Living in Kauai

We are not transplants, but have pondered it many times in the last few years, we love all the islands. When we go to the Big Island in December, my husband wants to look at property again. He is a union electrician and I have been in the restaurant-bar business for 25 years. We make a very good income here in Vegas and feel we could get jobs in Hawaii. I am very cautious, as he would move this second. I think spending two or three wonderful weeks a year in an awesome condo or home overlooking the ocean(which we could not afford to buy, even though we are debt free)would be a lot different then living the regular life. We would not be snorkeling everyday, watching whales while drinking Maitais from the balcony. We would be working extra hours to cover the higher costs, living in whatever area we could afford. I tell him if he is serious we need to rent a place away from the ocean and live for 3 months or he could go over get a job and I will stay here and can see if it is still as wonderful. Good luck if you go, Hawaii is definitely my favorite place on Earth.

Not a transplant but I can tell you I've met quite a few people did that very same thing.

Majority who brought a container have said selling everything first besides their cars and photos, would've been easier.

Some have also regretted the move and left because the culture is so different or island life wasn't what they expected, while others meshed right in and stayed. I'm generalizing here but still accurate.

If you're thinking about it, most likely you'll follow through. Best of luck.

You should order the book "So you want to live in Hawaii". The author gives you all the facts good and bad on living in Hawaii. I am a local, born and raised in Hawaii and have seen many haoles move to Hawaii, only to leave after a few years. Many have a hard time adjusting to our culture and the cost of living can really get to some people. Some people develop "Rock fever".You cant just get in a car and drive to another state! I travel a lot and personally couldnt imagine living anywhere else. Its always good to come home and I never take the beauty and lifestyle for granted!

Aloha from Princeville...

Won't bore everyone with our story, but would issue some words of caution to anyone contemplating a move to the islands.

If you're coming here debt-free, and with an independent source of income, your odds are very good.

If you're coming here with a need to find employment and housing, please re-think your plan.

Unemployment in the islands is at an all-time high -- with stores & companies folding, restaurants closing, housing & hotel projects being abandoned, new-home construction slowed to a crawl, hotels starting to lay off workers due to the pitifully low occupancy rates, and real estate sales plummeting.

Living expenses in Hawai`i are among the highest in the nation -- food, utilities, gasoline, etc. are all priced high due to the transportation costs involved to get them here from the mainland. Which is why most residents work more than one job...

Bleak? Yes. Worth the sacrifice? Many, many say yes!

Tourism is the number one industry of Hawaii and with the economy tanking, now isn't a good time to move.

My husband is in the restaurant consulting business and the rate that businesses are folding is astounding.

By the time they get to him it is usually too late.

Unfortunately I've seen people lose their entire retirements.

Will you need to continue to earn a living on Kauai?

If the answer is yes, I'd rethink your plan. Or at least consider Oahu, where there are more possibilities in Honolulu area.

We are considering moving to Kauai in a couple of years. I've read "So you want to live in Hawaii". It gives some good pointers but it is not up to date.

When we were there in Sept., we met some transplants and they shared their journeys.

One couple came all the way from CT but he still works the same job which involves lots of travel to the Pacific Rim (closer from HI). Not sure what she does for a living but I think she works too. They are building (should be done by now) a home.

The other couple came from So. CA. They sold pretty much everything and moved into a rental. He works p/t I believe and she is retired.

So two different experiences to look at.

We will most likely do lots more research before jumping into anything.

I've been watching this thread with great interest. I would LOVE to move to Kauai. I'm a writer, so no need to look for work. But the real estate I'd want is completely out of reach. When I stay at SeaLodge I have a million dollar spectacular ocean view and I don't think I could afford anything like that. Not sure how much of my Kauai experience is based on having that view. Oh ... and DP doesn't want to move there (but I'm working on that little detail).

So in the meantime, I'm trying to spend 3 or 4 weeks twice a year. (I have FF miles, so the biggest expense is a rental car.) I'm hoping that will give me a better sense of whether I'd be happy there full time.

So ... beside the expense, what are the downsides to living in paradise?

Songdoc, FF miles great. Rental car, cheap. But where do you stay when you're there (for free someplace?)

songdoc, we've seen lots of folks move off Kaua`i over the years. Here are some of the reasons:

1. Came to Kaua`i expecting an unspoiled paradise. Reality is, we have traffic, noisy neighbors, high prices, flocks of invading chickens, cockroaches, centipedes, spiders, rats, rain, and the occasional VOG/earthquake/hurricane/tsunami.

2. Came to Kaua`i looking for Mr. or Ms. Right. Reality is, this is a very "domestic" island with most folks already in relationships. Singles tend to inhabit bar stools. Former neighbor complained upon moving back to the mainland, "Not only did I not meet Mr. Right, I didn't even meet Mr. Wrong"!

3. Came to Kaua`i thinking their highly technical skills would be in demand here. Found out that employment for newcomers is pretty much limited to low-paying, part-time tourist industry jobs.

4. Came to Kaua`i not realizing that Kekaha is hot and dry...or Princeville/Hanalei gets plenny rain.

5. Came to Kaua`i to escape their mainland life...but discovered that no matter where they went, THEY were still there...if you catch my drift. Lots and lots of folks come here to escape family or whatever.

6. Came to Kaua`i to retire and "live the life of leisure". Then the golf course fees increased, and these folks have nothing but time on their hands. But Costco liquor prices are nice and low. We see many of our retiree neighbors starting their mornings with Bloody Mary's, then moving on to beers with lunch, martinis at sunset, and a bottle of wine at dinner. Sad way to live "the golden years".

7. Came to Kaua`i with a mainland mentality -- hurry up, keep up with the Joneses, etc. But no one here is impressed with your house, your car, your clothes, your jewelry, your career, or what you did before you came here. What matters is what kind of heart you have, and the respect you show for the Hawaiian culture. Things move at a nice, slow pace here.

8. Came here expecting day-to-day life to be like the mainland. First surprise is grocery shopping -- and no stores give "rain checks" for sold out items. If it's not there when you wanted to buy it, too bad. And it may -- or may not -- be there next time you check. Want to order something from a catalog or online? Be prepared to run into the dreaded "not available for shipping to Alaska or Hawai`i". And if you do find what you need -- whether in a Kaua`i store, in a catalog, or online, you WILL pay more for it than mainland folks.

But -- as my neighbor said when they moved here from New Jersey -- "everywhere I look, it's a picture-postcard view". Amen!

Me again -- found this, and thought it dovetailed nicely with this topic. Some suggestions for living in Hawai`i:

*Appreciate the different cultures in Hawai`i. It's a privilege and a joy to live in a place where many different cultures coexist so peacefully.
*Take off your shoes before you enter someone’s house.
*When you’re invited to someone’s home for a party or a meal, take food. In general, it is good manners to take something when you visit someone. And it is considered impolite to return an empty container -— put a little treat into the dish before returning it.
*Almost every gathering (including business meetings) includes food, usually far more than is needed, and often guests are sent home with leftovers. Invest in paper plates, ziploc bags, and clam-shell containers!
*Be polite. Be the first to smile. Be humble, not pushy. Do not cut in line. Do not make rude comments about other people’s unusual tastes in cuisine.
*Don't mock the ghost stories you may hear. There is a strong local tradition of spooky stories and reliance on ritual.

*Remember that we are guests in this place. Come here to enjoy the differences and to appreciate the similarities among people. Watch, listen, and learn. There is probably a reason for the way things are done here, and no one appreciates the newcomer who is determined to show everyone how to get things done. Pitch in and help make the Hawaiian islands a better place to live.

I love Kauai, but when asked if I would ever consider living there my response has always been a quick, "No." Here's why: many of us that vacation there view it as our wonderful, tropical get-away. It has a bit of magic...and there's nothing like that first breath of warm, fragrant (hopefully from flowers, but possibly from van exhaust) air that hits you when you step out of the airport. I would never want that extraordinary island to become ordinary...which is what I fear would happen if I lived there year-round. Happy vacation Kauai just sounds like so much more fun than real-life-have-to-work-can't-snorkel-this-morning Kauai. There's also the aforementioned rats, centipedes, cockroaches...and have you *seen* some of those spiders?!

Thanks for the insight, auntiemaria.

Your words are so true.

All our hopes and dreams are flushing down the toilet with our 401K. But we still watch the market, and consider.

The way things are going, next trip, I may have to bring a tent and camp out at Auntie's and kauai-aka's house instead of buying a 1/2 million dollar condo.

I imagine this economic crisis is hitting the hellhole hard.

Auntiemaria, those words of advice would stand everyone in good stead, regardless of where they live!

I'd move in a heartbeat if I could take my grandson with me!

<< I've read "So you want to live in Hawaii". It gives some good pointers but it is not up to date. >>

You need to be sure when you are buying this book that you have a copy of the latest printing. It was reprinted earlier this, and though Toni did not do a whole new edition, she updated as many of the facts and figures as were available at the time. Some of the info in the tables was not available for current year, but most recent DBEDT information available was used for the update.

Of course, as with any information book, it is out of date as soon as it is published.

I'm in Kauai enjoying my third visit this year. I spoke with a realtor and learned that it's not completely impossible (financially) to live here -- but only if I forego the dream of having an oceanfront view.

Here's one negative I've realized to living in paradise ... there's only one movie theater complex (Kukui Grove). From Princeville, that's at least a 40 minute drive each way.

Believe me, it wouldn't stop me from moving if I could afford the kind of place I'd want (and if I could talk DP into it ). The other thing I realized is that I'd miss some of the cultural offerings -- theater, concerts, etc ... so I'd have to visit NYC at least once a year

In response to those who wondered where I'm staying inexpensively... see my thread "GREAT Deals in Kauai." (Hint: with a last-minute, 3 week stay, I got a 2 bedroom condo with a breathtaking view, steps from the ocean for $85/nt.)

Gotta go do my morning walk along the surf at Hanalei Bay. Life is tough

So it sounds like you all wouldn't advise a family ...3children to pick up and move there...I am a hair stylist and my husband is in automotive field...detailing and auto body....would it be that difficult to find work in those fields???..help..we have friends that moved there 5 years ago and live it