So You Want to Live in Hawaii: The Guide to Settling and Succeeding in the Islands (Second Edition) (Paperback)

by Toni Polancy (Author) "A fax full of questions arrives one afternoon in my office..." (more)
Key Phrases: frozen cream pies, neighbor islands, aloha spirit, New York, United States, University of Hawaii (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Hawaii. Paradise. Gentle breezes, sunshine, coconuts and bananas falling into your lap, beautiful scenery, great recreational opportunities. All true (well, almost all), and all there for the tourist. But what about permanent residents? Polancy's guide is essential for anyone seriously contemplating relocation. A Kauai entrepreneur learned only after the fact that her home-operated business would be severely hampered by the limit of only one telephone line in her condo and the absence of home postal delivery, with a year-long wait for a P.O. box. While a military assignment can be considered a transfer to paradise, the financial realities, including higher rent, insurance, utilities, and food, may cause a plunge into personal bankruptcy. Polancy provides useful information on the pluses and minuses of each island, facilities for children, and such delights as tsunamis and hurricanes, rats, head lice, roaches, crime, and DUI penalties. Read this first if you're thinking of moving to paradise. Highly recommended for large public libraries.?Thomas K. Fry, Penrose Lib., Univ. of Denver
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Awesome! Polancy strips away many stereotypes and provides meaningul information and specific assistance without destroying the romance and opportunity that still is Hawaii. The book is a must for visitors and kama'aina alike. -- State Senator Sam Slom, director,Small Business Hawaii

It hs beena blessing to us to read such a resourceful book. The information gave us much insight into our possible move the islands. -- Sandra Schmidt, Malibu, California

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Pub; 2nd edition (June 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966625366
• ISBN-13: 978-0966625363
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #50,128 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Shows A Bit Of Truth, March 24, 2006

By	Betty (Maui, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So You Want to Live in Hawaii (Paperback)

I've lived in Hawaii for almost four years as a young "haole" woman, and I have to say that at least the author tries to convey some truth about what it is like to live here, whether you believe the truth or not. If you're just visiting, you'll probably have no problems and have a ball. A tourist doesn't have the knowledge to tell others what it's really like to live here, so I'll attempt. Like all places, there is good and bad. The good is obvious, the beauty of the landscape and the ocean, the weather, and there are good people here. Economic concerns are a big factor, and unless you have a job lined up already or work for the government, be prepared to take a job or two in the service industry just to make ends meet. Many people have to work two jobs just to survive here, as the wages are low, and rent, food, gas and utilities are high, compared to most of the Mainland (not including New York and San Francisco, whose prices are offset by higher wages and more economic opportunities.) My boyfriend and I are both professionals, which doesn't matter here, because regardless of your skills or background, chances are you will end up working in the service industry in some regard for paltry wages. There are better opportunities, but they are hard to come by; perhaps you will luck out.

I don't find the folks here all that friendly in general, but you'll find that in a lot of places. There are racial tensions to be sure, although I wouldn't call it an everyday occurrence. I have known a few people who have been attacked at random, who were doing nothing other than just standing where there were. Do people get punched in the face just for being white in other places? Probably. The irony is that the people I knew who were attacked would be the first ones to stand up for the locals, because they know the history and the exploitation that is happening to the islands and have been contributors to various local causes. There's also racism against African Americans and others and plenty of homophobia (again, that you can find other places, too.) They're not fond of Canadians, either. These are just general trends I've noticed; I'm not stating that every local is like this, but it's enough to give one pause. It's pretty xenophobic all the way around.

There's also the seven million tourists that come here every year and the unchecked growth that doesn't bode well for retaining the islands' peace or beauty.

It comes down to what you want at this point in your life. If you don't mind what you do for a living and are willing to work very hard to be in a place that's warm and pretty and can shrug off occasional insult, then you may like it here. I have mixed feelings about my experience here. Hawaii's still lovely, but is fast becoming a crowded place for very rich people, leaving the rest of us to reconsider our options.

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If only every place had such a book, June 21, 2001

By	Ronald A. Nelson (Byron, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: So You Want to Live in Hawaii (Paperback)

This book is the model for what hopefully would be a book for every place. As a frequent traveler to Hawaii, I, too, can fantasize about living there. The book breaks down all the sorts of things people should think about in moving anywhere - What does it cost to live? What's the employment picture? What are the schools like? How much crime is there? What is it like to be retired there? What is it like to live on one island versus another?

This is a must read for anyone contemplating moving to Hawaii and is a tutorial for what anyone should think about before moving anywhere.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars So you HAVE to move to Hawaii:, October 2, 2003

By	J. Nehal "~ Jason ~" (Seven Hills, OH) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: So You Want to Live in Hawaii (Paperback)

This book is somewhat outdated in some regards. The housing section is definitely out of date. Expect to pay rents exceeding 3000 a month if you need space for a family and you want to live within 15 miles of 'Town'. The crime is bad as the book points out (lost my truck right before christmas) and the bugs and the groceries are about right. Read this book for very general things but for your lifes necessities do more research. I've been here a year and I like living here - it is beautiful - but it ain't no paradise.