Should I move to Oahu?

[Crockett]

Hi folks!

Well, after reading silently for many years and having signed up 7 years ago, I think it is time for my very first post. lol

I have been a Miami Vice and Magnum PI fan since the 80s when I was still a kid and a teen. My passion for Miami Vice made me move to Miami Beach and live the party lifestyle for about 8 years. Eventually my health took a hit from all that night life. I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep living in party central while staying away from the drinks and unhealthy way of living. So I decided to move further North while staying in Florida.

I have been in Tampa Bay now for over 4 years, and being in my mid 40s I came to the conclusion that I have to make up my mind where I want to settle and build a house.

Now, there are a few things I don't like about Florida. For example the excessive humidity for 9 out of 12 months, and now we are dealing with the red tide again, for well over half a year, rendering our beautiful local beaches into a useless and smelly stretch of dead fish.

Since I'm so much "stuck" in those two 80s TV shows, I'm now seriously considering to check out Hawaii, Oahu to be specific. Looks like the big red line in my life is to recreate the 80s and what I have enjoyed so much in those 2 shows.

Granted, I know that it's not the 80s anymore, and I know that there is no Magnum or TC waiting for me. I won't own a mansion, Ferrari or helicopter either. At best a nice condo for starters and maybe a red C7 Corvette. If I like it and get along, I'd be looking at a smaller house with garage, nothing on the beach.

I own a business that is mainly operated by a small team. The little work I do only requires a laptop and internet access. I can move wherever I want. That being said, I do not like the state income tax in Hawaii nor the living expenses. I'm also a huge firearms enthusiast as well as a reloader. The gun laws on Hawaii are not very gun owner friendly. I can kiss that passion, hobby and right pretty much good-bye.

Am I dreaming to much? Did any of you guys actually consider moving to the Islands? Anybody living on Oahu? Did you feel like going back home after a vacation or did you want to stay for much longer? Any tips or ideas will be appreciated.

[Mad Kudu Buck]

Granted, I know that it's not the 80s anymore [...]

What??! When the hell did this happen?!

[terryfromkerry]

LOL ! Hilarious comeback MKB ! But you hit the nail on the head so to speak. Most MPI maniacs would I am sure admit to at least some extent we got stuck in the '80's.

[308GUY]

If you are truly in a position to be able to do what you say, but aren't sure you want to make it "permanent"...how about buying into a time share or actually buying a property you might be happy starting out with, but don't plan on moving there, lock,stock and barrel just yet.

Go over, get it purchased, (or have it arranged from where you are..) be there for a month or two..sort of try it on for size. See how you like it, but don't sever all ties with your current situation, IOW, keep things so you can reverse it if you decide to. Even if you don't like it full time after you try it out, you could still own the property, and make money by renting it out to "tourists" looking for the island experience without having to put out for a hotel. There are many such places already on all the islands.

You could probably keep it booked much of the time with just folks from this forum, provided the rates were within reason.

Should you decide you do like it after a trial run, cut lose everything you want and make it your home.

Just thinking out loud...and you can call me Tubbs....

Maybe you'll need a "major domo" to look after the place should you decide to just be there part time?

[KingKC]

LOL ! Hilarious comeback MKB ! But you hit the nail on the head so to speak. Most MPI maniacs would I am sure admit to at least some extent we got stuck in the '80's.

Man, can I understand that!!!!

[Fr. Paddy McGuinness]

Hi folks!

Well, after reading silently for many years and having signed up 7 years ago, I think it is time for my very first post. lol

I have been a Miami Vice and Magnum PI fan since the 80s when I was still a kid and a teen. My passion for Miami Vice made me move to Miami Beach and live the party lifestyle for about 8 years. Eventually my health took a hit from all that night life. I knew that I wouldn't be able to keep living in party central while staying away from the drinks and unhealthy way of living. So I decided to move further North while staying in Florida.

I have been in Tampa Bay now for over 4 years, and being in my mid 40s I came to the conclusion that I have to make up my mind where I want to settle and build a house.

Now, there are a few things I don't like about Florida. For example the excessive humidity for 9 out of 12 months, and now we are dealing with the red tide again, for well over half a year, rendering our beautiful local beaches into a useless and smelly stretch of dead fish.

Since I'm so much "stuck" in those two 80s TV shows, I'm now seriously considering to check out Hawaii, Oahu to be specific. Looks like the big red line in my life is to recreate the 80s and what I have enjoyed so much in those 2 shows.

Granted, I know that it's not the 80s anymore, and I know that there is no Magnum or TC waiting for me. I won't own a mansion, Ferrari or helicopter either. At best a nice condo for starters and maybe a red C7 Corvette. If I like it and get along, I'd be looking at a smaller house with garage, nothing on the beach.

I own a business that is mainly operated by a small team. The little work I do only requires a laptop and internet access. I can move wherever I want. That being said, I do not like the state income tax in Hawaii nor the living expenses. I'm also a huge firearms enthusiast as well as a reloader. The gun laws on Hawaii are not very gun owner friendly. I can kiss that passion, hobby and right pretty much good-bye.

Am I dreaming to much? Did any of you guys actually consider moving to the Islands? Anybody living on Oahu? Did you feel like going back home after a vacation or did you want to stay for much longer? Any tips or ideas will be appreciated.

I’ve lived there twice. My kids live there. It’s a whole different way of life. I loved it, but I grew on a small island off the west coast of Ireland. If you like city life try Oahu. If you’re looking for something a little more rustic look into Kauai or the Big Island. Try subletting for six months and find something to commit your time to. It will help you to make friends and establish a non-vacation lifestyle. If you don’t like it, you can always head back to the mainland.

[Danno]

My wife and I briefly considered moving to Hawaii for a year for a change of scene.

It's all well and good being a tourist, but the social situation can be a little isolating if you're not from Hawaii. You'll forever be a mainlander and thus an outsider.

[Mad Kudu Buck]

My wife and I briefly considered moving to Hawaii for a year for a change of scene.

It's all well and good being a tourist, but the social situation can be a little isolating if you're not from Hawaii. You'll forever be a mainlander and thus an outsider.

I'm an outsider wherever I go (even the land of my ancestors that I grew up in), so that wouldn't bother me. If I was an American, I'd definitely move to Hawaii - but I'm Canadian, so I've moved to "Canada's Hawaii"*. It's not as fun, of course, and damn cold in winter, but there's a hell of a lot less people. They do have the same social situation as Hawaii - if you're not born there, you're not an "Islander" and never will be.

How strange - a foreigner can come to Canada and within a year become a new Canadian and you must never call them a foreigner because now "they're Canadian", but me, being a 10th generation Canadian, my family being here over 100 years before Canada became a country (before even the United States existed!) and I"m the one who's an outsider on the Island. If the "new Canadian" (foreigner) gives birth on the Island, that child is officially an Islander, while I can live to be 118 and still die an outsider Mainlander.

(*technically, Haida Gwaii or Vancouver Island should be Canada's Hawaii, but they're part of mainland BC - not separate provinces - and the ocean is damn cold in summer)

[Crockett]

Oh wow, I thought I wouldn't get any replies at all. Thanks for all the ideas and feedback.

There's something else I have to list on the con side for Florida, and the pro side for Hawaii. As some of you may know, we are dealing with the red tide for a while now, basically since last year October, but for about a months it is so bad that you simply can't go to the beach anymore.

There is dead fish everywhere on all our Gulfcoast beaches. It stinks, and you can't breeze because of the toxic fumes from the algae.

Just in case you don't know whats going on, here just one link to the news: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45288774

They collected 160 tons of dead fish on our local beach alone. Everything from small fish, dolphins to Whale Sharks dies in it. The beaches are dead, literally, tourists and locals are gone.

This is now the 3 time that this red tide is present throughout an entire year within the last decade. It used to be only every few years for maybe a couple weeks.

With the increase in water and air temperature as well as fertilizer runoffs leading into rivers and the ocean from our huge sugarcane industry, we are feeding this algae bloom more and more every year, and no change in sight.

Hawaii does not have this problem. One reason why I staid in Florida was because of the beautiful beaches we have. With that being ruined I'm one step closer to trying Hawaii.

Regarding the islander / mainlander issue: I was born in Germany, so I do know how it feels like being a foreigner at times. I usually get along well with people, but I have also learned to be independent and can deal with being alone. I actually prefer it that way, did the party nonstop crap and being married for a long time. I'm done with all that. Swimming in the tidal pool by myself sounds like heaven to me. That being said I wouldn't mind a few select friends. One with a helicopter pilot license, one owning a couple dobermans and a short guys with a glass chin.

Here is a live stream from Waikiki Beach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgdP2tzaZHc

If I could snip with my fingers I'd be gone right now. Man do I hate moving and starting over.

I think I'll start with a 2 week vacation and see how that feels. If it feels good, I'll be dissolving yet another household, cash in, and make the move.

Life is short after all, and we get only this one shot at it.

[knight8882]

Go for it, brother! I'd be all over that if I was in your situation and could live wherever I wanted. Keep us updated and post pics of your new place if you end up going all in!

[willhclark]

Lived on Oahu for 8 years ending Oct 2014. I really miss it!!! Looking to buy a beach house there soon.

But Paradise is not perfect

1. Very Expensive
Median home price is 950k and unless you buy in Ewa or some other God forsaken part of the island, A million dollars buys rotting, termite infested wooden house reinforced with cinder blocks unless you find a steal. At the 1 Million price level the only thing modern is a high rise and most of these are old.

2. Very Difficult to get work accomplished, run a business. Very difficult to hire people to do work. Very few people are qualified or want to really work. People either dont know how to work, forgot, or never knew how. laziness is contagious. Aloha Fridays, Pai Hana

3. Very Very high taxes!!! Hawaii is a socialist state run by a single party of corrupt and inept politicians who openly line thier pockets with cash. Despite the high taxes the Infrastructure is absolutely crumbling. Everything is about 10 years behind the mainland. Worst roads in the U.S., luckily violent crime is low as many of the police are on the take.

4. The Schools are horrible. Private school at the secondary level is a must otherwise the only thing your kids will learn is how to get high. A good private school like Punaho has a waiting list so the best way to get the child a spot is enrolling them starting at K which at Punaho is 24k per year.

[Crockett]

Lived on Oahu for 8 years ending Oct 2014. I really miss it!!! Looking to buy a beach house there soon.<br abp="684"><br abp="685">But Paradise is not perfect <br abp="686"><br abp="687">1. Very Expensive <br abp="688">Median home price is 950k and unless you buy in Ewa or some other God forsaken part of the island, A million dollars buys rotting, termite infested wooden house reinforced with cinder blocks unless you find a steal. At the 1 Million price level the only thing modern is a high rise and most of these are old.<br abp="689"><br abp="690">2. Very Difficult to get work accomplished, run a business. Very difficult to hire people to do work. Very few people are qualified or want to really work. People either dont know how to work, forgot, or never knew how. laziness is contagious. Aloha Fridays, Pai Hana<br abp="691"><br abp="692">3. Very Very high taxes!!! Hawaii is a socialist state run by a single party of corrupt and inept politicians who openly line thier pockets with cash. Despite the high taxes the Infrastructure is absolutely crumbling. Everything is about 10 years behind the mainland. Worst roads in the U.S., luckily violent crime is low as many of the police are on the take. <br abp="693"><br abp="694">4. The Schools are horrible. Private school at the secondary level is a must otherwise the only thing your kids will learn is how to get high. A good private school like Punaho has a waiting list so the best way to get the child a spot is enrolling them starting at K which at Punaho is 24k per year.

Thank you so much for your input.

I see several values that we share. Will you be running a business on HI? While I semi retired from my own business (still running) at age 40, I'm open for new opportunities.

[Mac]

I live on the Big Island, have for the last four years. I work at The Mauna Lani Golf Course. There was a scene filmed at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel for the Paniolo episode. I eat lunch at the hotel cafeteria everyday and think about the fact Magnum was there every time I walk into the building.
Not that any of that will help you with your decision. Magnum was a huge influence on me growing up, and certainly added to the allure of moving to Hawaii (even though I am on a different island). To end up working at a spot where the show actually filmed is a bonus.

[erock308]

Short answer is Yes. (If I were a US Citizen instead of a Canadian I would have been living there decades ago)

Long answer is Get ready to make some lifestyle changes... island life is different than living on the mainland.

That being said if you have the means & ability to be self sufficient as stated then you will love it, if your an average Joe (Like Me) that has to work for a living you will find that Working is all you will have time for on Oahu because the cost of living compared to Florida is considerably higher.

Aloha & post pics if you end up moving there

[Hawaii84]

Interviewed for a job on Oahu last Wednesday. Spur of the moment kind of thing.....applied at the end of August (really not thinking I'd have a shot) and they called a couple of weeks ago. I had been to Oahu twice before (1984, 1994) but had never rented a car. Always stuck to Waikiki and the tourist attractions (Pearl, Hanauma Bay, etc.) On Maui and Kauai (1994, 2008, 2012), we always rent a car. Anyway, drove to the west side of Pearl (Ewa Beach) for the interview on Wednesday and was really surprised at the wide range of socioeconomic conditions on the island. The east and west side of Fort Weaver Road are complete opposites. Beautiful townhomes, manicured lawns, sidewalks, and streets on the west....extremely rundown on the east and southeast in the area of one of the high schools. Took some time Friday to visit King Street area by bus (KK Statue, State Capitol, Palace, etc.) and then walked from there to Punchbowl Cemetery (pretty good hike.) I noticed the same conditions there, as well....lots of buildings that can't be called anything but shanties. Broken down cars in driveway after driveway. Noticed a lot of poverty over by the old Anderson estate, too. Grass along the highway outside the gate grown up, trash everywhere. I'm by no means an elitist, but I'm not sure I can take my family there if the job is offered. Think I'll have to hold out for something on Maui or Kauai. Don't mean to offend anyone living there, but it was a little disheartening. Anyone else have that type of experience on Oahu?