Follow my 10 Steps to a Job in Hawaii and you can’t go wrong. I noticed you posted a similar question on that page but didn’t answer my reply/question.

I have been applying for jobs in the island of oahu (Im single no kids) and work in the finance world (last 16 yrs) and finished my MBA last summer and I’m looking at government and private sector jobs.

My question is how much of a challenge is it to aquire a job while living on the mainland? Do you feel employers are apprehensive hiring someone for a job on the island that isn’t living there yet? I just assumed the flexibility that I have, and I’m not leaving much behind as far as family. I’m just trying to understand how to convey my commitment in this process.

Make sure you sign up for the newsletter as that’s the vehicle I’m using to launch our job finder program. Also check the editors choice link for how to get a job in Hawaii

Yes Peter I am trying to find a job in Hawaii I was born in Honolulu. I am trying to get my family there to enjoy the life I want my to have a good life and I think we would have a better chance there than KY if you have any advice or help with a job I can do alota of things jack of all trades. I was raised on 265 Acer’s so I know how to hard and be on time. Hope you have some input for me

Comes down to really two options today: either in-person (which means you are here) or online (which means you need to find them).

So, did you make the move yet? I just wanted to point out that there are 5 other islands beside O’ahu to consider. You also said you found a studio in Honolulu for $600- are you sure that is per month? Cause that sounds more like a per week price in anything within a half mile of the ocean…But, the economy it picking up and I see “help wanted” signs thruout Kona and Hilo on the Big Island!

You are right Patty! In fact if you are living anywhere in CA from Marin county down the coast and within 60 mile of the ocean, chances are you will find the cost of living, at least on the outer islands, to be a little less, or equivalent. For O’ahu (think Honolulu, Waikiki or Pearl Harbor and Trippler) you may not have much sticker price problems on homes or apartments (if u can find one,) BUT if you are a professional you may expect to be paid less for what u are already doing and good at. The issue is that for some reason, we all put up with what we call ‘the luxury tax” for living in parodiase–lower salaries overall and higher commodity costs if they come from the mainland (or any other country because longshoremen and collective bargaining made it so that ALL ships carrying goods to be sold MUST stop at a Mainland Port prior to coming here!). Anyway, unless you buy “made in Hawaii” you pay more. And in Honolulu you pay tourist prices no matter…

My late uncle built his own house on the hills above Hilo. It’s still there. I haven’t seen him since he died, though. And that’s been a lot of years now. In my case, though, that kind of “connection” to the Big Island is more than I can say for MOST of the other places I’ve looked at or gone to to try to find a job. That I ever HAD an uncle there, is already way more than I can say for where I am now, so that’s already a “plus” in my case.

The Big Island is smaller in population, quieter, and more “laid back” than O’ahu. Hilo is about 43,000 in population. I wouldn’t guess as to Kona’s population but it’s smaller than that. The island has 4 active volcanoes on it. At least 2 of them are the two places in Hawai’i which actually get snow in the winter (on top). There is a smaller campus of the University of Hawai’i in Hilo. (It doesn’t have my field, Computational Biophysics).

My uncle was retired (everyone was already really old by the time I was born), so he didn’t need to work there so I have no idea what the job market is like on the Big Island, sorry. I’m thinking people crowd into Honolulu for a reason.

All I can tell you is that as I looked at the cost of shipping my car out of Boston to anywhere, the shipping companies all want to charge me three or four times’ the car’s blue book value, so I’m not going to do it! Of course, this answer is based on MY place of residence and the costs I’M used to as someone who’s Bi-Coastal (San Francisco, New York/New England). Now, I don’t know if that’s the shipping companies’ general calculation factor: three to four times the value of the car, but I’m just saying that’s what they’re quoting ME.

Thank you, New Yorker! I’m not alone in this!! I’m trying to find articles on “moving to Hawai’i FROM A SAN FRANCISCAN OR NEW YORKERS’ point of view”…!!

Now. If you are talking about the Kona that’s on the Big Island, I’ve actually been there. Otherwise, I hope someone can help you without starting the conversation with that dastardly “it’s going to be expensive…” bulls*** I’m getting so tired of hearing myself. Now, it’s partially my fault I’m hearing this every time I open my mouth around here – I’m departing from the Mountain Time Zone and what I call “the land of the lost” so if I was departing FROM San Francisco people would just be telling me “it’ll be the same as here, only farther out into the ocean…”

Yes I can tell you that the state and local governments are hiring legal personnel and they’d probably prefer someone who’d worked as a paralegal for that many years over someone with a law degree. Don’t know how long it takes to hear back from a government job there, though (not like Upstate New York which does periodically HIRE people off the eligibility lists…) I’d say try the state and local governments’ websites and apply but I just remembered you said you’re IN New York and you have to have a Hawai’i address and phone number before they’ll even look at it. And preferably be IN it.

I wish people wouldn’t start off that way – I”m starting to get really snarky with them and afraid I’ll make the wrong impression when I get there and bite someone’s head off who’s complaining “this is so expensive…” with a Southern accent.

You might get what’s called a “District Exception” for your son to attend a school that’s outside your district and there’s (of course) a whole process for that. The people who offered you a job would be able to give you very specific information but on a general basis Manoa is one of the best (i.e. expensive) neighborhoods on Oahu so you won’t have much of a problem. Good luck!

Do I have a choice on what school my son can attend? I thought it went by where you live. I will be on the UH staff and not faculty, though one day maybe! I will be at the UH Manoa if I accept and wondered what you thought a good pay range to survive in that area might be. I am looking around at housing/apartments right now and trying to get an idea of expenses there. Also do you know are there taxes on renting a place and is there a required rental insurance? I have noticed that on several ads and have not seen that before. Is there any section of the Manoa area that I would not want to live in?? I am in touch with the people who offered me the job and am trying to get information there too. Hawaii seems like it would be the perfect place to live in paradise and make a new start if I can afford it. Thanks again

Cool! Looks like you’ve got a good financial base. Joining soccer teams will of course be a natural. Do a ton of research on the school for your son to attend as they vary widely. Hawaii is the perfect place to “run away to” and start a new life. Do a ton of research to get well-prepared and it seems you’ll be able to make it work. Good luck and keep us posted! If you’re going to be part of UH faculty please let me know as I know that organization extremely well.

Strongest recommendation I can give to you is this: (a) Get connected w/ the local community (you can use online methods) and (b) Get yourself out here for a vacation and check it out, preferably attending an industry-type event/luncheon/etc. Can’t stress enough the need to establish local connections.

Aloha Maria B! I just read your comments about SD and had to reply. I’ve lived in the LA, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and SD counties (SoCal native) most of my life. I recently went on vacation with my extended family (13 in total) for a little over a week on Oahu. I found the prices on some things to be identical to the prices we pay in SoCal for things (Spam is way cheaper – FYI). I also found that the rent in some areas were identical if not a little cheaper than that in SoCal! The main difference I saw was in the job market. If you can save up some money, and research/find a decent job (and I’m not talking min. wage/part time jobs), it isn’t very much different than living in SoCal as far as costs go. I can say that I’m totally trying to get my husband on-board with moving… my 20 year old and I NEVER wanted to leave! Good luck to you!

The only reason i ask is because I was planning on making the move soon, and found a nice rental for about 1500 a month. How long does it feasibly take to get a job? If you’re just starting out, you should take a part time job or a general labor job to at least help ease up on your savings, and then work towards getting the job you want. I can’t for the life of me see how anyone would need more than 10,000 to start anew.

great article though.

Yes! Do it! Pursue your dreams and make them come true!

Hmm…well I moved here in ’84 and had about that much money and I barely made it. Today things are much more expensive. Then again, I was pretty picky in terms of the job I wanted to take. Just keep a reserve to pay for a flight back and at the very least you will have an amazing life experience. Go for it!

Oahu has the traffic Joe – many times more than Maui, but Maui is the nicer place to be by far. lol. I think if you had 15-20K reserve when you arrived, and you had a car, you might just make it. A real estate assistant wouldn’t pay much, but I think you’re right, anybody could be an agent. I sold RE in Florida. It isn’t difficult. A car is essential. Knowing the area is essential. Why not give it a go? Best of luck to you man, hope you check in to let me know how it’s going. Aloha!

Hi Billy,

I have the same ambition to move to Maui. I have never found a place more beautiful, EVER.

I was wondering?? If you and your wife were to move to Maui,
what type of business would you be looking into?

Looking for something that would be a great business as well as making a decent living.
Are you and your wife pet people? I see that the market for pet food and pet supplies is very limited. hmmmmm……
Are you looking for a partner or ?

All I know is that I will live in Maui, one way or the other! :)
Wow, your wife is a nurse?? AWESOME! They have a Kaiser Permanente there.
Anyway, just looking for people who share the same dream…

Thanks so much,
Helen

I haven’t the slightest idea what it takes for someone from India to move to Hawaii. Sorry!

Yeah, wouldn’t we all Colin… wouldn’t we all…

I don’t think…, no, I know, you cannot get a job before you move to the Hawaiian Islands. Almost nobody does it. If you have amazing skills in some area, someone might hire you out of pure desperation to find someone that can do the job. But, if your skills are not in great demand, you’ll never get a job before you arrive. A single mom of 4 had better have $50,000 in savings and a good bailout plan if moving to Hawaii falls through. Please think it through before you decide to move. Aloha!

I think there is always a chance, but at the moment, it is probably not a great chance. You’ll have a tough time, just plan for that if you decide to go. Jobs are tough all over, and nobody owes you a job because you grew up on the Big Island. If you have any friends or relatives there now, it might be worth getting back in touch with them to see if they know anyone that wants a roommate for a while so you can check it out and see what the situation is. Does it make sense to move right now? That’s the big question. Good luck! Aloha!

hope to seee posible answers so that i can know it

i am from india, my girlfriend from philipines now relocated to hawaii, she is just turned 18. but as she is also not citizen of usa too still, i want to relocate to hawaii so that i cant loose her in life can somebody help me the ways how i can make this a success and live happily with her.

can somebody have answers and help in this subject.

Put it this way – we have 2 toddlers. No way, no how, would we move to Hawaii without savings, at least one job lined up (for one of us parents), and a place to rent. We dream about moving to Hawaii and find a large portion of our free time surfing the net looking at everything Hawaii! We are learning a lot and will make a 10 or so day trip there prior to moving. Actually, our plan is to move there and NOT work for a couple months and just enjoy life and get to know the area. We will be moving debt free and I am the queen of weekly specials, roadside produce stands, and craigslist for home furnishings! We know not to blow money on silly things like going out to eat, spending $40 at the movie theatre, paying for parking when there is a free lot a block away, or spending excess on clothes and other meaningless items.

We are from Ohio – lived there our whole lives. In 2007, I had been working from home for about 2 years and the company told me those days of emailing from my living room were over. However, I was offered a position in the office. Which just so happened to be in San Diego, California. I had always dreamed of moving to Cali, so we figured, aw what the heck? I cannot tell you how many people said.. oh the cost of living! the traffic! the hot weather! you name it.. we heard it. And guess what? We are just fine. Even better off than before we moved here! We established ourselves as a family unit and paid off well over $10k in debt. We live in a very nice 2br/2ba condo in a town just north of San Diego. Its great, just not our forever home. We are well aware of the expenses in Hawaii. I am also aware that the grocery stores have sales, just like they do here. And if ground meat is too expensive one week, and chicken is only $1.19 per pound – then the bird it is! I mean do you really think we need burgers again? I think not. What I am trying to say (which might spark another article idea for you!) is that if we are smart as Americans, we can live anywhere we want. We just need to be smart about the way we live and the choices we make. I Googled Maui grocery stores and just like the mainland stores, they post their weekly special flyer on their website. The prices were just about the same as they were here in California. We are used to high prices and nearly 9% sales tax. It’s California – we pay for everything. We call it the ‘weather tax.’ I am assuming its about the same in Hawaii.

Anyways, I am rambling on and not asking any questions. Sorry about that! I am still wondering.. where is a good place to look for homes for rent – particularly in Maui?

Another thing.. when I finish my Master’s it will be in Speech Pathology. All schools need them, and I am hoping that a school or nursing home in Maui is hiring as well. The pay is great. I will try to get hired at a company called EBS Healthcare (who employs my best friend and cousin) as they are a contractor and place SPs in places all over the country 0 including Hawaii.