Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The California casino in LV is Hawaiian themed, despite the name suggesting otherwise. Many Hawaiians stay there because they are more comfortable with familiar surroundings, more casual style, lunch plate food.
You could go there and chat with some of the workers, maybe a dealer, and see what they say as far as meeting other Hawaiians in the area.
I would guess church is a good place too.
My guess is that Hawaiians more to LV for the reasons listed - less expensive to move and live there than other places, yet plenty of employment for those without degrees or corporate experience. Service industry abounds in both places.
I definitly have to check out the Hoolaulea and I live in very close proximity to all 3 of those food places. Thanks a lot and good luck in your quest back home. Prepare yourself for the high prices!
My cousins who moved to Vegas from Hawaii all eventually moved again. The ones who stayed on the mainland are in Oregon, Washington and Northern California, now. The Pacific NW is more laid-back, greener and closer to the ocean than Vegas! I think most of them went to Vegas because they knew people there and it was a good way to get established outside Hawaii.
It's a vacation spot. Mainlanders go to Hawaii for a vacation, people from Hawaii go to Vegas. I saw tons of them while visiting Vegas a few months ago. Also saw a lot in NYC/Manhattan.
It seems to be a word-of-mouth thing: Hawaiians tell other Hawaiians about Las Vegas, and they go. If I had to guess, I'd say it's partly due to a combination of several factors: 1) Nevada looks very similar to the drier parts of Hawaii. When I first drove from wet-side to dry-side Kamuela, that was my first thought. Lake Mead isn't quite the Pacific Ocean, though. 2) I don't know if it's still true, but hotels and food used to be very cheap in Las Vegas. I was there once in 1993, working at a computer trade show, and I couldn't believe the $30-per-night hotel specials and $5 all-you-can-eat buffets. In many of the casinos, if you gambled, they gave you free drinks. So I played the nickle slot machines and drank. Gambling bores me, but I enjoyed eating, people watching, and exploring the nearby desert parks. 3) Once upon a time, there were plenty of jobs in Vegas.
Why Vegas? Simply put, 'the grass is always greener on the other side' mantra. Well, for me anyways, I found it to be true to a certain extent. I live in a beautiful submarine (underwater home) in the suburbs, my wife and I drive nice trucks, I have an extensive "collection" of "toys", I make a nice living working at the top casino resort on the strip, but I finally realized that I've been compensating for what I miss back in Hawaii. My ohana, friends, and the Aloha Spirit. I have finally opened my eyes to the reality of my situation, and that is I am not and have not been happy here. Thinking back 10 years ago when I first moved here I thought 'what the hell am I doing here? At that time when we first arrived, it was around 112 degrees, my Dads truck ac could barely keep up to cool us, my daughter and wife gave me some wild-eye frantic looks from the back of the extended cab, and to top it off, my Dad got lost going back to my parents house! E Komo Mai to Las Vegas! Well, we hunkered down, moved up the societal ladder, and find ourselves feeling like we got our souls sucked out of us! We sick and tired of the whole facade, keeping up with Jonses. I like live in one place big enough to keep a couple longboards inside, I will catch bus if I have to, our bebe got married so no need wory bout kids, we jus want our souls and happiness back into our lives. I was born and raised in Kalihi, and my wife from Waipahu, so we know hard times. No regrets for living da high life in Sin City, jus get plenny stuff fo sell befo we go back! God has opened our eyes and revealed to us where we at. The modern day Sodom \ Babylon. I told my wife I no like die ova hea! The
Siren songs has worn off of us, and we now prepare for our Exodus from this place. Btw, this climate is detrimental to Hawaiian koa ukuleles!
My previous job had me traveling to Vegas every month. Everyone thought I was so lucky! Ack! I hate Vegas! I'd stay at the Marriott at the convention center just to avoid having to walk through anymore casinos. Call me weird!
If so, do they miss Hawaii quite a bit? Or finding Vegas entertaining enough for themselves?
Vegas No Ka Oi
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Why Vegas?
