Relocating... (Kaneohe: rental, neighborhoods, buying)

[rockinrubie]

Yes another one.
There are so many posts on this page that I can't possibly read all of them.

We are moving to Hawai'i in January 2009. We are either moving to Oahu or Maui. My husband is graduating culinary school so will be looking for a job in that field. I worked for 5 years in the health care industry so would probably start looking in that field.

We have a 3 year old daughter and are probably going to opt for a 1 bedroom furnished place as we are only planning on staying a year unless we fall in love and decide to stay longer.

My questions are which are the best locations to live with a small child and save some money yet still have an easy commute to work. I assume with my husbands skill he will be working at a resort or similar.

Would it be worth buying a car or is the public transportation system up to par in the area.

Any information about neighborhoods in Maui and Oahu would be helpful. and any other information would be great!!!!!

Thanks so much for your time

[MsHell]

Most travel-related jobs on Oahu are in Waikiki. It should be easy to find a furnished rental in Waikiki and you would not need a car for transportation.

Personally I find Waikiki to congested and would prefer to live right outside Waikiki. Areas like Kapiolani, Kapahulu, Kaimuki or McCully. From those areas it would be easy to catch the Bus to Waikiki, so again no car needed.

[cinhawaii]

The windward side is great for kids. There are beautiful beaches without huge waves or mass amounts of people like the other parts of the island. There is a slight commute, but not as bad as from the leeward side. If you are only going to be here a year, make the most of it and live in the most beautiful part of the island. If you will live in town you will have to deal with more traffic, crime, and general congestion - all of the things that one might want to get away from on the mainland. If you can afford a car then get one. It rains so much here that you dont want to be waiting at the bus stop in tha rain with a small child. Avoid the leeward side. The lower prices may make it look like a good idea, but for people from the mainland it is not. There is racism, drugs and an insane amount of traffic coming into town. It is much drier over there as well, and not nearly as pretty (sorry guys its true). Trust me Kaneohe or the surrounding areas are the places to go