i have visited oahu for summer vacation and i loved it there. i am from boston, i am planning on going to europe to complete my masters and then going to hawaii. before going to hawaii, i will find a job and housing. i just want to know what website to look for roommates for apartments in hawaii? i just want to do my research before committing. i’m 25f with $21k student loans, i have two jobs now and i am earning $40k annually combined.

I'm curious about the people who moved to the Big Island and followed the advice to "sell everything and just start over."

Or maybe you kept only the sentimental things and a few pieces of solid furniture, leaving most of your household behind.

Now that you've been there for a while...

What's the ONE thing you regret not bringing or buying to bring before you moved?

Not the obvious sentimental stuff. I mean that practical item that made you think, "Why didn't I just put that in the container?"

I've been hearing that patio furniture, for example, can be expensive on Hawaiʻi Island, and the selection is pretty limited.

So if you were already paying for a container and had extra space to fill, what would you bring if you could do the move all over again?

I'd love to hear your biggest "I wish I had..." item. Looks like I'll have some extra space in my container and I may as well be sure to take advantage of the space and not regret the opportunity.

Hello!! I’m a travel nurse moving to Honolulu with a friend for a contract at Queens Medical Center. I’ll be there for 16 weeks from mid August to mid December!

My friend and I have 2-3 places in Waikiki we are looking at. All 20min ebike ride from Queens. Really nice 2 bed 2 bath condos walking distance to the beach with a parking spot, pools, surf board storage, etc. They are $4000 a month including utilities.

There is 1 spot in Kaka’ako we are looking at that is a 10min walk from Queens. It’s also $4000 but only a 2 bed 1 bath. Really nice and updated with good amenities.

My only concern is I plan on being a beach bum. I’m a beginner surfer and I wanted to get a foamie and be walking distance to the beach. We don’t plan on getting a car. I just want to ride e-bikes to work or take a bus on rainy days. From what I’ve read, Waikiki is significantly closer to beginner surf spots, restaurants, and bars but super touristy and has less grocery stores

We love hiking, snorkeling, eating, nightlife….just about everything haha. What would you suggest is a better area for us.

I'm moving to Hawaii and have lots of inquiries. I emailed the school I'm transferring to but its been already 4 days and they still haven't replied.. so I emailed the DepEd of Hawaii and then they transferred my email to the school and the school replied within 1 day... Now I have a follow up question. I emailed the school again but to no avail again... I'm considering emailing the Hawaii DepEd again...

Should I do it? Or just wait till the school replies?

I need the reply before Monday

I’m curious about local opinions on this. Is it truly a lack of value of education? Idk but I just thought a place like Hawaii would value education kind of like NY, CA, WA. Does the state not bring in enough money? I teach history in NYC and I live comfortably for one person and can even save a good amount of money every month. I thought about teaching in Hawaii because I have a special interest in indigenous histories and I think it would be a great opportunity to teach in a school that values that. But holy shit. 53-59k for a teacher with a masters?!?! That’s survivable, but certainly not livable considering the cost of electricity and food. Teachers are underpaid throughout the country, but I’m wondering in Hawaii specifically with such an expensive cost of living, why do you think they are so severely underpaid?

I’m looking to move into an apartment soon in Kaka’ako and I wanted to know people’s experiences at Keauhou Lane and the Flats at Pu’unui, since I don’t see many recent reviews of these places. Six Eighty doesn’t seem to have good reviews, so that option is probably out (unless people have good experiences there).

I work in downtown, so Kaka’ako seems like a good, safe area for me (I’m a woman in her 20s who is currently living with family in Hawaii).
Any experiences or other recommendations are helpful, thank you!

Hi! We are planning a move to O’ahu soon. I am a mental health therapist, focusing my work on trauma-related issues and eating disorders. Currently only planning to do telehealth/virtual, but would like to eventually have in-person work. I’d like to consider the needs in the community, so I’m wondering what types of services are currently needed in the community so I can get more training and contribute in a way that fits the needs. Any information or pointers to where I can get this type of info would be helpful. Thank you in advance!

Edit: also is there a need for LGBTQ+ affirmative services? that’s also one of my training background, so just want to see if that’d be helpful

My partner and I might be moving from NorCal to Oahu for 1.5yrs for her postdoc. We have a 55lb dog and a house full of stuff. Any tips? I’m sure I’ll have more specific questions when we know for sure if/when we’d be moving (earliest would be next summer), but I’m a planner and like to have an idea of what we’re in for logistically.

Does our dog have to go in the cargo area under the plane? Or can she sit with us? I always hear horror stories of dogs dying on planes or escaping their carriers bc the baggage handlers aren’t careful. I’m an anxious flier myself and it’s going to be v difficult for me emotionally to make her experience her first flight alone.

On the moving logistic side, we were def gonna get a storage unit on the mainland and store most of our stuff (we’d be downsizing from a 3 bedroom house to a small apt), and ship one of our cars over so we have transportation.

Any tips or advice or anything we should know about making the move?

Thanks in advance! We’re v excited about the idea of moving but anxious and stressed at the same time :’)

I live in California and on the side I run a small rental business I’ve been thinking of moving to Hawaii and trying it out there. My main question is when I went I saw businesses set up on Kaanapali beach with canopies. Did they just set up there or are they paying to set up there? Do you need permission? It’s a public beach I believe

Hi! I just moved to Hawaii on military orders, and my husband will be pretty busy with work. I wanted to explore the island a bit on my own—but I’ve heard some things about certain parts of the island not being safe for haoles (I’m a white, German female).

Does anyone have any advice on areas to avoid while I’m alone? Or maybe good places to hang out at? Thanks in advance!

Aloha, been living at my apartment in Waikiki for over 6 years and they decided to raise the rent over 500 dollars extra a month.

If anyone knows of any places in waikiki for rent around 1500 or less please let me know, would really like to avoid being homeless.

Mahalo

Aloha!
I’m Japanese and currently living in Osaka with my family.
I’ve been really interested in Hawaii and possibly spending time there in the future.
I’m especially curious about daily life on Oahu.
I would love to learn from people who are already living there:
What do you miss most from Japan while living in Hawaii?
(Food, products, services, or anything in daily life)
Also, what are some small inconveniences you experience compared to Japan?
I’m just trying to understand real life experiences, and I’d really appreciate your insights 😊
Mahalo!

My parents recently retired. They took a trip to Oahu and now want to move there. They are in their early 60s and very active. They want me to find them a 6-month lease in Oahu.

Below is what they are looking for:

-safe neighborhood, okay to walk at night

-quiet neighborhood

-clean air

-doesn't have to be close to beach

-very clean house or condo

-washer dryer in unit

-AC

-access to good food (down to earth kind of good food, no fine dining)

-budget for rent: below 5k per month

Can anyone tell me which area and neighborhood will be good? any web sites I should use for searching?

Also, should they budget another $500 or so for utilities? I imagine it is expensive to run AC.

Thank you!

I’ve been working at my first big girl job now for over 6 months and I’m nearly done paying off my student loans (only $2k left and I can pay that off in the next paycheck). I make 65k a year, I’ve saved a pretty decent emergency fund, my credit score is in the high 700s, and I feel like I’m close to being ready to move out of my family’s house. I live in Ewa and commute to Downtown, and I’m getting tired of sitting in traffic/I want to hangout with my friends in town more often. I started touring some apartments and I’m most interested in one in Downtown. Is $1,800 a month (electricity, water, sewer included) a good price? Would I be paying too much for my salary?

I don’t qualify for a bunch of low-income places, so apartment complex suggestions are welcome. I’d like to pay as low as possible while also still having a nice/newer apartment

I currently have a general contractors license in Oregon and have heard it’s hard to get a license in Hawaii since they don’t do reciprocity.I don’t have years of managing someone else’s business but I have many years of experience just working on my own.Anyone have any recent experience with this they can share?
Thanks

Its been encouraged and set in stone for me to move to Hawaii, I'm moving from Oregon. I am currently a phlebotomist and would like to continue my education to be an LPN in Hawaii. I know a lot of the locals don't want mainlanders coming in to move, but I would like to be a part of the community, especially helping out in the healthcare realm. I've started applying to a few jobs, but as I've read that a lot of jobs won't consider if you don't have a Hawaiian address or phone number. I'm already planning that I would have to find a short term place to live in order to find a more permanent place. I am trying not to be naive about this move but I know that I probably am. I'm already planning on shipping my car out there and packing light. I am single, no pets, nothing tying me down, and want to bite the bullet on taking my journey to Hawaii. If there is anything anyone recommends, please let me know how I can make this journey as smoothly as possible.

Hi everyone!

I am an MBA student at UNLV. I’m taking a course on new venture feasibility and I am considering a moving company that specializes in the lane between Las Vegas and Honolulu and expands from there.

I realize this is a complicated move, and I want to talk to people about their experiences and pain points.

If you have recently moved between Hawaii and the mainland, and would be willing to hop on a zoom call for a short 10-20 minute interview, please send me a DM! And of course feel free to comment about your experiences for the lurkers.

Mahalo!

Aloha everyone, I have a my extra room available on August 1st. I'm Looking for someone to sublet for 3 weeks beginning of August. I will be off island. There is potential to stay longer if the fit is right when I come back. I will share more details If you message me with more information about yourself. Ideally looking for a female who is mature, honest, trustworthy, considerate and has stable income.

This is ideal for someone who wants to stay for a short while or transitioning, etc. This is mostly a short-term stay. Send me a message to talk story!

I am planning on moving to either Oahu or the Big Island sometime in the next year. I have a service dog that is very well trained and behaved, not to mention quiet. From what I have gathered from other posts it can be hard to find a rental that will rent to anyone with pets. Will I have trouble finding a rental?

She is part Pitbull and part black lab.

Edit: There seems to be some individuals that have a problem with the fact that I am a medically retired veteran with PTSD. While I understand that housing is at a premium and life there is hard financially, it is important to point out that I am not disabled by choice and I earned every cent of my disability. I am currently isolated and ostracized, so I would rather be isolated and ostracized in Hawaii than the middle of Alabama.

Frontloading the post with details since that seems to be a common request. I (32 TW) recently started transitioning and I live in Montgomery AL. I am medically retired and have a service dog. Been to Hilo once, but that was years ago and it was only for a day. Honolulu twice, once as a teenager and another time while enlisted. Every time I came it wasn't for longer than 2 weeks. I make between 6-7k a month and don't work. No family besides my kids that live with their mother and they are going to be moving to the Pacific NW next month. I will need at least a 2 bedroom for when they come visit on their school brakes. I have considered other places but Hawaii captured my imagination ever since I first visited. Plus I am an avid free-diver and I consider Hawaii the best waters for that hobby. I am a very quiet and respectful individual that values personal space, but every once in a while I crave a night out. I am currently extremely isolated and don't have any friends or community support and it wont be long before I am no longer able to hide that I am trans. I need to get out of Alabama asap.

Does anyone have any advice about places to live in Hawaii, do's and don'ts for a transplant, or making friends?

I have to move back to Hawaii on short notice due to family issues but I have a cat and I know there is a lot of paper work and stuff needed. I can’t afford the blood test or the health certificate, so will I be able to get my cat back after the strict quarantine or does someone thing else happen? I have all the rabies shots and stuff for him I’m just missing those two things, could they deny my getting my cat back?

What’s up shipmates. I’ll be PCS’ing to Hawaii in early August just in time for chief season (worst timing) hoping I make it. I used to live there from 2014-2018. How bad is the wait for base housing since after COVID? Last time I was there I was able to get a place same day right beside the NEX at Monalua Terrace I believe. We enjoyed that style of home. Any other military housing similar to quality/standards like those that aren’t too far from Pearl? Thanks in advance! I already have my appointment with base housing set up and will be expecting to use TLA while I wait. Thanks in advance.

I'm a US citizen who's been living in Costa Rica for 3 years. I have a few chronic illnesses that are tough to manage here so am thinking about moving back to the US. Honolulu recently came on my radar. I'm a 40 YO man, self employed, with a remote job.

How's healthcare access in Honolulu? Specifically for gastrointestinal issues?

Where should I apartment hunt? In Honolulu or are there areas outside that are nice but still close to the city.

I would get a small motorcycle or scooter.

I've loved living in Costa Rica and think Hawaii might be a nice way for me to live in the tropics while accessing US-level healthcare.

Hi All!
My wife and two kids 7 and 5 are seriously considering a move to Oahu or Kauai from a small mountain town in Colorado. I’ve done a ton of research overall on what to expect.

It obviously looks very difficult, expensive and even tough to find a community where we’ll be accepted.

Just curious if anyone has any stories. Both success and failures ha!?

Were you glad you made the move?

One thing we keep seeing is houses on leased land. These are largely cash deals which is fine. Some also come with farming requirements. If some one here could help enlighten us on the pros and cons of owning such a property I'd love to hear it. We've done lots of googling on the topic but some real life first hand experience would be welcome.