement income roughly $60,000 a year. No credit card bills. Is this possible?

Yes, it's possible for you to retire in Hawai'i, depending on your assets. In terms of retirement, one's assets are just as important (if not more so) as one's income.

[firecoach]

Originally Posted by HankDfrmSD

We moved here (Oahu) about seventeen years ago from Placentia, CA, near Anaheim. We brought very little furniture, but enough that we needed a 20 ft container. I priced having what we would take moved by a moving company, and found I could do it for about half that, as follows:

We called Matson and asked them to make a container available. Then I hired a trucking company to bring it to our house and park it on the street. We had packed lots of our small stuff ourselves. Then I called a moving company and asked if I could hire two of their packers by the hour. They packed the container. Then we hired the trucking company to bring the container to Matson, and paid Matson to bring the container to Honolulu. On Oahu, we hired a trucking company to bring the container to our house, and we unpacked it.

A lot of details, but it sure saved a lot of money.

Hank

Hank, about how much did this cost you? We might have to look into this in a few months, ourselves. Thx! Altho, if this was 17 yrs ago, then it most likely is a LOT more now!

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by firecoach

Hank, about how much did this cost you? We might have to look into this in a few months, ourselves. Thx! Altho, if this was 17 yrs ago, then it most likely is a LOT more now!

Seems to me that one of the numbers was $10,000, but I'm not sure if that was the Moving Co quote or the final result. Probably the former.

As you say, 17 years at 3% inflation per year is a multiplier of 1.65.

Hank