Hawaii 2010 -0165 by Blake Handley is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Image may have been resized or cropped from original.

If you are moving to Hawaii it means you have special circumstances. You’re you. You’re unique. Though I’ve written a lot about the subject, and you’ve read “Moving to Hawaii – 2011” at Amazon, you still may not be sure – can you make it if you move, or not?

I’m going to occasionally put comments I receive into full posts like here, so everyone can see and learn from them. I think the comments section is a great resource that we’re not using to bring the most benefit. I won’t put identifying information in the post.

Here is a comment I just received about moving to Hawaii…

Aloha,

Hi, I am a 31 year old female with a BA in Communications. I have lots of restaurant experience as a server and also retail management experience. I am planning on moving to Oahu, Waikiki Beach area and was just going to waitress at the Hard Rock Cafe for starters. I’m already hired. How do u think this work out? Should I be okay? I have 9000 saved and don’t really want to spend it all. I’ve lived in, worked in, both Miami and NYC. Is Hawaii really that expensive for simple things like food? I am used to living frugally. How is the social scene? Should it be easy to make new friends?

My response –

Thanks for writing! I don’t know if I’ve said it in this way before…

If you are ready to work in a restaurant or retail, or both with two jobs, and you have a realistic view of the type of accomodations you’ll be staying in to do so – you CAN make it in Hawaii. Restaurant jobs, bar jobs, anything with high turnover and availability are not hard to find in Hawaii. It’s awesome that you were already hired at Hard Rock, and it might be a stepping stone to something else. You can meet a lot of people there and one thing about jobs in Hawaii – it is often WHO you know.

Having $9,000 USD saved for your move to Hawaii is reasonable. If you’re starting work right away and have a cheap place to stay, you might even save most of that. Hopefully so! I’ve lived in Miami and New York City too. I found Hawaii to be more expensive for food and just about everything else. That said, there are markets you can hit on the weekend and certain other days – around the islands, that take some of the sting out of expensive food purchases. Working at a restaurant is one way to ensure you have cheap food available.

The social scene in Hawaii – is thriving. However, you have to be “out there” to get “in there”. I always connect with a sports group first – hashers, beach volleyball players, hikers, bikers, runners, etc… and then go out in a group with some of them. Your method of operation might be different, but, working at HRC, you shouldn’t have to worry much about it.

Making new friends in Hawaii? I found it easy. There are many people in the same boat as you – and you have many things in common, just by being there. If you have hobbies that involve other people – you shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding other people like you that you enjoy spending time with.

Good luck to you! Aloha…