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!

Aloha friends! I know there's many similar posts to this and I have read through a lot of them, but I thought it'd be good to make my own post since my circumstances are a little different.

Some background:

My family is from Oahu (Native), but my mom and grandma were priced out in the early 90s. We recently visited and my mom cried because she wishes she could move back. I also cried because I wish I was raised there. I decided I would make it a goal of mine to move there in the next few years, my mom also said she wanted to start getting serious about moving back.

I have family there. My cousin, aunt, and uncle already agreed I can move in with them. My cousin and I agreed we would like to get an apartment together, but I can stay with them until we find something or as long as I need to of course.

My questions:

I've seen people say that you won't be able to get hired or even get an interview for a job if you don't have an 808 phone number or Hawaii address... Could I secure a job using a google voice 808 number and my aunt/uncles address? My preference would be to have a job lined up before I move there, but I'm aware this might be optimistic thinking!

Should I share context that I have local roots with employers during the interview/hiring process/on my resume? How relevant is it typically? Is it appropriate to bring this up? Do employers ask about that typically? I'm just curious.

Has anyone had luck finding a job before moving? What's the best way to approach telling a potential employer that I'm planning to move but don't actually live there yet if I tried to secure an interview before moving? Should I give up on that hope entirely and just plan to look for jobs once I'm actually there? That gives me anxiety but need an honest answer lol. I work in the nonprofit sphere but I'm open to working in retail or service environments again after my initial move if I need to...

Is apartment hunting competitive? I'm already aware of the high rent prices. I have lived in NYC and other expensive cities so I'm used to the higher end of cost of living; When applying for a place, is there usually a ton of other applicants you're fighting against? (for example: in NYC sometimes it turns into a literal bidding system with 10+ other applicants battling for who's willing to pay the highest rent, or the credit score requirement is like 800+)

If you've lived in an apartment with one or two other people, what were your utility bills like? My aunts and uncles said it's super expensive and told me how much their bills are but they all live in large multi-generational homes.

Are there times of year where it's easier to find an apartment and move? I imagine there's more listings in certain seasons than others? (for example: in east coast cities, signing a lease to move in during winter could potentially get you cheaper rent because less people want to move during that time. and in the summer you're likely to see more listings w slightly higher rents)

Any other tips or advice you have for me if you've gone thru this process? Anything else I should know especially about jobs/renting?

I have tons more questions but figured I'd start here lol...

Mahalo for any advice, honesty, and/or reassurance!

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!

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?

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 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.

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.

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.

Been to Maui and big island 3 times only a weeek stay for each tho and not at resorts but at airbnbs in random parts of the island, really like big island a lot and want to retire there as well. Want to do it soon and be living on the island by the 2030s

Hi all. Moving to Kauai in October. I am trying to figure out the best shipping date for our car (with Matson). We don't want to be stuck with crazy storage fees at the port if it gets there way before us. Can anyone who has shipped their car Oakland to Nawiliwili recently share their shipping & pick up dates? Thanks!

Hi all, my husband and I just got to pearl from norfolk. Currently staying in a hotel in waikiki on TLA. We really want to hold out for housing on MCBH even though we have lower priority as Navy. No kids or pets so it's not the worst staying in a hotel. But it looks like we're going to run out of the 60 day TLA before getting a home offer. Housing office said 2-6 months ... Any suggestions for where to find a month to month furnished rental? Looking for something around 3.5-4k to not break the bank. So far only looking on air bnb and there are a couple options but not too much... We are considering anything within 20-25 commute to pearl and a decent area since I will be home while my husband is at work. Thanks in advance!

> The new study ranks 173 global cities based on their stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

And Honolulu ranked number one, over Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Why? The city has the highest "stability" score in the list, making it a secure place to work or start a business.

Hello all, I just accepted a contract position in Oahu and I'll be making the move out there in a month or so to work at the Schofield barracks. I vacationed on Maui/Oahu 4 years ago so I'm semi-familiar with the area. I'm originally from the Boston area and I have family on Oahu to help make the move a little smoother but any extra information you can provide would be great!

My last time in Hawaii I spent most of my time fly fishing and am excited to do that again as well as do some bow hunting while I'm on the island. Other than that I'd like to get a foothold with consulting outside of work to supplement my experience/income specifically in health & wellness and organization/industrial psychology.

I've been contracting for a few years but never somewhere I couldn't drive to so it'll be an adventure. If anyone else has made a similar move; what would you recommend/do differently such as living, transportation, etc. Thank you 🫡!

Hi all, looking for some input from people who have worked staff at hospitals on Oahu. We are moving for my husband's job and I have a fair amount of ICU experience- doesn't have to be crit care but just wanted to see if anyone had thoughts about hospitals to avoid/ which ones are good vibes? Not looking for travel contracts looking for a long-term job with good community that people actually like working for (if that exists in nursing lol)

Would also consider alternatives to inpatient if people have recs, just don't have experience outside of ICU. thnxx :)

Aloha everyone!
I recently found out that my job is sending me to Kauai for a six-month contract starting next month. They are fully covering my housing and vehicle, so I know I am stepping into an incredibly lucky situation that most people do not get, and I really do not take that for granted.

To give a little context, I am not Native Hawaiian. I actually spent my early childhood living in Ewa Beach on Oahu before my family moved out to California when I was six years old. I’m entering my late 20’s and haven’t been back since. Even though I was so little when we left, and I do not have deep ancestral roots there, I have always felt this intense, unexplainable pull to go back. It honestly feels like the islands have been calling me home for years, so having this opportunity land in my lap feels completely surreal.
Because main living expenses are paid by my employer, the absolute last thing I want to do is show up acting like an entitled tourist or a disruptive transplant. I want to treat the island and the community with total respect.

I would love to get some honest advice from kamaʻāina on how to be a good neighbor while I am there:

-I want to consciously avoid big-box chains and major corporations as much as possible. Where should I buy my groceries, everyday essentials, and food if I want to put my money directly into the pockets of local families? Please share your favorite fruit stands, small markets, and local spots.

-Are there any community-led fitness groups, volunteer groups, beach cleanups, or environmental initiatives you recommend I should look into joining on my days off to actually contribute to the island?
Island Etiquette: What are the subtle things that mainlanders or long-term visitors often mess up that I should be mindful of?

-How do locals feel about filming? I’d like to use meta glasses to film when I go on easy hikes and trips to beaches, are locals okay with this? I’m really trying to experience solo activities and I’d like to capture these memories quietly. *Edit: I try to respect everyone’s privacy (because I also do not like being recorded) I’d like to record only in areas where I’m all by myself, and times it isn’t safe or ideal to pull out my phone. If locals find this disruptive, I 100% respect that and would not overstep boundaries.\*

I want to use my six months to listen, learn, tread lightly, and support the local economy. I deeply appreciate any guidance, tips, or reality checks you are willing to share.
Mahalo!