Thinking about moving to The Big Island of Hawaii
Feb 3, 2019, 2:09 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,311
From the travel perspective, there's a lot more flights to/from Kona than Hilo.
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Feb 3, 2019 at 2:23 pm
Feb 4, 2019, 2:12 am
#17
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Ha! Sounds like you're a good son.
Did they say what were the things that they expected that, clearly, failed to live up to their standard/expectations?
Many people move to hawaii with a distorted vision/expectation and then realize it's not what they imagined and move back to the mainland.
Did they say what were the things that they expected that, clearly, failed to live up to their standard/expectations?
Many people move to hawaii with a distorted vision/expectation and then realize it's not what they imagined and move back to the mainland.
What they got: House that hadn't been cleaned prior to their arrival with geckos having had the run of the place - and their droppings everywhere... Food options that they could go and eat out at were far, far more limited than what they had in the Los Angeles area - particularly Cantonese. While the island's Costco is/was on the Kona side, it didn't have the same selection they were used to out of the ones that they shopped in LA. Similarly for supermarkets. Trying to get their health insurance transferred from California to Hawaii wasn't working out. Other issues with the house (septic tank, water, etc.). They don't do computers or cell/smartphones so they were tied to their landline and their cable service (Spectrum? Tine Warner?) was being a pain.
Other issues: With the always warm weather, critters were an issue. Even though they had a weekly trash pick up service, after a day or so, any food garbage begins to smell and attract at least ants (and if you left the trash cans outside the garage, other critters). After a certain point, my dad would, daily, grab up their trash, get into the car (he and she are mobility limited, mind you), drive down to Kaminami Drive to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, wait for the light to change, drive the one lane southbound (while County of Hawaii's road contractors continued to laboriously labor on adding lanes...) about 5 miles, get in the left turn at Hale Makai, drive into the Kealakehe Transfer Station, wait in line, park, get out of his car, toss his one bag of garbage, get back into his car, and make his way home - at least an hour each day. None of their friends were anywhere close. They're not big on driving around and exploring. As other threads in this forum note, BI clearly has more of the "island time" response factor so going places and finding that they'd closed - or not even opened for the day - wasn't so uncommon. Also, I'm likely the only one who might have gotten on a plane to visit them - but I'm on a plane anyway but usually headed somewhere else than Hawaii because of work.
I could go on. Likely, they would have done better on Oahu but, similarly as my daughter decided last year in selecting UCLA over UH, Honolulu isn't/wasn't much different than Los Angeles - just a bit more humid with mosquitos.
So, in the end, the heat/warmth they were seeking didn't outweigh all of the limitations of BI as the paradise they'd hope for. So, Eastward Ho and return to California.
David
Feb 4, 2019, 11:14 am
#18
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MCI
Posts: 698
What they expected/hoped for: Warm, warm, warm of Kona - they were tired of the cold and rain in Los Angeles during that period (they're in their 70s). A property investment that potentially becomes a draw option for the kids (my brother and I) and grandkids (my brother's kid and my kids) to visit them on the BI.
What they got: House that hadn't been cleaned prior to their arrival with geckos having had the run of the place - and their droppings everywhere... Food options that they could go and eat out at were far, far more limited than what they had in the Los Angeles area - particularly Cantonese. While the island's Costco is/was on the Kona side, it didn't have the same selection they were used to out of the ones that they shopped in LA. Similarly for supermarkets. Trying to get their health insurance transferred from California to Hawaii wasn't working out. Other issues with the house (septic tank, water, etc.). They don't do computers or cell/smartphones so they were tied to their landline and their cable service (Spectrum? Tine Warner?) was being a pain.
Other issues: With the always warm weather, critters were an issue. Even though they had a weekly trash pick up service, after a day or so, any food garbage begins to smell and attract at least ants (and if you left the trash cans outside the garage, other critters). After a certain point, my dad would, daily, grab up their trash, get into the car (he and she are mobility limited, mind you), drive down to Kaminami Drive to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, wait for the light to change, drive the one lane southbound (while County of Hawaii's road contractors continued to laboriously labor on adding lanes...) about 5 miles, get in the left turn at Hale Makai, drive into the Kealakehe Transfer Station, wait in line, park, get out of his car, toss his one bag of garbage, get back into his car, and make his way home - at least an hour each day. None of their friends were anywhere close. They're not big on driving around and exploring. As other threads in this forum note, BI clearly has more of the "island time" response factor so going places and finding that they'd closed - or not even opened for the day - wasn't so uncommon. Also, I'm likely the only one who might have gotten on a plane to visit them - but I'm on a plane anyway but usually headed somewhere else than Hawaii because of work.
I could go on. Likely, they would have done better on Oahu but, similarly as my daughter decided last year in selecting UCLA over UH, Honolulu isn't/wasn't much different than Los Angeles - just a bit more humid with mosquitos.
So, in the end, the heat/warmth they were seeking didn't outweigh all of the limitations of BI as the paradise they'd hope for. So, Eastward Ho and return to California.
David
What they got: House that hadn't been cleaned prior to their arrival with geckos having had the run of the place - and their droppings everywhere... Food options that they could go and eat out at were far, far more limited than what they had in the Los Angeles area - particularly Cantonese. While the island's Costco is/was on the Kona side, it didn't have the same selection they were used to out of the ones that they shopped in LA. Similarly for supermarkets. Trying to get their health insurance transferred from California to Hawaii wasn't working out. Other issues with the house (septic tank, water, etc.). They don't do computers or cell/smartphones so they were tied to their landline and their cable service (Spectrum? Tine Warner?) was being a pain.
Other issues: With the always warm weather, critters were an issue. Even though they had a weekly trash pick up service, after a day or so, any food garbage begins to smell and attract at least ants (and if you left the trash cans outside the garage, other critters). After a certain point, my dad would, daily, grab up their trash, get into the car (he and she are mobility limited, mind you), drive down to Kaminami Drive to Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, wait for the light to change, drive the one lane southbound (while County of Hawaii's road contractors continued to laboriously labor on adding lanes...) about 5 miles, get in the left turn at Hale Makai, drive into the Kealakehe Transfer Station, wait in line, park, get out of his car, toss his one bag of garbage, get back into his car, and make his way home - at least an hour each day. None of their friends were anywhere close. They're not big on driving around and exploring. As other threads in this forum note, BI clearly has more of the "island time" response factor so going places and finding that they'd closed - or not even opened for the day - wasn't so uncommon. Also, I'm likely the only one who might have gotten on a plane to visit them - but I'm on a plane anyway but usually headed somewhere else than Hawaii because of work.
I could go on. Likely, they would have done better on Oahu but, similarly as my daughter decided last year in selecting UCLA over UH, Honolulu isn't/wasn't much different than Los Angeles - just a bit more humid with mosquitos.
So, in the end, the heat/warmth they were seeking didn't outweigh all of the limitations of BI as the paradise they'd hope for. So, Eastward Ho and return to California.
David
Thanks for that insightful post! Definitely very true about bugs. We live in a high rise condo in the middle of Honolulu and we STILL sometimes, not often, find the occasional big here and there. I've been to the big island several times on inter-island trips and indeed it is lot more tropical in certain places and you definitely need to manage organic waste to minimize bugs in the home. Unless it is one of those hugely expensive modern mansions ($$$$+), normal avg homes will get some bugs here and there....honestly part of living in the tropics.
But the location does meet their basic criteria....the warm weather and of course a location in paradise. But of course sometimes it's better to do a temporary rental/long-term vacation for a few months to see if newcomers can withstand some of the negatives.
Unless one is extremely wealthy and is able to afford one of those ultra luxurious homes on the high hill/cliff side with regular cleaning staff...living in "paradise" is not as dreamy as one would imagine when looking at desktop wallpapers or home magazines.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:30 pm
#19
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,311
We have a pest control service, they come every three months and keep the bugs in check. There's not much you can do about the geckos. They do eat other bugs though, but far worse, they leave their droppings behind. Even for people that are adverse to normal pest control services, they have services that use bio friendly stuff, but it's more expensive, might be less effective and likely requires monthly rather than quarterly service.
When we moved into the house on Maui, we had tree bugs (basically some form of beetle) everywhere, took some time to get them in check. You have to keep the vegetation surrounding the house in check, which is a never ending job given the way things grow here.
There's definitely a lot of differences living on the islands, and big differences on each island.
-David
When we moved into the house on Maui, we had tree bugs (basically some form of beetle) everywhere, took some time to get them in check. You have to keep the vegetation surrounding the house in check, which is a never ending job given the way things grow here.
There's definitely a lot of differences living on the islands, and big differences on each island.
-David
Feb 4, 2019, 5:43 pm
#20
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
One of our nieces moved to Maui with her husband and baby 7 years ago. She has thrived there, now has three children, and owns a home. However,
a few months back about some of the downsides of living in Hawaii. You might enjoy it. (The first 30 seconds or so is an ad for her vegan cookbook.)
Feb 26, 2019, 12:01 am
#21
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Captain Cook, HI, USA
Programs: BA, DL, HA, etc
Posts: 984
BIG ISLAND: I visited the state 12 times (2 weeks a trip, two trips a year) before finally finding a place (a farm in Kona). The Big Island was the most affordable and I had done my homework. I created shopping lists and compared mainland to Big Island prices. There are some things that seem expensive but are not, for example.
Electricity is expensive but I don't really use heating or cooling but rather adjust the windows. Because I have a farm, I am on AG rate for water. Taxes are low but because my particular farm is a leasehold, I have some fees for that but still pretty cheap. GEICO considers me in a rural area for insurance.
Some food can be expensive because it is shipped in, but there are many farmers markets and then again, you can grow almost anything you want. I have lots of citrus and coffee! My neighbors are doing hydroponic lettuce and tilapia. Many of us take advantage of COSTCO and have extra freezers or refrigerators. Costco also has the cheapest gasoline.
Although on our island we can lose power at times, I have a propane/gas generator and a propane grill. You can cook outside any day of the year.
Many of my neighbors have parties and some of us gather at Two Step every Friday for a pot luck. There are many activities if you want to get out and do things. We get some name-brand bands here and every few years a taping of Wheel of Fortune. I like attending because I have done radio and TV shows in the past and that is in my blood.
You can get high speed internet and VOIP to work from the islands. My contacts are all on the east coast so there is a 5-6 hour time difference.
On the Big Island, Verizon cell service seems the best.
I have a mainland Credit Union that accepts checks by cellphone upload. This keeps me from having to go to a physical location, but I also have a different local Credit Union.
As I said, I did my research and stayed on various islands. Many of my friends and old co-workers have visited me here. I decided I was moving for the long term. I make a trip back to the mainland every year or two either to a casino, to visit friends or for a High School reunion.
I have been a resident for 18 years so far. I find that friends and neighbors here tend to help each other as we are far from the mainland and support systems there.
Each island has pluses and minuses which you discover when you visit them. Oahu is small and crowded but has most of what you need, if you can afford to live there. Maui and Kauai are also small and expensive. The Big Island is, well, big and has various weather patterns and activities and is pretty rural over most of the island.
As others have said, test the waters and keep your eyes open for costs. Don't look at things from a tourists viewpoint. See the stores, see what you miss getting and can't find. Try different restaurants (the cheap ones and the local ones). I know some people stay here at a resort and never leave the property. They are used to expensive places; not me!. Go to Walmart or Dennys. Get local real estate books and see prices. See what hobbies you have currently or what you want to do in the future. You may find that you want to dump a current job and pursue something else if even on weekends.
Unless you have Kaiser, which flies you there on their nickel (well, it is part of your plan).
I have had two major operations over there and recommend Kaiser!
Electricity is expensive but I don't really use heating or cooling but rather adjust the windows. Because I have a farm, I am on AG rate for water. Taxes are low but because my particular farm is a leasehold, I have some fees for that but still pretty cheap. GEICO considers me in a rural area for insurance.
Some food can be expensive because it is shipped in, but there are many farmers markets and then again, you can grow almost anything you want. I have lots of citrus and coffee! My neighbors are doing hydroponic lettuce and tilapia. Many of us take advantage of COSTCO and have extra freezers or refrigerators. Costco also has the cheapest gasoline.
Although on our island we can lose power at times, I have a propane/gas generator and a propane grill. You can cook outside any day of the year.
Many of my neighbors have parties and some of us gather at Two Step every Friday for a pot luck. There are many activities if you want to get out and do things. We get some name-brand bands here and every few years a taping of Wheel of Fortune. I like attending because I have done radio and TV shows in the past and that is in my blood.
You can get high speed internet and VOIP to work from the islands. My contacts are all on the east coast so there is a 5-6 hour time difference.
On the Big Island, Verizon cell service seems the best.
I have a mainland Credit Union that accepts checks by cellphone upload. This keeps me from having to go to a physical location, but I also have a different local Credit Union.
As I said, I did my research and stayed on various islands. Many of my friends and old co-workers have visited me here. I decided I was moving for the long term. I make a trip back to the mainland every year or two either to a casino, to visit friends or for a High School reunion.
I have been a resident for 18 years so far. I find that friends and neighbors here tend to help each other as we are far from the mainland and support systems there.
Each island has pluses and minuses which you discover when you visit them. Oahu is small and crowded but has most of what you need, if you can afford to live there. Maui and Kauai are also small and expensive. The Big Island is, well, big and has various weather patterns and activities and is pretty rural over most of the island.
As others have said, test the waters and keep your eyes open for costs. Don't look at things from a tourists viewpoint. See the stores, see what you miss getting and can't find. Try different restaurants (the cheap ones and the local ones). I know some people stay here at a resort and never leave the property. They are used to expensive places; not me!. Go to Walmart or Dennys. Get local real estate books and see prices. See what hobbies you have currently or what you want to do in the future. You may find that you want to dump a current job and pursue something else if even on weekends.
I have had two major operations over there and recommend Kaiser!
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Feb 26, 2019 at 10:08 am Reason: Consecutive posts merged
Feb 26, 2019, 11:33 pm
#22
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I've thought about this quite a few times, but am reluctant as I think it would be rather expensive to deal with my island fever. I get the itch even after two or three weeks 
Granted, I also get island fever here in ANC... but fares can be a bit more reasonable. And there are actual roads to drive... it just takes a lot of hours to get anywhere.
Granted, I also get island fever here in ANC... but fares can be a bit more reasonable. And there are actual roads to drive... it just takes a lot of hours to get anywhere.