OT:Thinking of Moving to Hawaii?

Hi, It appears this board is not to busy... I hope you guys can help.  Be honest, how expensive is it to live in Hawaii?  Can you get a home and or a place to live without costing a fortune?  What is the cost of living?  Food and such? Any input advice would be greatly appreciated. Take care, Kathy

Hi Kathy, It is exspensive.  But I would love for you to move to Hawaii.  I need more support and walking buddies, etc. Take Care, Kemalani

And I would imagine we would be walking in some of the most beautiful area in the world. What is an average for say a 3 bedroom 2 bath in a safe area? Thanks, Kathy

To rent  would be about 2000 to 3000 a month.  To buy would probably be 400 to 600,000. Thanks, Kema

I moved here almost three years ago. Here's my perspective: For a 1600 sq. ft. house, no pool, no ocean view, in a noisy neighborhood, I paid $700,000. I think now it would be about $850,000, based on houses for sale in my neighborhood. My mortgage is an astounding $4,000 a month. Milk is almost $9.00 a gallon, unless you shop at Costco. Groceries for my family of 4 (2 young ones) runs me about $200 a week. Car insurance is more expensive here. It's too hot for me to walk most of the time. Life is very different here and I have found it very difficult to adapt to such a different life. In some ways, it's like living in the 1950's. In some ways it's like living in another country. And I moved here from Alaska so I'm used to remoteness, so it isn't that. Life is just different here.

Thanks for your honesty.  My son is hoping to move there.  He is getting married and his future wife is from Hawaii.  He wants me to go there as well, but I hear unless you have money it's hard to enjoy all the island has to offer. I just am not sure.  He is so excited and  young and you know they sometimes don't see the big picture. Thanks again!!! Take care, Kathy ps...are jobs hard to find?

We have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.   We also have a high homeless rate.  Lots of jobs are minimum wage or too low to survive on.  Obviously, tourism and retail have tons of jobs.  Can't pay the rent working at Starbucks or McDonalds though...

With small homes costing over 3/4 millions dollars and milk $9 a gallon, I don't think Wal-Mart would do What is the industry there?  I need to buy a boat and give tour rides.  Take care, Kathy

take me with YOU.. I'll buy the MILK Hi Kathy I was just browsing over here.. seeing If I saw Linda and I did and posted to HER.. . and saw your post.  I hope life is good to you these days.  Doesn't living on Hawaii sound awesome.. if we could afford it..  just move in with Tom Selleck..    take care...   Rhonda

Hey Rhonda, Who is the new guy?  Tell all!!! Well, my son and his soon to be new wife were going to move th HI and then out of the blue they got approved for a home loan.   There is no way they would be able to afford a house there so they have decided to stay in Chicago for awhile.  With winter coming I am sure they may regret that decision. The grandbabies are not here yet, but I don't want to be far away so I was thinking of going with them. So anyway we are going to stay here for now.  We are going in a couple of weeks to take care of some wedding stuff.  They are getting married next May.  This will be my first time there and I am so excited. Good to hear from you again!!! Take care, Kathy