Desire to move to Hawaii

troposphere wrote:
> Hi, I just joined this group. I'm a Seattle resident who is exploring
> job opportunities in Hawaii, as I think I would like to move there.
> Am a software tester who has been unemployed almost 2 years in
> Seattle's terrible job market.
>
> Though I have never been to Hawaii, I think I would love living there.
>
> Anyone know if there is strong demand for IT people in Hawaii that
> they can't find locally?

Let me put it this way: I left Hawaii to have a livable wage doing work
in IT.

--
Aloha,

Nathan Lau
San Jose, CA

#include <std.disclaimer>

"troposphere" <tropospherem> wrote in message
news:1059108612-sch@news.lava.net...
>
> Hi, I just joined this group. I'm a Seattle resident who is exploring
> job opportunities in Hawaii, as I think I would like to move there.
> Am a software tester who has been unemployed almost 2 years in
> Seattle's terrible job market.
>
> Though I have never been to Hawaii, I think I would love living there.
>
> Anyone know if there is strong demand for IT people in Hawaii that
> they can't find locally?
>

I went through a similar drill last year when my company had some openings
in Hawaii. Though I'd visited Hawaii several times and am pretty certain
I'd love living there I didn't pull the trigger. Why? I'm in IT and should
my job go away, finding another in Hawaii (at a salary I could accept) would
be next to impossible. If I ever move to Hawaii, I intend to stay and so
long as I'm in IT, that's iffy at best.

Also, I highly recommend "So You Want to Live in Hawaii" by Toni Polancy.
Some of the locals here recommended the book to me and it is worth the
money. It will help you think of things besides palm trees and beaches.

Jay

On Fri, 25 Jul 2003, Jay wrote:

> "troposphere" <tropospherem> wrote in message
> news:1059108612-sch@news.lava.net...
> >
> > Hi, I just joined this group. I'm a Seattle
> > resident who is exploring job opportunities in
> > Hawaii, as I think I would like to move there. Am a
> > software tester who has been unemployed almost 2
> > years in Seattle's terrible job market.
> >
> > Though I have never been to Hawaii, I think I would
> > love living there.
> >
> > Anyone know if there is strong demand for IT people
> > in Hawaii that they can't find locally?
> >
>
> I went through a similar drill last year when my
> company had some openings in Hawaii. Though I'd
> visited Hawaii several times and am pretty certain
> I'd love living there I didn't pull the trigger.
> Why? I'm in IT and should my job go away, finding
> another in Hawaii (at a salary I could accept) would
> be next to impossible. If I ever move to Hawaii, I
> intend to stay and so long as I'm in IT, that's iffy
> at best.

I guess part of taking a job here is being prepared for
the worst, and being prepared to move again. People
have cut their bridges, moved here, and the found the
postion has disappeared.

--alvin

troposphere wrote:
> Anyone know if there is strong demand for IT people in Hawaii that
> they can't find locally?

with my background (motor control and such stuff) I found there's about
1 per year. (ok, in Hilo and surroundings).
Most or all of those did come from elsewhere at some point (me included).

Maren

tropospherem (troposphere) wrote in message news:<1059108612-sch@news.lava.net>...
> Hi, I just joined this group. I'm a Seattle resident who is exploring
> job opportunities in Hawaii, as I think I would like to move there.
> Am a software tester who has been unemployed almost 2 years in
> Seattle's terrible job market.
>
> Though I have never been to Hawaii, I think I would love living there.
>
> Anyone know if there is strong demand for IT people in Hawaii that
> they can't find locally?

As a former IT-type, Seattle area resident, I know what its like to
want to come to live in Hawaii. I made the move back in '94, and have
been here since.

BUT, I am originally from Hawaii, so I know the islands, people,
culture, etc.

I was also aware of the hardships that we would face coming back. In
reality though, it was even harder than I ever thought it would be.
Be prepared to take a major step down in lifestyle for no less than 2
years if you do try to make the move. Also, as others have already
mentioned, don't be rigid in the type of job you are looking for.
Living in Hawaii is one thing. Living in Hawaii, with the job
description you want, at the payscale that you expect, is quite
another.

It can be done though, and I am happy to be here. I lived in the
Seattle area for almost 18 years, but, I don't miss it, not at all.

A successful transition to Hawaii takes determination, discipline and
patience.

Sue Larkin <suereel@junkmail.com> wrote in message news:<1059448806-sch@news.lava.net>...
> [...]
> > A successful transition to Hawaii takes determination, discipline and
> > patience.
>
> ...not to mention money. A healthy savings account is a must nowadays.
> It can help augment the monthly difference between either job search or
> immediate job and desired job income and/or it can fund the move back
> to the mainland. One of the many symptoms of running out of money in
> Hawaii is Rock Fever!!!

Ah, excellent point. In fact, we did have to dip into savings for a
couple of years as we struggled. Family here also helped us out, and
I am sorry I forgot to mention that.

Of course, it would be great if I could make a fortune as a
screenwriter and live in a mansion in Kahala (hope springs eternal!),
but the reality is that we have to make ends meet, and our current
lifestyle is just fine.

>After all, many people who graduate from college, accept
>jobs in locations they have only briefly visisted.

Many of them also dislike the places they move to. (Yes, many of them get lucky
and love it...)

Jerry Okamura wrote:
> "Sue Larkin" <suereel@junkmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1059448806-sch@news.lava.net...
>
>>In article <1059426302-sch@news.lava.net>, dchar@royalstate.com (duane)
>>wrote:
>>
>>>As a former IT-type, Seattle area resident, I know what its like to
>>>want to come to live in Hawaii. I made the move back in '94, and have
>>>been here since.
>>>
>>>BUT, I am originally from Hawaii, so I know the islands, people,
>>>culture, etc.
>>
>>That's definitely an advantage. I'm always amazed when people post that
>>they're thinking of moving to Hawaii...and they've never, ever been
>>here before!!!
>>
> Just had a thought. I know that the advice we receive is to go and visit
> the place more than once that we plan to move to. But isn't that a little
> bit inconsistent. After all, many people who graduate from college, accept
> jobs in locations they have only briefly visisted.

and we have seen many many leave (here in Hilo) because they didn't like it
here for one reason or the other. Rock fever, heat, humidity, mosquitoes,
spouse being bored, lack of "culture" (things like opera and such), too far
away from family ...

Maren
(came here for a job after graduate school, met my husband and stayed)

"Sue Larkin" <suereel@junkmail.com> wrote in message
news:1059554101-sch@news.lava.net...
>

> > >
> > Just had a thought. I know that the advice we receive is to go and
visit
> > the place more than once that we plan to move to. But isn't that a
little
> > bit inconsistent. After all, many people who graduate from college,
accept
> > jobs in locations they have only briefly visisted.
>
> That's a point well taken, Jerry. But, iirc, the posts I've seen in SCH
> from people interested in moving to Hawaii sight unseen are based on no
> job in sight. The desire to live in Hawaii preceeds the job problem! A
> whole, new dynamic is involved when someone is transferred from the
> mainland to Hawaii (or anywhere, for that matter) by his/her job. I
> think if I'd ever become involved in corporate America complete with
> job transfers I'd try like heck to get an opt-out clause, regardless of
> where I was transferred.
>
> --
Of course it was a different time and different circumstances, but Americans
have moved without a job prospect, or even knowing what confronts them since
the very beginning of this country. I am not advocating moving to these
islands without first knowing what you are getting into, I was simply saying
that the wonderlust is in a lot of people, seeking a better life, or
following a dream.

Maren Purves wrote:
<snip>

> and we have seen many many leave (here in Hilo) because they didn't like it
> here for one reason or the other. Rock fever, heat, humidity, mosquitoes,
> spouse being bored, lack of "culture" (things like opera and such), too far
> away from family ...

Ditto for north shore Kaua`i -- but the garage sales held by such
folks can be _goldmines_ for bargain hunters! <G>

-- auntie maria