Sounds like a dream come true in the making. If you haven’t read the book – Moving to Hawaii 2012- Is Paradise Right for You? Then order that from Amazon or here at this site (you can choose formats from the order page here).

If you want more information before buying the $5 book, there is a series of YouTube videos I did where I cover the chapters of the book here -> Moving to Hawaii Videos.

You’ll need to figure out where on the islands you want to live next. Since your job is mobile you can start with anywhere. Probably best with starting on Oahu, living near downtown or Waikiki and then moving as you find a place you think fits you better.

Best of luck to you – can you let me know as you arrive and get things going? Would love to hear a status report later…

Aloha,

Vern

What would you recommend as a next step?

Thanks

-John

I think you’re right – in Maui, a car or motorbike is a necessity. Some do without one, living in Wailuku, but, I couldn’t get along without one.

My utility bills were roughly the same, but I had dramatically different living conditions on the two islands. I don’t know how they would compare apples to apples.

Outside Waikiki – as in – walking distance?

You could head over toward Diamond Head – follow the road and there are a couple public access points to the beach. They’ll probably be deserted beaches. You could climb up the hill a bit and there is the view looking over all the surfers below. If you keep going, it gets less crowded…

Safety? Never had or saw any problem last time I stayed. Keep in mind, I’m not out hitting the clubs and driving around after 10 pm either. I think I avoid most of the negative things that might happen on the islands, because most happen after dark. Even so, you’re fairly safe wherever you are – the islands are not a place where random violence happens much. Purses are snatched. Cars are broken into and stolen. Things like that – theft is big. After hours – maybe violence in the clubs happens occasionally.

You and your wife, unless you’re into the nightlife pretty heavy – probably won’t even see any sort of violence on either island.

Ok then – best of luck to you!

Aloha,

Vern

Thanks for posting this, it provided some more insight in to my desire to move to Hawaii some day. My wife and I make a trip out to Hawaii once a year. Last year was our first trip to Maui. We enjoyed it in the sense that it is far more relaxed than Waikiki, but it was also windier and I felt that in Maui you have to have a car to get around whereas in Waikiki you can walk. Before our trip to Maui, we were dead set on moving to Waikiki, but now we are thinking about Maui as well.

Having lived on both islands, you have a good insight. What would you say utility costs average out to be on either island (don’t have to give an exact number, an average works)? And did you find it difficult finding certain necessity items in Maui as opposed to Waikiki?

Also, outside of Waikiki, is there any Maui like areas that are just as quiet and laid back, but not too far from the city?

And on a scale of 1-10 have would you rate safety of living on either island? Have you encountered any serious issues? Safety is paramount to us.

Thanks buddy. Hope to be a fellow resident of Hawaii in the near future

Mahalo

Wow – a great trip is in the making! Congratulations for pulling it together and deciding to visit Hawaii. Make the most of it!

Though I don’t know anything about what you enjoy, you should probably see these three islands:

Oahu
Maui
Big Island

In that order of priority. You are not likely to move to Kauai, Molokai, Lanai – if you ever decide to move to Hawaii.

Oahu has the people. Maui has the natural beauty and rugged nature of Hawaii. Big Island has a couple cities to look at and decide if you could live there – cheap and maybe what you’d consider moving to.

Good luck and have a blast! If you think of it – write me back and let me know what you thought of Hawaii!

Aloha,

Vern

As a young child, my dream has always been to move to Aloha, but I know the realities, however; always the optomist, this may also be a true “begin to get accquainted” trip. Would love to hear your suggestions…..I love the ocean (of course) and any water activity…..Thank you so much.

Hi, I am a 31 year old female with a BA in Communications. I have lots of restaurant experience as a server and also retail management experience. I am planning on moving to Oahu, Waikiki Beach area and was just going to waitress at the Hard Rock Cafe for starters. I’m already hired. How do u think this work out? Should I be okay? I have 9000 saved and don’t really want to spend it all. I’ve lived in worked in both Miami and NYC. Is Hawaii really that expensive for simple things like food? I am used to living frugally. How is the social scene? Should it be easy to make new friends?

I hope to hear back from you..

Warm Regards,

Francis

Good luck to you – whatever you decide!

I think if you sit on the ground a lot… or on the floor of your home… you might have an issue. I was bitten once by a 3 inch centipede in Maui – and it hurt, but literally nothing like a jellyfish (box) or a stingray that flipped open my foot in Florida. Both of which were 10-20 times more powerful than the centipede bite.

Other people say the centipedes in Hawaii swell up their entire foot or leg.

It’s like – would you move to Florida? They have bees. You’ll likely get bitten once in 10 years or so… but, it won’t kill you and you’ll have a story to tell. lol.

Good luck on your move!

I am contemplating a serious move to Hawaii. I own a very wealthy home that I can’t afford, and am thinking of selling it, then buying several units over the islands. Maybe a home on the big island, and some apartments or condos on the other islands. I’m eyeing a couple of homes on the laval plains on the big island, but want to know about the local flora and fauna.

My one issue is centipedes. I’ve squared off with grizzlies, wolves, and herds of giant caribou and elk, and even accidentally sat on a rattler when I was growing up. But creepy crawly things give me the creeps. What’s the situation with centipedes? Are they a big problem on Hawaii?

Thank you for sharing.

I will be moving to Hawaii in September for a full-time position and I am currently looking for an apartment during my employment–Honolulu. Any recommended places?

Thank you in advance for the help!

Tired of the crappy weather in the winter. Will not miss being snowed in or sliding all over the deathtrap highway that has no salt on it.

Good luck!

Vern

we came back with the dream of moving there and spending the next 4 years there before landing in the North San Diego area for educational and future opportunities… We want to garden and live the beach life. the slow life. soaking up all that we can while the kids are young and life takes hold of us….

It is true– planning to move when it is by yourself is so different than moving a whole family. I want everyone to profit from the decision and make the best choice for everyone.. any thoughts? todays economy is so unstable it is hard to think about realities.. we wont be able to pay really expensive rent, want a yard, and dont want to slum it…frugal is fine- but we are health conscious people that need a certain quality of life maintained simultaneously.. open to all thoughts :)

I think I wrote you email on this – not sure. From a 12 year old’s perspective? How in the world do you know the word perspective???

I don’t think it will be so cool for you, honestly. But, you gotta go with what your parents say – right? Such is life – so make the best of it. There are amazing things to do and see in Hawaii – so go see and do them!

Try to find some friends that are sweet and nice – and aren’t into the bad boys and bad things to do because there are FAR too many of them in Hawaii.

Find good friends – that’s my best advice. Find the coolest people – and that doesn’t mean the people that everyone wants to know and hang out with. That means the nicest people. The nicest girls. The most down-to-earth girls. The friends that you can count on – not those that will get you in trouble. Find friends that you can hang out with on the weekends and that can come to your home to do the same. Find friends that like simple things.

That’s my best advice Emily. Good luck to you and your family!

Which country are you coming from?

The car? Good question. I’d try to live in Waikiki and work in Waikiki so you need not have a car. That’s just me though. I’d bike. The roads are a bit scary for biking, but I biked NYC commuting from Queens into town. Oahu isn’t THAT bad. There are buses. You can walk.

Good luck to you!

Vern

Is it possible to live there without a car or is this something I have to buy first when I get there?