To see all the Hawaii residents interview responses see the Index, just Click Here.
To take this survey yourself, Click Here
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What Is Your First and Last Name?
Gail Dornstreich (Gail, if you have a photo you’d like to add – email it to me. Thanks!)
Do You Have a Website or Something Else You Would Like Us To Link To?
Wailea Escape (http://www.waileaescape.com)
Which Hawaiian Islands Have You Lived On?
Maui
How Many Years and Months Did You Spend Living in Hawaii?
7 years
How Many Members of Your Family Stayed in Hawaii With You?
Spouse and me
Pets – Choose One That Applies
No pets.
If You Had a Pet, Would You Recommend Pet Owners Moving to Hawaii Bring Their Pets to the Islands?
Yes
Was Your Income Adequate to Do 90% of What You Wanted To Do Beyond Your Normal Living Expenses?
There’s more to do here than ever imagined….we can’t manage to do half of what we want to do.
What Were Your Main Activities Outside of Work – And, Did You Find You Had Enough to Keep You Occupied?
Currently busy with: tennis, golf, hiking, outrigger canoe racing, OC-1 recreational paddling, Hawaiian culture, finding the best Happy Hours….sometimes cheaper than cooking. Friends, sunsets, long walks, more, more, more….
Did You Find It Easy to Make New Friends in Hawaii? And, Were People “Like You” Easy to Find?
Very easy and quite a variety of new friends.
Did You Experience Any Incidents of Racial Discrimination, Hate, Etc? Can You Please Explain As Much As You’re Willing?
No.
What Did You Think About the Traffic and Parking Situation?
Traffic can be bad at certain times of day. No problem parking.
What Do You Like Most About Living in Hawaii?
1. Ocean activities.
2. Growing my own bananas.
3. Year round great weather.
What Did You Dislike Most About Living in Hawaii?
1. Sometimes we look forward to driving someplace farther than Hana.
2. Limited number of reasonably priced restaurants.
3. Family far away.
Rate Your Happiness Living in Hawaii…
Quite happy.
Did You Have Any Experience With Public or Private Schools in Hawaii?
No.
Was There Enough Shopping On the Island?
You make it enough… we don’t need all the places there are on the mainland or Honolulu or we will become like those places. We are (Maui is) still reasonably small and not having every shopping opportunity is not something I am in a hurry to change.
Roughly How Much Money Did You Spend on Food Each Month?
I don’t keep track. We are not extravagant.
Do You Have (Did You Have) a Business in Hawaii?
Vacation Rental. Very easy and has done well for 10 years.
Is Hawaii the Ultimate Place to Live Whether You Have Money or Not?
For some people it is and for some it isn’t. Some people never settle in to ‘island style’ life and remain frustrated. Others can make it work and find long lasting happiness. You don’t know until you try. Work is not easy to get and it doesn’t pay well, so you have to have happiness in lesser housing and things and enjoy doing things that don’t cost money. There are plenty of them here.
Anything Else You Want to Say???
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Vern’s Comments
Thanks for answering the survey Gail! I agree with you that some people seem to fall right into the lifestyle, and others fight it… they just don’t seem to mesh with the Hawaiian Island way of life. It’s quite different from anywhere else in the world, and to me, it’s different in a good way, a more relaxing, peaceful way. To some people they are looking for more and just never settle in, like you said.
I found it interesting that you mentioned having a vacation rental business was easy. I think once you’re established, and have a good location and unit – it can be easy. I think many people struggle with the online side of marketing. I’ve looked at your website, and you have enough information there to make it appealing for many people visiting Maui. Congratulations on your success! Thanks again Gail.
Mahalos!
If you have any friends that would like to take the survey Gail, can you point them to it? Mahalos!
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If you have lived in Hawaii in the past or present, and you would like to take this short survey – here is the link:
What do you think?