Alohamom

O.K. I wasn't going to start asking questions until I knew for sure but I am having such a hard time deciding what to do I think I need any and all input I can get!!!
Here's the background; my hubby and I dream of retiring to Hawaii, we are very middle class Canadians currently living on 2 forested acres in a country community just west of Toronto and are generally happy with our area and home. We have toyed with the idea of moving to Hawaii and giving it a go, more so before we had the kids, but even now we really love many aspects of the geography, culture, and the U.S. Two weeks ago my husband emailed his resume in response to a job posting in Lihue, Kauai. Lo and behold, yesterday he was offered the job. A work visa is not a problem as we would look at this as a temporary move with the possibility of eventually becoming permanent. WHAT DO I DO? Do I go? I think we will but it is such a huge move. I cannot believe how conservative I am being, I usually jump on something like this. My biggest consideration is my children, but in their limited understanding they seem to like the idea. Is anyone out there familiar with living on Kauai, anyone do a long stay? I've been looking at rental homes on line and it seems the nicer neighbourhoods are more in the Princeville area of the island (keeping in mind the job for my guy is in Lihue)I know the cost of living is higher and can swallow that. What are your thoughts? I know you are a bunch of strangers but I can feel my blood pressure pounding trying to decide what to do so I just want your input to help in making my final choice. I am sure my hubby wants to do this but he keeps saying it is such a big descision rather than answering me when I ask him what he has decided. I think I want to go, I think, I think, I think....

sundowner

I'll keep this simple - GO! GO! GO!

sam

What an opportunity! What do you have to lose? If you don't, will you regret it? You're going with the intent that it's temporary anyway, so if you don't like it you can always return. Life is too short - I'd say go!

BeachBoi

Take a chance.....Columbus did !!!!

tommyd

Let me think.............Hawaii or Toronto. Hawaii or Toronto.Hawaii or Toronto. What are ya, goofy?? Just kidding, eh?! Must be tough, but I'd be gone!! Bring the kids, their dogs, grandmas, grandpas, etc. What's in Canada anyway? You can get a satellite dish & catch the hockey games! How's the weather in Toronto today?? NOT HAWAII I'LL BET!! ALOHA, eh?!!! Good luck with your decision!!

happybluesky

I am green with envy. I'd do it in a heartbeat if hubby had a job there.

GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shanghainese

I liked Toronto a lot when we visited, but definitely give Kauai a chance, what an experience you'll have! Who knows, your hubby may not like his job & want to go back to Canada when you want to stay in Kauai forever!!

Rusty

"A work visa is not a problem as we would look at this as a temporary move with the possibility of eventually becoming permanent."

You might look at it that way but I think the US government will see it differently. It is my understanding that a visa is required if you are going to do ANY work in the USA.

You had better be sure of this before you commit to making the move.

Alohamom

Hey Rusty, I guess I should say obtaining a permit should not be a problem. My hubby's profession falls under the NAFTA accord for TN visas and we have covered all those bases with US INS. Can you imagine the poor souls who would show up at US Customs& Immigration without it? In my halcyon days of university, I worked as a part time Canadian Customs officer at Toronto Intl. and I saw it all!!! Some people don't have a clue.

patg

It sounds as though your children are still in school; do check out the school system very carefully. You'll find that options are very limited on Kauai. It's definitely something to consider.

auntiemaria

You've gotten enough advice here about whether to make the leap, so I'll tell you about real estate on this island.

The north shore -- especially Princeville -- is expensive, and rental properties are (IMHO) waaaaaaay overpriced for what you get. Rental prices (for condos or houses) are far more reasonable in Lihu`e, Kapa`a, and just above everywhere else on the island. Puhi is very reasonable, closest town to Lihu`e, yet still retaining some rural character.

Check the classified section of our daily newspaper for real estate ads:
http://www.kauaiworld.com/

Feel free to email me directly. I'll help, if I can.

Meesthare

What an absolutely fantastic opportunity for you and your family! And how fortunate that you can get some practical advice from auntiemaria, which is really what you need. I think it's wonderful - and extremely good for the kids. Perhaps the school system isn't that great, but there's a lot they can learn outside of being formally taught. I met someone on the Big Island a few years ago who had moved there because the schools were actually superior to those in Tahiti, where he had been raising his kids. Congratulations on being able to make your dreams come true!

bashfulLV

I have to agree with the others - GO! You will always wonder about it if you don't. You can always come back to Canada if you aren't happy. I'd give my eyeteeth to have such a great opportunity. Good luck to you.

islandmom

We lived on Kauai for a year. My husband hated it and I loved it. It's very isolated and everything shuts down early. From Princeville it is just too long of a drive. I know rentals are hard to find though. Depending on the age of your children, schooling is in a sad state and they may have trouble fitting in too.

I would probably try it and still keep your other house back home.

travellyn

I made a move like you're talking about from Houston to Durango (our dream vacation area) seven years ago. I'm now glad I made the move, but the first two years were very difficult. It was hard to make friends, hard to become members of the community, and hard to be so far from family. I agree with islandmom; go, but don't get rid of your house in Canada.

crazy4Hawaii

Like the earlier posters, my first reaction was GO! But the school thing worries me a little bit. I suggest you use auntiemaria's generous offer of help as she lives there and knows more than all of us tourists put together!

shelbyl1

As a teacher- I have to ask how old are your children? They should be your biggest concern with a move like this.

wow

"He emailed his resume 2 weeks ago & yesterday he was offered a job." No interview? Why is all of this happening so quickly? Check it out but I wld not sell my 2 acres west of Toronto until I was certain that I wanted to stay in Hawaii! It's a long way from home!
How long do you have to make this decision? You are sounding very pressured & frantic. Take a deep breath, stand back & really take the time to think about this. The reason that you are having such a difficult time is that you do not have enough info to make your decision. You know what you will be leaving. You do not know what awaits you. Take the time to gather more info. Arrange to go to Hawaii to look @ neighborhoods & go to the schools that your children will be attending. All the best & let us know what you decide to do!

Binthair

Ahh Kauai. Love it. Relax. Slice a papaya, pick up some poke at the fish market, savor a shave ice, and just let it all hang loose. I never have understood how so many folks I've known get "Island Fever" after a while and want to move back to the mainland. Some would say "it's the economy stupid", as overall most jobs are low paid service or tourism related and the cost of living is high. Some would say it's limited educational opportunity, but where else can your children get the leg up of a Hawaiian immersion preschool education, take up Sumo wrestling, learn pigeon English, or become a slack key superstar? Some would say they just get bored in Paradise; interisland airfares are a bit prohibitive for casual visits to neighboring islands, a second opinion or God forbid you need tertiary medical care, but it's probably no worse than in Canada from what I hear. Las Vegas is a favorite vacation destination, I guess because casino gambling hasn't taken hold yet and the desert is a big change of scenery. Coming from Canada, there is no snow, but in all fairness Kauai does have a winter more-rainy season, and the infrequent hurricane can get the heart racing; trade winds can be blustery at times and summer humidity will iron your skin wrinkles out like no Botox can do. Some will say its the limited shopping and dining, but from Walmart to Roy's to Toronto-style traffic jams Kauai has it all; I can't imagine you would be giving up much but your winter clothes. Don't know if you have any 'ohana on Kauai or the other islands, but it might be a bit hard on the children if a close Auntie was back in Toronto, still you can always use e-mail. Also hope they don't have any favorite pets as quarantine for 120 days can be required. Some might say it's social/cultural issues and being a haole, but heck I read today that residents of Killington, VT want to secede form that state, and the biggest Canadian controversy I can think of was that B.C. PM? arrested for DUI a year or so ago on Maui. I don't know, but for some reason if, after thinking about it for a while, you just can't see the wedding china surviving the journey to eden, I guess I would have to agree that seeking one's fortune on the mainland and just being content to live in Hawaii for 10 days a year on holiday isn't a bad compromise.

Austin

You might try a search here as I seem to remember there was a discussion about moving to Hawaii. Someone posted asking people a similar question.