Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Tiger Beer]

Anyone ever look into it?

The real estate is there.. but many of it is off-the-grid electricity-wise, etc. But its there, and will probably develop soon enough.

Anyways.. anyone look into it much?

Here is a good thread about it: http://www.city-data.com/forum/hawaii/2958-puna-hawaii.html

Map of the Big Island:

[bassexpander]

Dude, I imagine you were serious, but it's really funny to see "VOLCANO" noted on one side, and water on the other.

[Bibbitybop]

I have friends who invested and built houses in the Puna district. This is on the lavaflow area under Mauna Lea. Many scientists believe it has one more big explosion left in its belly. Others say it's done. A lot of the area is just lava rock. That's why its the cheapest land you'll find on the isles and thats why my friends built a house there.

[catman]

Just came back from the Big Island a few weeks ago. It is my favorite part of Hawaii. Rented a cottage for a week outside of Volcano Park.

[Nowhere Man]

Let me preface by saying I love Hawaii.

Tourist trap shmourist trap. Anything other than Honolulu is idyllic in terms of a) landscape and b) temperature.

But living in Hawaii is another thing. I was actually there on business once upon a time.

1) First of all, there are hicks in all 50 states. Hawaii is certainly not an exception, and with Hawaii comes a certain racist/newcomer element. Hawaiians aren't really crazy about more people coming to live there.

2) I'm not looking at the map right now, but the Pau (Kau?) county to the south of the volcano is major drug-dealing territory. Captain Cook was the biggest city/town in the area I'm referring to.

3) At the time I was there, that volcano is in a minor state of constant eruption. this produces "vog" (volcano fog), so that area is often overcast.

4) I'd be interested in hearing more about what Bibbitybop knows. I mean I saw that area. Volcanic rock looks a lot like an asphalt tarmac. How does one lay plumbing and such there? You can see what's happened over time, but that time seems pretty slow on the human life scale. why are people selling?

5) Everything is more expensive in Hawaii than the mainland. You get a discount card as a resident, but it's still not cheap.

[Tiger Beer]

[darkcity]

i'm interested in hearing more insights about living in hawaii.

after i save up some money from korea/japan, i was thinking about moving there.

[Czarjorge]

Please note that as an outsider you tend to suffer in Hawaii. Natives rule, emigrants drool. That's the rule.

Fasi.

[Bibbitybop]

1. Hawaii does have an enormous amount of racism, even the cops tend to turn a blind eye. Hawaiian judges have a "boys will be boys" mentality for dealing with Hawaiian youth. When I was there, a young Hawaiian man hit a tourist from Texas in the head with a whiskey bottle on the beach. The judge felt like this assault with a dangerous weapon deserved only the night in jail the Hawaiian endured.

2. Meth is HUGE in Hawaii. The education and social system is underfunded and sucks. People turn to drugs and alcohol a lot of the time. The "war on drugs" in the 1990s (Operation Greensweep, namely) got rid of a LOT of the marijuana there. "Maui Wowie" is no more. Now the herbs are imported from Cali most of the time and the locals turn to meth because it's easy to make and conceal. One town on the big island, Pohoa I believe, was reported to have 70% (SEVENTY!) of the population using or abusing crystal meth (called "ice" over there). Add poverty to drugs and you get crime. LOTS of theft on the islands, so much so people don't lock their cars and even leave windows down so thieves know they don't have to break a window.

3. Haoles (non-Koreans, immigrants to Korea, or white people) tend to stay on the islands for 6 months to 1 year before leaving due to the high cost of living and low rates of pay. West Maui, based on costs of living, was THE most expensive place to live in the USA back in 2002. Then, it costs a minimum of 30,000 a year for a single person to rent an apartment, have a car and have food. You can live cheap in Hawaii by cramming people into apartments and houses, sharing vehicles, fishing, hitchhiking (relatively safe despite the meth problem!) and working and living on farms. But unless you want to live in a tent on a farm or in a hostel, you are going to work your ass off. Unless you are a professional (doctor, lawyer, etc.), the best jobs are $15-20 an hour jobs working construction or waiting tables at GOOD restaurants. Most other jobs are given to locals by locals. Most people don't get good jobs and live paycheck to paycheck. Hawaii is paradise, but after a year, you get island fever and are broke.

[canuckistan]

Friends of ours lived there for a year and couldn't wait to leave after 6 months--very expensive for housing, food, and general life. They were spending so much just for basics there wasn't a lot left over for "fun".

[ghohn]

I'm going to have to agree and disagree with Bibbitybop on this one.

He hit the nail on the head with this one. The meth problem is terrible. Depending on where you are at (and who you are with), being haole will subject you to some form of racism or another. On the other hand, some of the coolest most welcoming people I have ever associated with were native Hawaiian. Fellow haoles on the other hand, are a mixed bag. I believe it has something to do with prolonged sun exposure and "island fever". Island fever is VERY REAL.

I moved to Hawaii immediately following student teaching and was flat as broke (down to 300 USD dollars). Yes, the education system is terrible. My expereience was that I was pretty much on my own as a first year teacher in the extremely local Wailuku, Maui. Was I swore at by students? On occasion. Did the job suck? Often times it did. BUT, it was my first year teaching and I chalk that experience up to some good old fashion growing pains. Part of the reason I'm out here in SK is because of the very respectful Asian populations I had encounter. It was inspiring.

Anyways, people will always tell you that you can't make it in Hawaii. When I asked my father about it while I contemplated the move he said, "Son, do people live there?" Just when I was expecting more of an explanation, he remained silent. I think sometimes people discourage others because they are indeed scared themselves. How about all of us in Asian? How much nay saying was thrust upon you before you left?

Rent was high, but even in the area of Portland in which I lived, I felt it was very close in expense. Maui 1bdr or studio was 1000 a month, Portland was about 800. Not that big of a difference to me. Never in Portland would I be able to buy a six-pack and walk down with my volleyball to the beach for a nice 6 dollar evening of fun and booze. If you're big into eating out then yeah, that will eat up your paycheck. However, hit up costco and you can eat really cheap. Gas is, was, more expensive than the mainland equivalent but where could I go? I bought a Maui cruiser for 150 dollars (92 Ford Festiva) and never spent more than 50 dollars a month in gas at 3.50 a gallon. It was ugly as hell but it was a great rig. The plan was to job the top off and make it a beach cruising rig but then it was stolen

All that I am saying is if you are able to adjust your lifestyle, then Maui is definitely livable. During my year in Hawaii, I managed to save 12,000 dollars and had the time of my life. My 02 cents.

[mistermasan]

did my university in hawaii. did the famous "farm work in exchange for rent" thing.

i started out in hilo town, but couldn't find work. anywhere. even mcdonalds wouldn't hire me. why? because haolis had too high a turn over. the workers there had years of service badges. i vividly remember one lady had 10 years of service and another 13. 13 years as a mcd's cashier.

it is all who you know and the best jobs are kept in the family.

crime is rampant. don't dress like a tourist.

[victorology]

I suppose it depends on where in Hawaii you live.

I was born and raised in Hawaii (Honolulu to be specific) and think it's a great place. The cost of living is definitely high. I live in Gangnam and think the cost of living is quite similar in terms of housing and food. If you have a lot of money, I think living in Hawaii is great. If you don't, you might be in one of those neighborhoods where meth is a problem filled with lower class locals who hate haoles.

So, my recommendation is not to move there if you don't have money or a professional background. If you do, it's great.

[VanIslander]

I hear from the locals that now is the time to buy property on Guam as values will rise with the closure of the U.S. military base on Okinawa and increase in troop presence in Guam.

Six flights to Japan daily, two to Korea, two to Taiwan, one to Manila... it's not exactly isolated.

[Tiger Beer]