How hard is it to transition, financially and socially, from the mainland to Hawaii?
Chiquita Banana asked:
I am a Korean Nebraskan interested in law school in Hawaii. I know it is tremendously expensive to live there, but I am wondering how difficult it would be for someone in my situation to arrive there with almost nothing. Like, how hard is it to find a part time job and still make ends meet while attending classes? I have no social contacts in Hawaii at the moment, so I wonder how hard it is to network with locals if I’m not from the islands. Thanks
I am a Korean Nebraskan interested in law school in Hawaii. I know it is tremendously expensive to live there, but I am wondering how difficult it would be for someone in my situation to arrive there with almost nothing. Like, how hard is it to find a part time job and still make ends meet while attending classes? I have no social contacts in Hawaii at the moment, so I wonder how hard it is to network with locals if I’m not from the islands. Thanks
November 17th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
The fact that you are Korean could help you since you look Asian you will blend in. If you are attending the University of Hawaii I would suggest living in the dorms. Or the off campus housing affiliated with the University.
This is my standard answer that I give. There are good things about living in Hawaii and there are some not so good thing about living in in Hawaii.
Hawaii is expensive. Ninety percent of everything is shipped in this is the main reason it cost more. Gas prices are high they are in the three dollar range and may hit the four dollar range by the end of the Summer.
Our unemployment rate is high right now.
Hawaii is just as safe as anywhere else maybe safer. We have everything the mainland has except for a few restaurants and stores. The water that surrounds us does not make much of a difference.
No Daylight Savings Time we never move out clock forward or back.
We have an excellent bus system on Oahu. If you are willing to take the time then it will cut down on gas costs. You can have car but you might want to take the bus most of the time and use a car only when really needed.
Hawaii is one of most culturally diverse place in America. We have several cultures here. Hawaiians being the most obvious. We also have a diverse Asian population; Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese (sp?) Korean… All these culture differ. And it is best if you learn the differences.
If you love food Hawaii is one of the best places to be. Due to our many cultures we have many different kinds of food. Try them all.
Since we have many different cultures in Hawaii there are many set of “rules” all of them slightly different. Make an effort to learn. When you make an effort to learn the the differences then you will be accepted.
There is racism in Hawaii, racism is everywhere. Some of the racism is aimed at Whites. Racism at White is not all that common so you will get Whites saying that all Locals and or Hawaiian are ******. That is not true. The Locals and Hawaiians who are ****** toward Whites tend to be ****** against other cultures. Racism is not right. But it does exist.
Not everybody who lives in Hawaii is Hawaiian. To be Hawaiian to must have Hawaiian blood. Or be of Hawaiian ancestry. If you are like me and have lived in Hawaii all their life but have no Hawaiian blood you are considered a Local.
We also have a dialect of Pidgin Creole English. Or it is called Pidgin for short. This language was created during the plantation days. We had workers from all over Asia and the Pacific they all spoke different languages and the needed a way to communicate. So a new language grew and was created.There a some who hear Pidgin an the equate it with lack of intelligence. Do not do this!
Then there is what can be called “Rock Fever” some people tend to feel trapped because they can’t drive anywhere else but Hawaii. There is no way you can drive into another state.
If you need to fly home to the Mainland then 1) take more time because you have to fly over an ocean first. 2) Will cost more because you have to fly
November 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Well I can’t tell you much because I only lived in Hawaii for a year (last year as a matter of fact) but cost of living there is REALLY expensive. You might have a rough time if you just arrive with nothing so make sure you have some type of back up plan. Jobs, I’m not completely sure about I was 16 at the time(17 now).
But socially, you’d probably fit in just fine. Not to be ****** but Hawaii is mostly Asian ethnic groups and you’re Korean-American. But on top of that the most of the people there are very friendly and laid back, you’ll love it there, I did.
November 21st, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Unless you plan on staying here permanently, I would go somewhere that is a little more stable. Stable, meaning, if you have no money, no place to stay, no car, no friends, you will probably find it difficult to get by.
Not to knock UH, but there are better schools on the mainland.