Moving to Maui

[isaackko]

holy crap I just read that you guys don't have jobs... you may be SOL. The locals who are unemployed are going to look a lot better than you guys at interviews.

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by isaackko

holy crap I just read that you guys don't have jobs... you may be SOL. The locals who are unemployed are going to look a lot better than you guys at interviews.

Now you will be accused of being negative....

[Koale]

Don't get yourself all 'worked up' and confused. If you think you like Kihei (I love it here) go to google maps and 'drive around' a bit. After coming back after many years places seemed 'familiar'. I had new landmarks and such. It's a great tool for checking out areas for apts etc. Couple of options that could work for you are either just go month-to-month (gives you more options as you only are required to give a 28 day notice to move where your landlord is required to give you 45 days notice) Hawaii is very 'renter friendly'. I found many private landlords will give a six month lease option as well. This is a good choice. Gives you plenty of time to decide what area works best for you. Stay away from property managment companies! They require fees for applications. Much better deals to be had with private owners. Most importa nt, be able to email pictures of your pets and yourselves. Landlords don't like surprises when it comes to this. One persons idea of a 'small well behaved animal' is a 75 lb pitbull. Anything you can put together to show how you live, garden, work etc. makes you real to them. Have more references than you think you may need. Bring 'letters of credit' from all of your utilities and current landlord. You will need these. Any employment references that may have an 800 number for contact is good as well. There are great landlords here, but you have to be careful. Kihei has a few nice apt complexes w/affordable rentals. Southpointe condos allows two dogs and ground floor units have yards!!! 4 blocks to the beach! Nice complex. So...do a drive by...
Have fun. Don't worry about working until you get here. MD3andboys posted good info as to how to survive once you get here. Local phone number etc.
It's all good...
One thing you will notice in 'help wanted' ads is this...'must be reliable'...'must show up for work'...'must be punctual and have good work ethics'...if you can read between those few lines...as I did... you'll have no problem landing and keeping a job...you'll be working while the 'locals' are bbqing at the beach...if you catch my drift. Not many 'locals' are standing in line looking for work.
A hui hou. Koale

[stylenca]

mdand3boys. hi... I got offered a job and need to start at then end of November!!!! So therefore my dogs will not be coming with me, from what i read on the hawaii agric. website, they have to be quarantined at home on the mainland for 120 days and 2 rabies shots, blood tests sent to kansas state university and from that date its 120 days. Therefore I think you got us mixed up, SeattletoMaui they are coming to Maui in April.... and me (stylenca) i want my english bulldogs to be free not stuck in a kennel for 120 days where only i can see them for 2 days out of the week... That would break my heart and there's too...

[SeattletoMaui]

Thanks again for your advice...especially about bringing letters of credit!

Luckily I have spoken to my manager at Starbucks and I have been offered jobs at a Starbucks in Lahaina and Kihei so we are just trying to choose where to live. That's probably the hardest part of this process so far so any advice on which might be better would be awesome...we like the slightly more local feel, closeness to wailea, and good snorkling spots when it comes to kihei, but rent seems a little cheaper in lahaina, and there seems to be more jobs.

So we have already booked to ship the car, and have our plane tickets, plus about $10,000 in the bank towards moving, so that stress is over. We are leaving Feb 25th and couldn't be more excited. I just hope my boyfriend can find a job!

Any advice on the difference between living in Lahaina and Kihei would be so appreciated. I can't believe we haven't decided yet!!!

[MickeyE]

Originally Posted by SeattletoMaui

Thanks again for your advice...especially about bringing letters of credit!

Luckily I have spoken to my manager at Starbucks and I have been offered jobs at a Starbucks in Lahaina and Kihei so we are just trying to choose where to live. That's probably the hardest part of this process so far so any advice on which might be better would be awesome...we like the slightly more local feel, closeness to wailea, and good snorkling spots when it comes to kihei, but rent seems a little cheaper in lahaina, and there seems to be more jobs.

So we have already booked to ship the car, and have our plane tickets, plus about $10,000 in the bank towards moving, so that stress is over. We are leaving Feb 25th and couldn't be more excited. I just hope my boyfriend can find a job!

Any advice on the difference between living in Lahaina and Kihei would be so appreciated. I can't believe we haven't decided yet!!!

Congratulations on your move to Maui. It's great you have job offers and have done your planning well.

Mickey

[Dthraco]

When I have been to Lahaina (2x) I always get a feeling of a local warm community. Perhaps start off there where your overall cost of living is lower, and then transfer after you have had some time to get used to the island?

[occdn]

Move to Kihei. I only say that because I like the Starbucks there, and I'll come say hi when I visit in March.

Lahaina is great too. It just depends on the type of lifestyle you want. I prefer Kihei ... just fits my personality better I guess. Lahaina seems too suburban to me and the entire point of moving out of the mainland is to get out of that mindset IMO.

[boodhabunny]

Kihei has a younger feeling to it. It's a beach town in every sense of the word.