Survive Living in Hawaii

Living in Hawaii seems like a paradise. But it is a lot of work if you're not financially set or stable. Hawaii is also nicknamed, "The Melting Pot", as the islands are a diverse mixture of ethnic backgrounds. This article will explain how to survive living in Hawaii.

Steps

  1. Do a lot of researching on Keep Your Rent Low. Use Craigslist or the Honolulu Advertiser's website as assistance in finding housing.
    • Know that on average, a studio can go for $600 to $1200, while a one bedroom apartment would be as much as $2000 a month, depending what city or town you look into. Water may be included in the rent, however, it is up to you (the tenant) to pay for electricity, cable, internet, and other items.
    • Look into applying for a college campus in Hawaii. The universities may provide dorms and nearby apartments for an affordable price on room & board. Do not hesitate to apply for any opportunity of Get Financial Aid in the USA.
  2. Have job interviews lined up or in the works when you do come to Hawaii. Most college graduate jobs, for example, nursing and computer engineer are harder to find than a wait help or cashiering position. If needed, try adapting with two jobs or a "second" one on the side for extra money.
  3. Know that both Standard English and local Pidgin English are common languages spoken by the locals and Native Hawaiians. Many native Hawaiians proudly speak their own Hawaiian language. While someone is trying to get into a traffic lane and you let them in, don't be offended if they wave to you in a different way. Locals use the "shaka" sign as an appreciation to one another.
  4. Understand that Hawaii has seasons, but in a different way from the rest of the world. The average temperature year round is between 78 to 85, with August being the hottest month and December being the coolest month at mid 60 degrees. The rain season extends from September through February, although an unexpected downpour for two minutes can turn the day around at the beach. Snow does not fall in the State of Hawaii except for the peaks on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, both located on the island of Hawaii (Big Island).
  5. Look for and use weekly specials, ads, or other helpful items. On average, a gallon of milk can cost between $5 to $7 and gas prices range from $4.00 to $4.80 per gallon (as of February 2014)
  6. Try shop at Ross, Walmart, Sam's Club, Costco, Target and Walgreens for low prices on bulk items.
  7. Register yourself and your family with the Emergency Contact Registry, so as to protect them in the event of a local emergency or Island disaster. See Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) [[1]]

Tips

  • Pets aren't all that welcome around here. Just take a look on Craigslist rentals and you'll notice that a large portion of available rentals won't allow pets. The situation is so bad, that somebody had to create a rental site (fee based) that lists pet friendly rentals, only.
  • Hawaii does not have Daylight Savings Time. If it is Daylight Savings Time, Hawaii will be 3 hours behind the West Coast and 6 hours behind East Coast.
  • For all you boaters out there, don't think of Hawaii as the mainland. Think of it more like a foreign country. The state harbors are falling apart but the slip fees keep going up. You might not have to worry about it, however, since getting a permanent slip at a state harbor is nearly impossible. Unless you're willing to bribe the right person. The private marinas are in pretty good shape, then again, they're usually full and will put you on a long waiting list. Although more expensive than state harbors, there will be electricity and water for your convenience. Sorry for all the bad news but I want to save you the trouble I had to go through.
  • You may want to learn the names of the major highways and roads. Most locals don't follow the actual highway numbers but as the real road names. (e.g. "Kamehameha Highway" instead of "Route 99")
  • If you are a concert or event-goer, be aware that your favorite events or music artists may rarely make an appearance in Hawaii, due to being on the expensive side of shipping and airfare. While you're here, try to experience Hawaii's events, such as the University of Hawaii football games at the Aloha Stadium or Bayfest Hawaii at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, where some of the biggest artists come to perform, for example Papa Roach, Alan Jackson, and Lynyrd Skynyrd were all past years' performers.
  • If you are a smoker, Hawaii has a smoking law that was created on November 16, 2006. The law states that smoking is not allowed {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} from a public doorway or open ventilation (windows) of a building or partially enclosed spaces (overhangs or roofs). You may be permitted to smoke less than {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} from a doorway if the business is closed.
  • The necessities in any home in Hawaii: a bottle of Raid, an umbrella, a fly swatter, slippers (flip flops), and fans. The temperature does not go below 65, so there will always be ants and cockroaches somewhere. You don't need to wear shoes in the house; many Japanese and Hawaiians look down on this. Slippers are most common casually. Also because of the humidity and sticky weather, a fan is a plus to cool you down.
  • Be sure to keep all sugary foods in the refrigerator. If left in cabinets, ants will discover them quickly.

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