Living and Retiring in Hawaii: The 50th State in the 21st Century [Paperback]

PH. D. James R. Smith (Author), B. S. Diane Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

“Retirement to Hawaii can be an adventure beyond any you have had before. In the islands, life can be more fun for the elderly just because Hawaii is Hawaii. Hawaii is warmer, more beautiful, and the culture is probably more accepting and supportive of aging persons than wherever you came from.”

James R. Smith, Ph.D., and spouse Diane Smith, B.S., detail the options available to émigrés, including:

• Whether to rent, buy or build and what to look for in a new home.
• Retirement communities, catered living and assisted living.
• Choosing an island—Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai or Lanai.
• Recreation and leisure pursuits.

Living and Retiring in Hawaii focuses on the health considerations and lifestyle adjustments that predominantly concern retirees. The Smiths demonstrate how to secure a dream retirement in Hawaii by successfully forecasting cost of living expenses and planning for maximum enjoyment.

“I congratulate you for writing a book that will be of so much help to future Hawaii retirees.” —W. Carse, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii at Hilo

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Writers Club Press (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595239773
• ISBN-13: 978-0595239771
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,597,983 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exellent resource!, January 30, 2003

By 

"coloradokatie" (Pueblo, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living and Retiring in Hawaii: The 50th State in the 21st Century (Paperback)

I've read them all - Polancy, Benham, Smith, Thomsen, and they all have something to offer the wannabe resident of Hawaii. The Smiths' book, though, has a different slant, obviously geared more to the retiree, but this book also deals with some sociological issues that the other books didn't touch on at all. Smith raises some very interesting questions, such as, "What will Hawaii be like if/when so many baby boomers relocate there? Will the local population be able/willing to assist and support these aging immigrants? Who will control the government? How will escalating real estate prices affect the local population?" Many of these issues are at the heart of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and may well affect how newcomers are greeted and treated in the future. This looming question is certainly not the only focus of the Smiths' book - it is highly readable, and contains a wealth of information for the prospective newcomer. But I found the thought provoking issues a very valuable addition to suggestions of locations, advice on moving, and many suggestions for further reading and web sites to explore. All in all, a very excellent resource - one that should not be missed by anyone interested in moving to Hawaii.

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Retiring in Hawaii- - -Is It Possible- - -Yes!!!, February 6, 2004

By 

chris meesey Food Czar (The Colony, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Living and Retiring in Hawaii: The 50th State in the 21st Century (Paperback)

Yes, say the Smiths, authors of this excellent resource to our 50th state, yes it IS possible to retire to Hawaii, but please be sure to do your homework first. Luckily, the Smiths give you a wealth of information in these pages to help you get a good start in making a decision that is truly right for you. They try to cover as many bases as possible: What its like to live on each island, what to expect in the way of nightlife, activities, medical resources, and senior resources. They also cover the question of buying and/or renting, both apartments and condos, and thankfully, their info INCLUDES PRICES (a few years out of date, to be sure, but at least they give you a ballpark idea of what to expect) and even gives sample budgets to show what a typical retired couple might expect to spend in a given month (Warning: Be sure to notice the Assumptions connected with each budget!). The Smith's Top Ten Places to Retire in Hawaii is also listed (with particular emphasis on Oahu and the Big Island). They even consider the possible impact of the Hawaiian Sovereignty movement on tourism and politics. (This final chapter, Wither Hawaii, starts strong, but the ending is rather confusing: the Smiths don't make a definitive conclusion or even a conjecture about how much the Sovereignty movement may impact tourism. However, if you go back through the entire book, they really have made a very strong case that retirees in 21st Century Hawaii will form such a strong voting block that any official/unofficial movement to make the state less welcoming to Mainlanders will probably be thwarted at the polls.) In any case, this book is a must purchase for anyone (especially retirees) planning to make the big move to the Aloha State. Get it today! Such a move may not be easy or in everyone's best interest, but thanks to this wonderful book, a move to Hawaii may be in your future someday if not sooner!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read", November 29, 2002

By 

Shelley Graf (Big Island - formerly New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living and Retiring in Hawaii: The 50th State in the 21st Century (Paperback)

for anyone considering living and/or retiring in Hawai. I only wish this book had been around three years ago to asist us with our "hellish" move to paradise.

The Smiths provide timely assistance to Hawaii newcomers as they plan their sojourn to paradise. They teach all you need to know to make an easy move and transition to a whole new world. Their book provides in depth information on everything from affordable housing, jobs and entrepreneur opportunities to dining, entertainment, local customs, language and romantic side trips.