Relocation Guide

Relocation part 1
Salary Calculator
Here's a a step by step guide to moving to Hawaii. Having personally done this, and also having helped others make the move across the ocean, I know what it takes. It's not easy, but if you know what to expect, your move to paradise can be a lot less stress than you think it might be. This is a 7 step guide, so read along and don't be afraid to email me: alohatony@gmail.com if you have questions.

Step 1 in moving to Hawaii - figure out if you can afford it. If you want to see how much homes are, you can go here: Search Hawaii Properties Remember though, property taxes in Hawaii are quite low, so while the prices seem high, your monthly payments could be a lot lower than you would think, if you've come from Texas or California.

Hawaii is one of the most expensive states in America to live in. Particularly if you live in East Oahu as I do, the cost of everything is higher. Then, if you move out to remote areas of the neighbor islands, well you can expect to pay $7~$9 for a gallon of milk. No joke, but now that we have 2 Costcos on Oahu, prices have come down a bit for most things. Surprisingly, gas prices are about the same as California.

Of the thousands of people who move to Hawaii every year, one thing that is on the mind of every one of them is probably the differnece in the cost of living. I've recently been talking to someone who is moving here from Valencia California, and he asked me what it would cost to rent a home. As it turns out, rent is similar in the two cities. So you see, the cost of living here doesn't have to be any higher. We don't usually have an AC bill, we never have a heating bill, and we wear a lot less clothing. I own 1 jacket.

But what about other expenses? Well here is a great tool that will calculate the differnce in necessary salaries overall for 2 cities. You type in what you make in your city, then tell it what city you're moving to, and it tells you how much you will need to make to have a similar lifestyle.

Relocation part 2
Hawaii, but where in Hawaii?
For a tourist, Hawaii often means staying within the gates of a resort, never seeing the neighborhoods where residents live. So when a person is transferred here, (usually it's Oahu) often they have no idea where on Oahu they will live.

Where you choose to live on Oahu will determine a lot about your lifestyle. Even though Oahu is only about 65 miles across and 111 miles around the perimeter, each section of the island has it's own personality and quirks. A demographics study of each zip code can be found at www.freedemographics.com . Choose carefully where you will, or you will find yourself stuck somewhere you really don't want to be. The commute around the island can be brutal, so it's best to talk to a resident first and find out the best place for you to live.

There are several ways to break down the island, but here's a general overview from a real estate perspective:

* Town / Metro (Waikiki, downtown, St. Louis hts, Nuuanu, Manoa, etc) ~ People on Oahu call it "Town." What they mean is usually the downtown area of Honolulu, the business districts, and possibly China town. When you arrive at the airport and start heading toward Damond head (east) you are in town. Town could be Waikiki, Kaimuki, even Manoa. People who live in Town are called Townies. Most people who visit Oahu only see Town, the North Shore, and maybe Hawaii Kai if they go to Hanauma bay.

Living in Town is a lot like living in L.A. It's crowded, sort of dirty, and there are about 1000 condo buildings everywhere. If you look around and all you see are high rises, you are in Town.

* Windward side (Kailua, Kaneohe, Laie) ~ To many, the Windward side is paradise within paradise. For this reason it has some of the most expensive real estate on the island of Oahu. Some people call it the rainy side, because it seems like it rains almost every day. Thanks to all that rain, Kailua and Kaneohe (and Waimanalo) have the most lush, green, forests and mountains on Oahu. Much of the Windward side looks a lot like Kauai's north shore, with tall green mountains and thick foliage everywhere you look.

Kailua has recently been updated, which has made the little town into a very nice place to live. With America's best beach being Kailua beachpark, it's easy to see why real estate prices here have skyrocketed well over a million dollars.
Kaneohe unfortunately has not received the kind of care that Kailua has. Over the last few years it has been a bit neglected, and so the town feels a little run down lately. However, there are some wonderful homes down near the bay, which is a giant body of water where many sharks like to breed. If you're going to live in Kaneohe, you need to know that it is a highly military influenced town. That's because of the huge number of soldiers that live at Kaneohe marine corp base.
Up beyond Kaneohe is Laie, Ka'aawa (not a typo), Hauula, and a few other little towns that are very small, and very far from anything. When I drive through those areas I always wonder where those people work, because it would take them well over an hour to get into Town. Buying real estate up here is primarily for people who want a second home or vacation rental. You could live up there and commute, but why?

* East Oahu (Hawaii Kai, Kahala, Aiana Haina, Kaimuki) ~ Right after you pass Diamond Head on H1, the scenery starts to change. That's because just about everything east of Diamond Head is zoned as residential real estate. That means more homes, less high rises, less condos, and a more upscale feel to the area. Hawaii Kai was the first planned community in Hawaii, and it's clear as you look around that things are more orderly than in Town. The buildings are nicer, the houses are farther apart than in Town, and the traffic is lighter.

A lot of people that work in Town live in East Oahu, so sometimes the morning commute is kind of long, but it's nothing like the commute from the Ewa side (more later). Starting in Kahala, H1 turns into a minor 3 lane highway with stoplights. As you drive down the coast, you see multi million dollar homes perched on Hawaii Loa ridge and Aiana Haina. I think it's the best part of the island, perhaps because I live in Hawaii Kai.
Many people moving from the Mainland chose to live in East Oahu, particularly Hawaii Kai. This is probably because it feels most familiar to them. The size of homes, the demographics, the layout of the city - these all add to the familiar feel that mainland transplants appreciate about Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, and Kahala. I'll give you a free tour of Hawaii Kai, as long as you're going to buy a house here :)
Within Hawaii Kai, there are about 20 different neighborhoods, but the best thing is there is brand new construction in Hawaii Kai - the only new construction east of town! Hale Alii is a condo building of luxury condos going up later this year. Also there are 4 other neighborhoods that have been built in the last 4 years, so if you're looking for fairly new housing, Hawaii Kai is the place!

* Ewa (Ewa, Kapolei, Makakilo) ~ Ewa is pronounced E' VA, as in, "there's so much traffic on my morning commute, it takes fo' Ewa!" People who live in Ewa drive a lot. Even if they don't drive very far, they are in the car a lot. That's because there is exactly 1 way out of Ewa into Town, where most of the 50,000 people in Ewa work. But here's the positive side - Ewa, Kapolei, and Makakilo are the newest developed cities in Oahu, which means the homes are new, the building and some roads, almost everything is new. So on an island where everything gets rusted and oxidized by the sea air, the new housing can be very appealing.

People who live in Ewa typically do so because they want more house for their money, and they don't mind commuting - or at least they put up with it every though they mind it. The main problem is, as you drive into town in the morning, you're driving into the sun. As you drive home toward Ewa, you drive into the sun. Ewa folks will tell you that they spend half their life driving into the sun, and you can tell it's very annoying to them. But, if you want a new house with more space than you can get in East Oahu or in Town, then move to Ewa.
The average 3 bedroom 2bath house will run you about 25% LESS in Ewa than in Town or East Oahu. That is why you might want to check it out. However, make the commute one morning to make sure. Spend the night in Ewa and drive into town, then drive back to Ewa at 5pm. Wow. It's brutal. The 15 mile drive can take over an hour.

* Leeward side (Makaha, Nanakuli, Waianae) ~ There is not much to say about the Waianae side. It's a little run down, the houses are generally not well taken care of, and it's the longest drive in Hawaii to get from Waianae to town. The only reason to buy a house in Waianae is that it's dirt cheap and in the winter there is good surf. Other than that, I say forget it.

* Central (Mililani, Wahiawa) ~ About half way up H2 on the way to the North Shore, you pass through Wahiawa and Mililani. Mililani is another up and coming town that has a master plan. As such, it's layout is pretty good, especially in the new areas. There is old and new Mililani, and of course new Mililani is nicer because it's new! Housing here and in Wahiawa is a little cheaper than town, so a lot of people make the commute down. It's very green up in this area, and the trees remind people of Japan a little bit.

Around Wahiawa and Mililani are dozens of little communities. In fact there are so many that I don't think anyone could ever keep track of them all. There are hillside homes, valley homes, flatland homes, country, city, you name it, it's there. Also, there is a large military contingent, because of the base right there in the middle of Mililani.

* Pearl City area (Pearlridge, Aiea, Halawa) ~ If you need to live near Town, but you don't want to live right in it, Pearl City and the Aiea area are a good alternative. With housing prices that are a little lower then Kailua and the East side, there are still great properties for sale here. As you might suspect it's near Pearl Harbor, and if you can get a home on Halawa Hts or Aiea Hts, chances are you will have a nice view of the harbor. Some homes actually have a view all the way to Diamond Head. From Aiea, you can get a view of both ends of the island, depending on the position of your house.

The most popular local mall, Pearlridge, is a large center of shopping, eating, and all kinds of industrial and commercial businesses. This area has easy access to all the freeways, and is about as central to Town as anything else. Also, Aloha stadium is here, where you can enjoy all kinds of events, including a U2 concert in a few months.
Houses in Aiea and Pearl City are mostly old, but there actually have been a few homes built in the last 10 years. Also, in the older neighborhoods people are starting to tear down old homes and rebuild with new construction. If you can get one of these new rebuilds with a nice view, I think you'll be very satisfied.

* North Shore (Haleiwa, Sunset, Pupukea) ~ Big waves, 2 lane roads, and multi million dollar houses. Locals will call this area "country," as in, "I'm giong up country." Or, "the waves in country are huge!" Life on the North Shore is different than most of the island. It's a little bit like living in Kauai or the Big Island, except that you can get to Honolulu Town in about 30 minutes with no traffic. The famous Pipeline and Waimea Bay bring giant waves in the winter, and about a million tourists with them.

If you're thinking of living up country, you better not need to commute. There is nothing to do except surf and enjoy the ocean, or the country. There are no malls, hardly any stores, no entertainment. The country side of Oahu is for surfers, local people with local jobs, vacationers, and retirees. If you can afford a second home on the north shore, you're one of the lucky ones on earth. It's beauty and tranquility are second to none. The only problem is that there is a 2 lane road that runs all the way through the country, so if there's big waves, expect tons of traffic. Living on the North Shore is a little bit like living in a small town.

Relocation part 3
A checklist for your move to Hawaii

Find a job in Hawaii ~ The people who make it here are the ones who have a job that they like, one that pays enough, one that will last. The statistics are fuzzy, but a good percentage of people who move here from the mainland end up leaving within 5 years. Unfortunately, life in Hawaii is not always the paradise they were hoping for. Living on Oahu is living on an island, and all that entails. Look on www.monster.com or look in the Honoluluadvertiser.com classified section. Also try the www.starbulletin.com. If you're transfering to Hawaii within your company, look into the longevity of that job. Is it one that will force you to move away from Hawaii within a few years? I have found that the key is keep this mindset "I'm going to stay in Hawaii forever." If you come with the mindset of a temporary resident, you'll most likely end up leaving soon.

Estimate what it will take to live in Hawaii ~ Use the salary calculator in the previous post. Look up costs for your regular activities such as gym memberships, hobbies like golf, etc. Groceries cost a little more, but not much more now that we have 2 Costcos on Oahu. One is in Hawaii Kai on Keahole, and the other one is in town. Wherever you live on Oahu, you can get to Costco with less than a 30 minute drive in good traffic. Gas is a little bit more, depending on the day, and depending on which state you come from. Aloha Gas and Mahaloa Gas are all over the place. We have our own Chevron refinery too, out in Ewa.

Decide which area of the Islands you will live in ~ This is one of the first things you must do. Read the previous post, talk to me, talk to other residents, visit the island a few times. If you move here without visiting at least 3 or 4 times, you might find yourself very confused and disappointed with the area you choose. Where you live on Oahu will determine all kinds of things, but most importantly for your longevity here, it will determine your commute and your freinds.

Study company relocation policy to see what expenses are covered and which vendors are approved ~ If you're relocating with your company, you need to learn all about their policies. If you choose the wrong mover or the wrong lender, you may pay dearly for it. In other words, your company may not cover it.

Check which moving expenses will be tax deductible ~ Call your CPA and figure out what you can spend on government money. You might be surpised. If your move is work related, you will be able to write off a good portion of your Hawaii relocation.

Research Schools in Hawaii ~ Schools in Hawaii are a grab bag of all kinds of quality and style. We have private, charter, and public. The private schools will cost about $10k- $15k a year, even if it's just elementary. In fact there are some preschools that cost that much. The public school system is not the best, so research individual schools and talk to teachers and parents.

Estimate moving van costs ~ It costs about $10k to move a small 3 bedroom house from California, out of Long Beach, to Honolulu port. If you have more, expect to spend double, because more than that means you have to rent the entire 40ft container. There are dozens of companies out there, but most of them are going to put your furtniture on Matson, so just go directly there first and get a quote www.matson.com.

Shipping Your Car ~ Your car will cost $995 to ship on Matson from Long Beach California to the Honolulu port. If you're moving from anywhere else, it's either going to cost you more or you're going to have to drive it to the port. I would go to Matson for this too. I've heard of horror stories of people losing their car in the ocean...

Research options for temporary furnished housing ~ There are tons of temp housing units in Waikiki, although it's very expensive. A nice condo in Waikiki or the Ala Moana area can be as much as $1000 a week! If you look in some of the other less expensive areas like Nuuanu or Makakilo, even Kaimuki or Manoa, you're likley to find something for about 25% less.

Update your address book of friends and relatives ~ Don't forget to tell everyone about your move to Hawaii! Give them your new address early so you don't lose mail on the mainland. Mail to Oahu takes 2-4 days. I recently mailed a letter from Hawaii Kai to California and it took only 2 days. Pretty great.

Complete a change of address notifications at the post office ~ Do this before you get to Hawaii, or some of your mail will be lost. In fact, a week before your move would be best. That way when you land in Honolulu, you will have some mail waiting for you !

Begin sorting out those items you do not plan to move ~ Don't bring everything. It will cost you tons of money, and you don't need a lot of things in Hawaii that you need on the mainland. For instance, the weather in Hawaii is about 70-80 degrees all year. In mid January, the dead of winter, it's about 70 degrees at night and you can sleep with the windows open. So don't bring heavy jackets, snow chains, winter gear. I gave my snow chains away when I moved here...

Pack, then Pack again ~ one thing you have to remember, everything must be boxed. The movers are not going to take loose stuff in the container, so even lamps, ironing boards, EVERYTHING must be boxed. A bicycle is about the only thing you don't have to box. Wrap everything in paper and packing material. You don't want your stuff to be broken traveling the Pacific ocean on the way to Hawaii. Once you're done packing, you have to pack again. What?
After you Pack all your stuff, you have to pack it up in bigger boxes, and pack up the last minute items you need until the day of your move. You will be amazed at the little things that stick around your house until the last day. Coming to Hawaii is a BIG move. It means you have to pack everything perfectly, in big boxes, wrapped, padded, sealed.

Get a bank account in Hawaii ~ There are no mainland banks on Hawaii. Whatever bank you use, you have to switch, because all the banks are local only. We have First Hawaiian, American savings, Bank of Hawaii, and a few small others. We don't have your bank. Trust me. Do it early so you have checks that people will take.

Turn on new home's utilities ~ Do it a few days before you leave for Hawaii.

Turn off utilities at old home ~ Give yourself a day or two after you move out.

Get a Hawaii Driver's license ~ Unfortunately, you have to go the main city hall in town in Honolulu. There is nowhere else to get your license. You can renew a Hawaii Driver's License at the satellite city hall in your little town just about anywhere in Hawaii, but to transfer your first license to Hawaii, you have to go to the main branch of the city hall here in Town.

Register your car in Hawaii ~ Before you can register a car in Hawaii, you have to get Hawaii Car Insurance. No, your mainland insurance is not good enough. Your company may cover you, but that doesn't mean you can register the car here in Hawaii. You have to get a card that specifically says "Hawaii Insurance Card" on top. Call your company to see if they have offices here. Most people here use AIG, Geico, or some local company. Chances are you're going to have to switch. See what I mean by "living on an island?"

Relocation part 4
Top Schools in Hawaii
You may find a wonderful school with a wonderful teacher here in Hawaii. Your child may grow up brilliant and think back on his Hawaii education as something wonderful.

But unless you're coming from Arkansas, the schools in Hawaii may not live up to the standard you are used to. Having said that, you may find a wonderful school here in Hawaii if you get lucky. For example, I happen to know that the principle of Koko Head elementary school in Hawaii Kai, Cecelia Lum, works harder than just about anyone on earth. Parents of children at Koko Head school are very pleased with their children's education. So while some may dismiss all public education in Hawaii as second rate, there are definitely some great schools and teachers around.

Each year, Honolulu Magazine does an extremely thorough review of all the public schools in Oahu, in an annual article called "Grading the Public Schools." They review the math and reading grades, and get surveys from students, teachers, and parents. In math they rank the schools based on the percentage of students whose proficiency meets or exceeds Hawaii content and performance standards (HCPS). In Reading they show the percentage of students who proficiency that meet or exceed the same standards.

If you're going to have kids in public schools in Hawaii, I highly recommend getting a subscription to Honolulu Magazine. Also each year they review the private schools, although not nearly as thorough.

Here are the top 20 schools on the Honolulu Magazine review from May 2006:

Momilani elementary
Noelani elementary
Aina Haina elementary
Nu'uanu elementary
Mililani Mauka elementary
Waikiki elementary
Ma'emae'e elementary
Koko Head elementary
Wilson elementary
Manoa elementary
Pearl Ridge elementary
Aikahi elementary
Kula elementary
Sunset Beach elementary
Moanalua elementary
Konawaena elementary
Mililani 'Ike elementary
Webling elementary
Kahuku elementary
deSilva elementary

If you would like a free copy of this magazine, please email me and I would be glad to send you one.

As in real estate, for Hawaii schools, location is key
There are few factors that contribute to the bad rap that schools in Hawaii get. The main thing to keep in mind when researching our school system is, a study so general and wide in scope that includes schools from the remote parts of the neighbor islands such as Molokai and Lanai is probably of no use for you. Is it really fair to compare a downtown Honolulu school with a tiny Mokolai school? It is crucial to make sure the house you buy is in the district with the school you want your kids to go to. I have heard of situations where people bought a house thinking their kids could go to a certain school, only to find out later that their Realtor was wrong!

What you should do is look at the actual schools in the city you are hoping to live in. Sure there may be problems with our overall Department of Education, but that doesn't mean the school in your city will be a bad one, or that the teacher you get will be a bad teacher. For that matter, there are few bad teachers out there in the world. If a school does have problems, it might be facility or funding related. You may want to interview a teacher at the school, or even call the Parent Teacher Association.

Chances are, the school your child would attend will reflect the type of neighborhood you live in. Sadly, lower income neighborhoods might not have the best educational opportunities. In those areas, parents tend to be less involved in schools and in their child's learning, making it more difficult for faculty and staff to accomplish what they are hoping to do.

Here is a great site that will let you choose the areas and schools within Hawaii that you want to review. They will send you a report that tells you the graduation rate, college attendance rates, SAT averages, etc.

Here is the Hawaii Board of Education's website.

Would you buy a house just to change school districts?
Is there anything more important than your children’s' education? What sacrifices would you make to make sure they get into a good school?

Well here in Hawaii, the public school system has some standouts that people are willing to do just about anything for. How do I know? Because as I was searching through the keyword history of people who visit this site, I noticed "buy a town house in Koko head school district" as one of the recent searches.

You see in the above list that Koko Head elementary school was voted near the top in the state recently, so it's been in high demand. Add to that the hardest working principle in Hawaii, Ceclia Lum, and you have people climbing over district lines to get their kids into Koko Head school.

Also a great school ranked very high in surveys is Kamiloiki, which also happens to be in Hawaii Kai. At one point it was ranked #1 in the state. I don't remember what the criteria was.

Finally, there's Kaiser high school, which I was told just today, is a very good school. How good? The lady I spoke to today said she won't sell her house until her son graduates. Not because she wants him to have his friends, but because Kaiser is a good public high school, and there are few of those in Hawaii. So you see, there are a number of good schools in Hawaii Kai.

You could try the illegal method of using a fake address in Hawaii Kai (I don't recommend this) but for those less willing to break the law for their kids, you can look for affordable housing in Hawaii Kai.

So, we how about a list of affordable areas within Hawaii Kai? I searched the MLS for everything under $500,000 in this area (I remember when affordable meant $200k):

Lalea - a nice townhouse community, built about 9 yrs ago. A nice neighborhood with 1 bedrooms starting around $400,000. They are a bit small, but it's Hawaii Kai. Very near Kamiloiki school, but it might actually be Hahai’one school. (also a good one, but apparently not as good by some stats)

Colony at the Peninsula - the newest condos in Hawaii Kai. These units have not even been lived in yet. There are several for sale now under $500k, and they have hardly been touched. Since they're in the Peninsula, they have a lot to offer in terms of amenities. A huge green belt (see picture), a nice walking path around the Marina, it's gated, the pool, etc etc. An awesome complex.

Mariners Village - An older complex with a lot of run down units, but some people have started to renovate. It's all about the inside right? Well that's part of it anyway.

Kawaihae Crescent East - I'm not sure what school your kids would go to, because this building is the farthest west end of Hawaii Kai and there's not a school right next to it. Probably Hahaione. It's a bit old and some are run down, but actually at this price, it's the most square footage you're going to get. Right now there is one that is 1470ft for only $288,000 leasehold. Yes it's Leasehold, but still, you can't beat the square footage.

Village Green - This 40 year old building needs some updating. For leasehold units you can pay about $360k for 1305 ft right now. The older the building, the more space you get for your buck.

Mauna Luan - this building has a beautiful entry with lush green foliage and little waterfalls running in the lobby. Maybe that's why the monthly fee is $510. Some of the upper units have incredible views of the bay and Hawaii kai marina. There are 6 big condo buildings right in a row on Hawaii Kai drive, and this is maybe the best one. For $420k you can buy a 1 bedroom fee simple.

Plaza Hawaii Kai - A 30 yr old building with a nice pool. It's location is the best selling point, right on Hawaii Kai Drive. For $429k you get a very small 1 bedroom.

Commodore - Only 20 yrs old, it's in better shape than some of the other units mentioned, and has a lot of mature foliage. The monthly fee is high, at $555.

Heritage House Hawaii-kai - Some of these have a really nice marina view. Feels luxurious if you do. For $483k you can get a nice 1040ft 2 bedroom condo. This might be my choice of all these at the same price.

Relocation part 5
Moving your stuff to Hawaii
You have 2 or 3 couches, a refrigerator, 2000 books, clothes, cars, desks, lamps, dogs, etc. etc. How do you get all that stuff to Hawaii? First of all, you should know that people do it every day, literally every day. You pay about $10k for a 3 bedroom house full of furniture, including 2 cars, if you're coming from California to Honolulu's port. I recommend www.matson.com for moving cars at about $995 each, and www.allpointsvanlines.com for moving furniture.

They will come to your house, pack all your stuff into a giant truck, and put it on a boat that will take about 3 weeks to get to Honolulu's port. Not only will they put it in the truck, they will wrap it with a very strong plastic wrap that keeps everything from getting salt water all over it, and only after wrapping with it industrial strength padding. They will wrap the biggest and smallest things with incredible care, and you just might get everything over to Hawaii without any damage.

The most expensive part is the wrapping and boxing, so make sure that before they arrive at your home you have boxed everything as much as possible, including big things. Try to pad everything and tell them you don't need them to pad the obviously sturdy items too much.

It will cost about $1000 to wrap all your stuff in padding and plastic wrap. It might be worth it, consider what it would cost to replace 1 piece of furniture.

Make sure you call early and schedule your move weeks in advance. Make sure they come at least 1 full day before your flight. You don't want to be rushing to the airport as they are leaving your house. The packing will take many many hours, maybe ALL DAY.

If you have questions, email me alohatony@gmail.com I will be glad to answer any questions you have. It's my job!

Relocation part 6
Getting connected
Here's a topic not covered in most relocation guides: social connections. Take this scenario. John learns that his company in Nebraska has a position open for him in Waikiki. He would have a beautiful office overlooking Ala Moana, with Diamond Head in the distance. His salary would go up enough to offset the higher expenses, private schooling, and the moving costs are all covered.

After 6 months of planning, researching, John and his family arrive in Honolulu, buy a nice house in Hawaii Kai (because it's the best place!) and John goes off to work, leaving his wife Jenny at home with 2 kids. After she takes the kids to Iolani private school for the day, Jenny gets home and finds she has nothing to do, she knows no one, and she is lonely. After months of this loneliness, Jenny wants to go home. Understandable, she misses Nebraska, her parents, her friends, her social network. She can't explain exactly why, but she hates Hawaii.

After less than 2 years, John and Jenny sell their home in Hawaii Kai, John takes a demotion, and they leave Oahu to go back to Nebraska. I didn't make this story up, at least not completely. Different versions of this story happen in Hawaii over and over every year. Thousands of people move to Honolulu thinking that paradise is going to be, well paradise. But the problem is, after only a short time, a huge percentage people who relocate to Hawaii end up going back.

Here is a lesson for all you relocating to Hawaii: Make friends here. The more friends you have who live in Hawaii, the better chances that you will love it here. Yes it's simple and not new information, but here's some ideas for you so you can actually do it.

How to make friends in Hawaii:
Go to church. Yes I'm biased here, as a lay-pastor in my church, I'm convinced that a church is a great place to make good friends, and of course find spiritual fulfillment and nourishment. Being a volunteer or being in a small group can help you meet lots of new local Hawaii residents. There are about 1000 churches in Oahu, so Google "find a church in Hawaii" and start going to some. Come to mine. It's at http://www.harborhawaii.org/ We will welcome you!

Join a kids' group, like Baby Hui, Tiny Tots, or MOPS. Getting involved in some kind of group for moms and kids is a great way to meet lots of great people. Baby Hui groups are all over Oahu and they are cheap.

If your kids are in school, get involved in the PTA or volunteer to be a teacher's aide. The Hawaii elementary schools scored very low on parent involvement, so that means there is plenty of room for you to help out teachers. Any teacher should be willing to let you help out. The other parents will love you for it. You will meet a lot kids and their families, and of course, the teachers.

Join a club. In Hawaii, rowing is a huge social event. I'm talking outrigger canoeing here, not lake paddling. Join a hiking or biking club, a kayaking or diving group. There are hundreds of outdoor activities to enjoy in Hawaii, and if you're in Honolulu, there are thousands of clubs that do these activities together. Waikiki has surfing clubs, running, walking, paddling, swimming, fishing, kite surfing, wind surfing, you name it, we got it. Get with people who like to do what you like to do.

Volunteer somewhere, like the Hanauma Bay foundation, an organization that helps take care of the world famous snorkeling facilities at Hanauma Bay. Hawaii has thousands of acres of conservation land, and a lot of it is cared for by volunteers. If you learn about the land, or aina in Hawaiian, then you'll learn to love Hawaii more.

Coach a sport. Even if you kids are not in them coaching AYSO soccer or kids basketball is not a huge commitment, and you'll meet plenty of families. I have probably met 100 families through coaching soccer.

As a bonus, also try this ? negotiate an extra amount in your salary for flying expenses. Yes that's right, ask your new employer to give you an extra amount to use for airfare to and from Hawaii, either for you or for your family. Or, if you're getting a raise when moving here, then set aside some money at the beginning of the year so you can either fly home twice a year or bring your friends out.

The move to Oahu or especially one of the neighbor islands can feel a little isolating, so it makes things much easier to know that you will still see your family a few times a year. If you've built into your salary some air fare for you and your family, you can at least know that you will see your family often. What I've found is that living in Hawaii doesn't mean I have to have less total time with family, but the time with them is concentrated into a couple weeks a year. Besides, you may even find you like having them away3;

Finally, if you get here and you just can't seem to make any friends, call me. You can go out for dinner with my family. But you're buying.

Relocation part 7
How to buy a house in Hawaii, or rather, what to do before you buy a house here
Some people will tell you that certain aspects of Hawaii are different than any other state in America. In fact we sometimes joke that Hawaii seems like a third world country now and then. That´s a gross exaggeration, but there are some things that you need to know before buying a house in Hawaii.

Talk to a local real estate agent. (I know it´s self serving.) A local agent will know which neighborhoods have problems with huge carpenter ants, mold, excessive rain, or no rain, etc. We know which neighborhoods are a good investment, and which areas to avoid for resale value. So step 1, call me. Ask me a million questions.

Talk to a local lender. Lending, like everything else in Hawaii, is different here. We do surveys on property, we don´t use lawyers as in east coast states, our loan limits are way higher. A local lender will know things that a mainland lender won´t, and those little things can cost you money or even blow the whole deal for you. I recommend Lance Doiguichi at Countrywide here in Honolulu Town.

Expect less. That´s right, lower your expectations. Living in paradise means it´s always warm and wet, so we have mold. It means we don´t need insulation, so a lot of houses are single wall construction, meaning there is no stud behind that wall you´re looking at. Behind that wall is Hawaii, the outdoors. Houses, like everything else here in the tropics, wear out fast. Things rust, corrode, oxidize, break. Look for giant termites and ants, roaches. We got em all.

Use this site to look at pictures of houses, check out neighborhoods, learn about Hawaii. Once you see what houses really look like here, how they feel, then you´ll see what I´m talking about. Our building codes were very loose until recently, and physical appeal was not as important as it has been on the mainland.

Drive. Drive all over the island when you visit. Do the commute from Ewa to Hawaii Kai. Drive from Waikiki to the North Shore.

Finally, if you haven't done so already, contact me: I'm a local real estate agent with plenty of experience and I can help you through the process of getting here step by step.