Dr availability/newbie question

Hi everyone!!
As I posted earlier, we will be landing in Honolulu on 12/31/08. We bought our tickets inJanuary and started preparing for the move, selling the house and all of our "stuff" so we are prepared to live small, and jsut enjoy life. We are looking to get out of the rat race, we have been in Dallas for 10 years and are ready for a change. I have not lived anywhere other than Texas.

Is there a doctor on the island? My husband and I are both banded. i have had mine 2 years and he had his one year. He had to fly to mexico a few months ago as his band slipped. I wonder should we have issues do we need to factor in financially a flight to see a docotr, or will there be one accessible?

I guess we are just thinking about all that could happen, and the economy the way it is we are wondering about jobs, and where to find a place so hopefully we can have only one car. Then my daughter tells me she is pregnant with my first grandbaby...6 months AFTER we bought tickets and sold everything. UGH....no stress lol

We have enough family that I have no worries, we will just fly her and the baby to see us.   The closer it gets the more questions we seem to have.

Thanks for any input...
Deanna

Dr Fowler at Castle Hospital is great.  They also have a great program and support group.  I would say no worries about moving here.  You guys will love it.  My husband and I are actually leaving Hawaii and moving to Houston in December and I am really bummed about leaving my doctor and support system.  I just want to say welcome and enjoy the island.

Ps.  AS far as finding a job goes (and I am not sure what you both do) I wouldn't worry too much.  Hawaii is actually one of the better states as far as employment goes.  I read soemwhere just the other day that Hawaii has a low unemployment rate. 

Wow... things must be better on Oahu. Here on Maui good paying jobs are hard to come by and getting harder every day. Places are laying people off and firing others. People are leaving left and right because they weren't prepared to weather the tides of a low visitor industry period which happens from time to time. You really need to be financially prepared if you plan on living here. It isn't at all like when you're here on vacation. You work HARD and often at more than one job to make ends meet. All business suffers when tourism is down and we're really being cautious here now.

But, this (board) isn't the place to get negative, so I will wish you all the luck in the world. I only want to be honest and real about the situation here just like everywhere.... it's TOUGH! Just like anything else, do your homework and you'll have a chance of living a wonderful life in Paradise.

(Not sure I would consider Honolulu out of the rat race, though! Man, you couldn't get me to drive in that traffic over there EVER!!!!!!!!!!) I'll stick with Maui, mahalo! Although, it's getting worse every day, too! E Komo Mai!!!!!!!!! ((hugs))

I agree you ned to be financially prepared to live here and my husband and I have decided to leave for tht reason.  We both have great jobs but I am currently on medical leave because of an injury and there is no telling when I will be able to go back to work so financially we need to be somewhere that we can make it on one salary.  As for jobs here I am seeing jobs available every day.  I think it just depends on what you do.  Anyway Sorry it is hard to find a job on Maui I hope it gets better.

You will find a job here on Oahu no problem however remember that most times Hawaii is one of the lowest paying states.  Many Hawaii residents move to the mainland to get better paying jobs.

Hey guys...Thanks for the input. Glad to know there is a doctor close.  As far as the difficulties, we are not coming there with stars in our eyes, we are aware that we will not be living there like we live here. We are okay with that. All we want is a small studio somewhere where we will not be in danger and each other. We are prepared to make less and have less and have no problem at all with that. We do not care what we do, or where we do it. My husband has been in warehouse management shipping/receiving for 22 years and I have owned a daycare, worked daycare, been a teller and worked in mortgage banking the last 10 years.

So between that as long as we are making about $10 an hour each, we are going for the experience, to get a taste of the Hawaiian culture. We may stay 6 months, a year or 2, and then move on to somewhere else we have always wanted to see.

So thanks for all of the input, and hope everyone is doing well. My husbands cousin is in Maui and he LOVES it there. We just thought I would have more job oportunities in or around Honolulu. We have done all of our research on Oahu.
Deanna

Aloha~!
Just to clarify... I am fine and my job is, hopefully, stable. I know a lot of people though who have owned their own business, lost it, and are having to take on jobs waiting tables to survive. I also have a friend in the fine restaurant business who has been getting cut back on hours more and more each week. She's a senior and fortunately isn't totally dependent on the income. If she were, she'd never be able to make ends meet. Businesses are getting creative to find ways to increase their versatility in order to survive. It's tough.

Anyway.... sorry to be a Negative Nillie here.... I just hate it when people come with grand hopes and dreams of living in Paradise and after a couple years they are forced to make a bitter retreat. In these times, everyone is suffering and we all need to be aware. Also, it's a very transient society here... keeping friends (and employees) is difficult.

So! It's a new week! I wish everyone success with their continued weight loss/maintenence/exercise!! A hui hou!

Welcome to Hawai'i!