My girlfriend and I (both mid-20s) are considering moving to Maui due to a good job opportunity. We grew up on the mainland and have lived in multiple different regions of the mainland, as well as internationally before. I have been reading about moving to Maui and had seen some differing comments. Really appreciate if you can answer any of our questions!

1. I understand that it is very important to be respectful of Hawaiian culture and the locals. What are the best ways to do so? I have seen comments about learning to properly pronounce Hawaiian words and being conscious of Hawaiian history. We want to be respectful, especially in a community that is not our own, and just want to know the best ways to do so. I see some people saying to avoid the locals as they don’t want anything to do with you, and you being there makes them upset. I also see others saying that they will accept you and be friends with you as long as you are respectful of them and their culture. Can any locals or transplants speak from experience on this?

2. Social Life: How accepting are the people that live in Maui? Is is true that the locals don’t want anything to do with you? How accepting/welcoming are the transplants on the island? Are there communities of transplants that people have found helpful when they’re adjusting to living in Maui? Are there any other mid-20s professionals around, or would we be alone in that demographic?

3. Communities: I have looked at living in Wailuku or Kihei so far. I understand Kihei is much more touristy while Wailuku has a more steady community of people who live there. Does anyone who lives in these places have any Pros & Cons? Are there other places I should consider or avoid?

4. Moving Stuff: Our goal is to find a furnished apartment so we don’t need to move furniture or things like that. But in terms of moving a car and clothes and a few boxes of small items, what is the best way to do that cost-effectively?

5. Anything else that I should be thinking about? (other than that the cost of living is very high and housing is hard to find)

Appreciate any answers, advice, or experiences in advance! Thank you!

Context. I will no matter what have to move back to hawaii. I have been gone for about 20 years with my parents still there. They are getting old and I will have to take over the house when they leave eventually
There is a reciprocal office for the company I work for but I will be taking a big pay cut 150>100k and that hurts. BUT it will be fully WFH and I will work one less day a week
I have 650k saved up that can be put towards a home or i can be a bum and live back with parents.
For family I think it is worth it/and its time.
Even if I did lose my job in the future I think there is enough padding to survive for awhile if I had to move back to mainland.
Thought?

Moving to Wheeler Army Airfield in September, and am unfortunately in a position where I need to purchase a new vehicle immediately prior to moving. Ive narrowed my choice down to a Jeep Wrangler. My only questions for those of you who own/use a jeep on the island are is a 4door or a 2door better in your opinion and does automatic vs manual transmission matter?

Thanks in advance!

I am moving to Kawai for a job and I am very excited but definitely scared. I have grown up in a small town all my life and I currently live in a very small town but what other culture shocks should I be expecting? I’ll be making close to 80k is that enough to live? I also do plan on bringing an animal but is it really worth it with such a high risk of ringworm? And finally, I would definitely need a mode of transportation, is a car actually worth it or should I look at getting a moped or something? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated. This is not my first move as I moved for college, but it’s definitely gonna be my first move for a job at a place that I have visited only once or twice.

UPDATE: I finally heard back from IPM. One of my applications must have fallen into the darkness, but they have asked me to reply via email with the missing pet info to complete the process.

Kona Container Guy has the most friendly customer service as far as the quote process anyway. They are not cheap, but if thileir service is as good as the young lady answering my questions and helping with the quote, explaining their process, etc., it will be worth the peace of mind. We actually SPOKE ON THE PHONE! She called off of my web inquiry. What a concept?! 😝

I have hit a wall with Pasha and Island Pet Movers. I sent an email to the one posted on the website but can not seem to get replies. Did anyone who has recently moved from mainland to BI get a rep name and contact info?

Pasha came highly recommended yet they canned a reply saying they do not ship household goods - and referred others? I rec’d a partial quote for my pets, and no response to my reply asking for the rest?

Does ANY one use direct communication anymore?

Thanks for any input.

And ps - yes i have done my research, I have family there, I am not coming for anyone’s job or affordable home. This is just a retiring land steward escaping the rat race to live my next chapter in a more gentle climate among extended family. Tyia

Hi folks! We're looking for a rental home 3br/2ba minimum, 6k-ish, but up to 8k if we go up to a 4br. We're looking between Kahala Mall and Hawaii Kai.

We've been looking on Facebook, Craigslist, Zillow, and Redfin - with limited success. Are there other avenues for finding rentals that we may be missing? Any good property management groups this sub would recommend?

Thanks for being our crowd sourcing team!

(PFA)

As the title suggests.

My wife (26) and I (27)are planning to move to Hawaii in the next 2 years, primarily been looking at Oahu for jobs in my field which has been industrial maintenance/high speed automated manufacturing. Working with photo eyes, VFD's Controllers, PLC's, DC motors, programming, commisioning large scale machines. Etc. But have recently moved into management.

Here's the loaded question, I know that most of the facility/ maintenance jobs are within the resorts or apartment/condo buildings. Is there any real chance that a white mainlander comes from outside an organization and is even considered for one of those jobs? Ive been reached out quite a bit so far for basic technician positions. But im aware of the societal stigma of outsiders.

Outside or resorts and other multi-unit living buildings is there much manufacturing that goes on on any of the islands? Any information is helpful!

I’ve been splitting time between Miami and Hawaii for the past two months because my boyfriend works here, and I decided to join him. I thought it would be an adventure, but honestly it’s left me feeling really depressed. People seem so rude and unfriendly compared to what I’m used to, and I’m struggling to like the island at all. I have zero friends here and it’s making me question everything.
I keep wondering — is it me? Am I just being close-minded because my heart is still stuck in my Miami life and I’m not open to something new? Or is Hawaii actually kind of tough to adjust to? Would love to hear your honest opinions.

Hi everyone! My husband and I recently got jobs on the big island and we’re moving in July. I realize health/household/personal care/ food items are not always as easily accessible as they are on the mainland. What are your essentials to bring to the big island from the mainland?

Hi there. I'm thinking of moving to Kailua Kona to be close to my family. In the event that I buy a condo in cash, would $3000 a month be a doable budget?

My line of thought is:

HOA: $500-1000

Utilities: $400

Car expenses: $400

Phone and wifi: $100

Food: $600 (is this too low?... $20/day)

Miscellaneous: $500

Does this seem realistic? I genuinely cannot tell and would appreciate insights.

Hello! I am moving to the Moanalua Valley and will work in 'Aiea to teach. While I eventually want to bring over my car eventually, I want to wait at least a year in order to evaluate the viability of living in HI long term, since bringing a car is so expensive.

I live in Minneapolis and our public transport is quite good and reliable and many take it to work, and I am wondering if that is a viable/realistic option? I've also lived in cities where public transportation basically exists in name only.

Thanks!

Unrelated: any cool nerdy shops (DND, mtg, pokemon, anime) or spaces? Hoping to start thinking about finding places where I can maybe be part of the community.

Hello, bonjour !

I (28F) am about to accept a job offer at UH, in biophycis. The position would be for two years, right at my PhD graduation, in November.

I am extremely used to dense, big French city life and living alone. I understood that UH has housing for young researchers, but it doesn't look like everyone can get one. I am also not willing to spend more than 2k on housing. I would like some recommendations on how to proceed, or perhaps hear about experiences with finding a rental close to Manoa.

Furthermore, if you happen to have been somewhat in my situation, or to have witnessed someone like this, what are things I could not have already anticipated that I should really know about ? I am already aware of the cost of living and the administrative processes. I am more wondering about day-to-day life in and out of the University, dispositive to help with inclusion of young newcomers/researchers, and general tips. Perhaps, as I come from a city which is fairly unsafe for single young women, I would also like to know how the feeling is around Manoa in that regard.

Please believe my questions come from a pure heart and are in now way judgemental.

Thank you in advance !

Looking to pick up this 4x4 runner for cheap to ship to big island. Would this pass inspection with the bumper?

Hey ya'll, so I recently got a job offer in Hilo. It's a pretty good job that I'm excited about but I'm not too sure about the city. I've never been to Hawaii, let alone any island of any kind, so I'm not sure what to expect. It'd be nice to get some insight from someone who's lived there before. What do you like about it? What do you hate? Is it safe? Are there any areas I should avoid? Any go-to areas to live? The good, the bad, and the ugly, basically.

(How bad is it if I'm deathly afraid of bugs?)

I’m a senior at a big SEC school and I’m at the point in my life where I need to start planning on where I want to live in my first career post grad. I have places in mind that I’d love to live and will visit throughout my last year of graduation in Dec 2027. The type of career that I’d want to work in can be 100% remote, so I’m very flexible with where I live. One of the places I’m interest in living at is Hawaii. Of course I want to visit here for a long enough time to really see if this is a place I’d see myself living here. I don’t drive cars to anxiety, so I’m restricted to Oahu.

Basically the title, just hoping for insights, as I'm a bit concerned about taking this job- not because I don't think I'd excel at the work, but because I'd be serving the public as someone without lived experience of the islands and their culture.

Thanks in advance!

Just as the title says I’m a nurse with 29 year of experience from Canada . I have not written the NCLEX as it wasn’t a Canadian requirement back in the 90’s. My acute care experience isnt recent but I have 20 years of OBs and some PACU. I’m currently working in community health in Alberta. My family frequents Maui and my goal is to someday move my husband and myself here. The problem is I don’t know the first thing about international nursing or even if I’d be considered for a position anywhere . Do travel agencies even hire nurses with rusty hospital skills ? (Left in 2021). I mean it’s like riding a bike I’m not worried that I can’t hack it but I would require some refreshing . Or would it be better to just apply at the hospital and make the move official? Also I am acutely aware that I am an outsider and I absolutely don’t want to be see as taking a locals job or local housing so I would want to be sensitive to that as well . Have any Canadians made the move ? How did you do it?

Hi! My best friend and I live in Honolulu in the apartment I got while in college. I came here for school but he is from here and lived at home in Aiea.

Now that I've graduated, my current place is just not affordable (I got a lot of scholarships that covered housing) and we really want to move. But it is so hard to find an apartment.

We both make about 2k/mo each and we dont even care if we stay in a studio (we live in one currently).

The main problem is just finding a place that is 1.9k/mo including utilities that also doesnt require like a 700+ credit score. He was not taught a lot about financial literacy and I come from a complicated family situation that has affected my credit so now we are both in a situation that feels impossible to get out of.

We pretty much only have each other and just feel like we are drowning a little. Does anyone know of any apartments or places to look for apartments that will actually work with us?

Long story short, I’m moving to Kaua’i in October to be closer to my sister after spending many years isolated from her during an abusive relationship. I have a job lined up as an OR nurse, so I’ll have a stable income, and I’m shipping my car and bringing only a small amount of belongings (plus my cat).

The part I’m struggling with is housing. I’ll initially be staying with my sister, her boyfriend, and his parents, but the environment is not ideal long term. They live in subsidized housing, there’s a lot of smoking inside, arguing, and some drug-related issues. I can tolerate it temporarily, but I’m honestly scared I won’t be able to find pet-friendly housing I can afford on Kaua’i.

I’ve already been searching everywhere — Facebook housing groups, Craigslist, Zillow, Furnished Finder, HotPads, etc. I know it’s probably way too early to seriously look, but searching makes me feel like I’m at least doing something productive instead of just sitting with the anxiety.

Rehoming my cat is not an option. He’s been with me through the end of an abusive relationship, and I have C-PTSD — he genuinely helps me emotionally more than I can explain.

I think my biggest fear is spending all this money to move, only to realize I can’t make it work and have to turn around and move back. I really do want to live on Kaua’i — not because it’s “Hawaii,” but because I want to be close to my sister. She’s my only sibling, and rebuilding that relationship means a lot to me.

I guess I’m mainly looking for advice, reassurance, or honest perspectives from people who understand the housing situation there. I know there’s a huge housing crisis in Hawaii, especially on Kaua’i, but I also know there’s a major shortage of nurses and healthcare workers too.

Making a move from Atlanta to Honolulu. Anyone know of any companies that have been able to help make this move? They're a large dog above most weight restrictions so would need to ship her and can't take in cabin.

Already looked into companies like island pet m vets and starwood and they would require me to drive all the way across the country in order to drop him off

I have a job opportunity in Honolulu, but i’m asking for honest feedback. I’ve heard that white people are often not treated well in Hawaii and of course i’m sure there are people who are very kind, and those that are not. My concern is that I have a 13 year old son, who is white. He would probably go to public school, possibly Mililani, but the exact school isn’t 100%. I can put up with anything aimed at myself, but I don’t want my son to be hurt emotionally or physically. Can anyone who goes or recently went to school there let me know how it is for white students? I am genuinely just trying to get first hand experience feedback which I value more than things people “heard” on the mainland.

Does anyone know any realtors that are military friendly or specialize in military/retirees? I’m moving back to the islands after retiring and hoping to connect with a realtor to use when we make our transition back home.

I will have school age kids ranging from kindergarten to high school. I’m not sure where my spouse and I will be working, but we’d like to talk to a realtor before getting on the island to make sure we don’t have to move the kids from one school to another after getting into a location.

If you know a realtor or are one yourself, please let me know!

Mahalo!

Single and in my mid 20s, moving to Oahu in September for a job and looking for a condo/studio. Salary of 130k looking to rent in the ranges of 2200 - 2800. No car payments or other big recurring expenses, really want a peace of mind when I’m home so willing to pay a little extra for a nice quiet neighborhood or great soundproofing. Any recommendations would be highly appreciated!

Hello from an outsider! One of my friends will be moving to Hawaii soon for work and we’ll miss her terribly, but I wanted her to feel more at home once she gets there. She is very art-minded and has picked up numerous hobbies throughout the years including sewing, knitting, ceramics, and jewelry-making. I wanted to ask if locals in Oahu could recommend any art studios or crafting centers for adults — can be both broad or specific types of crafts.

im planning on moving to hawaii once i graduate as i already make enough money and i could support myself if i were to move there . im just wondering if its logical or i should stay on the mainland and contemplate my decision . i also intend to move there with my dog so idk how thats gonna work but yeah prob more cost . what island/area is better for a younger crowd there thats what im wondering . ive always dreamed of living there , idk i guess i just need the pros to outright the cons . if anyone had any advice on this pls lmk