Lived on Oahu for seven years. Frankly, if I had a job there, Id move back today. I never got tired of it. I think one of the main reasons for that was that unlike the majority of my military contempararies I had a life off base. I was heavy into surfing, canoe racing, and hashing. Most of my friends were local.Toshi said:how many of you fellow monkeys have lived in hawaii? which city or island? did it become hellish? too hot throughout the summer? do you recommend it as a place to live?
helpful note: being half japanese and tan i can almost visually pass for a "native", so i'm not worried about anti-white discrimination, if that indeed is an issue.
Oahu, specificaly Honolulu is like San Jose with palm trees. By that I mean it is a cosmopolitan city with every convienance youd expect in a large city anywhere in the US. You can buy what you want, when you want it. But at the same time, I could show you parts of that Island where few humans have ever stood.......and the surf....somewhere on that Island the surf is good EVERY DAY. Weather....air - 78, water - 78, rain - 78 almost every day. IMO the easiest job in the world would be a TV weatherman in Hawaii. Highs in the upper 70's to low 80's, windward and mauka showers, and tradewinds at 5-15. That is the weather....every day.
Cost of living: I've lived in both places in both good and bad economic times. Everything except milk and eggs costs less in Honolulu than in the Bay Area.
That said, the outter islands are much less densly populated and much more remote feeling. Need a water pump for your car...order it and wait. Want to see a new release...wait, it wont be in the theatre for a few weeks etc etc.
Stuff is more expensive, and incomes are lower on the outter islands as well.
Any other questions, PM me.
. i'll definitely take you up on the tourguide offer should i make it out there any time soon, thanks