This may sound stupid but i must ask...

Ok, I am moving to Hawaii and I am just consumed with knowing everything about it. So, I have been researching, and felt I should ask you all... Being that it's sorrounded by water, are there some serious insect issues there? I read on one site that flying roaches are everywhere and that centipedes are HUGE! I know this may seem like a stupid question, but like I said I must ask Thanks

I haven't lived in hawaii in over 20 years.....BUT...yes there is a major roach problem, but the gecko's love them...if you have gecko's you more than likely won't have a roach problem.....also, yes the centipedes are huge......if i remember correctly the are difficult to kill......i was pre-teen when i lived there.....but i had a problem with bee's.....i'm allergic and was always getting stung.....not fun when it took me 2 weeks to get rid of the swelling.... im sure you'll love your time on the islands.....don't let the locals get to you, they tend to be down right anti haole (among Polynesian Hawaiians, a non-Polynesian, esp. a Caucasian)......but just be yourself and don't let them get to you......once your accepted.....you're good to go Good Luck on your move Ruth Ann

thanks ruth ann for your help. I was really curious about that cause I would always watch shows on the travel channel and everyone eats outside on the lanais and I'm like "gee there must not be any insects". I am terrified of bees and wasps. As far as the locals hating whites, well i'm good there cause I am black lol. How do they feel about black people? I grew up in the south, it can't be much worse than there. lol

LOL well it has been 20+ years since i've been there, not sure what the feelings are on black people, but i never heard of any problems.....i was a military brat so i was hated from the get go, but once the locals learnt i was born on the island i was good to go lol....but that's kids for ya.... good luck on your move Ruth Ann

Wow Ruth, sounds like you have no clue about Hawaii. I am a local. Born in Hawaii and I do not treat people differently because of their color or origin. In my lifetime in Hawaii I hung out with everyone and all of my friends were local. Alot of white, black and Asians here and they are all locals and are all my friends. If you were treated like an outsider you were probably acting like you belong somewhere else. As for the roaches, they are a problem in every messy home. Clean your house and do your dishes and take out the trash once in a while and you won't have a roach problem. I seen worse in places in the Mainland. I haven't seen a centipede in over 20 years at least. There is alot of crime and drugs but no hate crimes which I read about happens in the mainland. Over here the criminals don't care who you are they will rob you just the same. So please.. Don't hate on the locals.

Hahahaha...Hawaii does have roaches everywhere. They are quite larger than the ones in the states and they fly (unless you're moving from New York where theirs are the size of sewer rats...lol). There are a lot of centipedes in certain areas...especially in the parts that are near or used to be cane/pineapple fields. Other areas I don't see too many. ~Dana

Hi Cammy, You just need to remember...Oahu is a city and it does have it's good points and bad ones. Just like any other city it has it's drug problems, robberies, areas to stay away from, etc. It's not all negative here as some people might make it sound. Hawaii is a melting pot of every ethnical race possible, that's what makes Hawaii HAWAII. Like I tell the Navy people I come in contact with at work, to enjoy the islands you need to come with an open mind and be willing to try the different things the islands has to offer. If we ever have a WLS get together while you're here I do hope you come and join us. The people I've met from this board are awesome! Aloha, Kris

Thanks Kris for the comments I am very much coming with an open mind. I live in Missouri where we are currently experiencing an severe ice storm. We were fortunate to find a hotel but many were not. This type of weather makes me more and more anxious to leave! I am well aware of the it having it's good and bad points. Every place on this earth does. I very much look forward to trying the different things hawaii has to offer. That's one of the things I am really going to love. I have never been there and I am uber curious. I told my husband I wanted to goto the volcano. He said, "you crazy!" I know that I will experience and do things there I would never do on the mainland. My husband and I are talking about renewing our vows. We always said we would do it for our 50th wedding anniversay. But since we will be in Hawaii for our 10th, we were like why the heck not lol. I also appreciate your invite to wls get togethers. Are they open to non ops? I have no interest in wls. It would be great to meet some board members though.

My boss just renewed his wedding vows too, his wife wanted to renew their vows in Hawaii before he gets transferred middle of this year. I'm sure you'll have a blast while you're here. Hey, anytime you want to hike up to the Makapu'u Lighthouse let me know. lol I've lived here all my life and I've never done that, but then again not I could do it before due to all the weight I was carrying. Looking forward to meeting you at the next get together (and it's pretty much open to everybody). Aloha, Kris

Cammy, I lived on Oahu for 21yrs and I made the best friends in my life there. I moved back to the mainland in the 80's and we still talk on the phone almost daily. They have huge roaches over there...and centipedes and I never got use to those critters. I hope you will have as much good fortune there as I did...I married a local boy. Just enjoy the beautiful weather (every day). Good luck to you. Aloha, Alice By the way Aloha means either or HELLO, GOODBYE, LOVE depending on how it is used.