After my trip to Maui, I realized something

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by finch1750

Fried spam all day. Uncooked is though

I love the ends, especially with the jelly stuff on bread. Mmmmm...

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Hawaii is still stupid expensive even for a better-than-average wage earner.

Oh no doubt. And "employed" does not mean well paid. I was just curious and figured I would look it up. The stats were actually a bit concerning to me since the Canadian average was way above the US one.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

the Canadian average was way above the US one.

I found that odd as well. The U.S. was shitting its pants at above 7% unemployment. Also of interest would be the unemployment rate of the "vacation friendly" countries. Spain, France, Italy, hello, GREECE? All in the hurt locker.

[buoywx]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

Most people can't hack it living in Hawaii. Too expensive. Not enough work. Work pays too little. If you're going to move to Hawaii, don't pack a shipping container full of stuff. Just buy a buy a bunch of used crap off craigslist from all the people moving back to the mainland. Actually talk to real Hawaiins. They mostly complain about how little money and few job prospects they have.

My **** cousins moved to Oahu. Now they're moving back. Idiots.

Costco is cheap, though. Gas is California expensive, but not Europe expensive. Living in Hawaii is like paying Bay Area expenses on Alabama salaries.

Good place to retire to, though. If you can swing it.

I am going to agree with this. I've lived on Maui for 27 years. It is a struggle here. Most people that move here put their recreational ambition ahead of financial ambition. I came here to surf and windsurf. Not to make my millions. I ended up doing pretty well, but it was a hard road.

It's not as laid back as it seems when you come here. We play hard, but also have to work hard to survive here. Maui does attract a lot of trust funders and wealthy people, but us regular joe's have to work a lot.

Back to a car forum, the brz is the perfect sports car for maui. What they call here "upcountry" is a driving Disneyland if you know where to go. No need for a supercharger. It's all about going 50 in 25 mph turns. No boost needed. You would be disappointed with a fast car here. There is no where to go fast.

I've had my car for 2.5 years and I have only put it in 6th gear about three times. Not because I needed to. I was just checking to make sure it works. I very rarely even get to 5th. No need here.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

As of September:

Hawaii unemployment rate - 3.4%
California rate - 5.9%
Worst (West Virginia) -7.3%
USA average - 5.5%
Canada average - 7.1%

A lot of low-paid jobs: Cleaning rooms. Selling shirts. Serving tables. People have to work hard to make it by. Not an easy life. Not a well-paid life.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh no doubt. And "employed" does not mean well paid. I was just curious and figured I would look it up. The stats were actually a bit concerning to me since the Canadian average was way above the US one.

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

A lot of low-paid jobs: Cleaning rooms. Selling shirts. Serving tables. People have to work hard to make it by. Not an easy life. Not a well-paid life.

Yep

[Atticus808]

Originally Posted by buoywx

I am going to agree with this. I've lived on Maui for 27 years. It is a struggle here. Most people that move here put their recreational ambition ahead of financial ambition. I came here to surf and windsurf. Not to make my millions. I ended up doing pretty well, but it was a hard road.

It's not as laid back as it seems when you come here. We play hard, but also have to work hard to survive here. Maui does attract a lot of trust funders and wealthy people, but us regular joe's have to work a lot.

Back to a car forum, the brz is the perfect sports car for maui. What they call here "upcountry" is a driving Disneyland if you know where to go. No need for a supercharger. It's all about going 50 in 25 mph turns. No boost needed. You would be disappointed with a fast car here. There is no where to go fast.

I've had my car for 2.5 years and I have only put it in 6th gear about three times. Not because I needed to. I was just checking to make sure it works. I very rarely even get to 5th. No need here.

do you have a blue brz? I saw many frs but only 1 brz up in Ka'anapali I think in the Whalers Village, and I took a picture with it lol. the pic shows the front plate so I'm not gonna post it unless I get on the computer and white it out

also, on the road to Hana and the road up to the Haleakala peak, I wish I had my brz

[buoywx]

I am on the north shore. Mine's white. Theoretically the road to Hana would be good. The problem is so many blind corners and the risk of opposing traffic on a one lane road. It wasn't fun for me.

[Atticus808]

Originally Posted by buoywx

I am on the north shore. Mine's white. Theoretically the road to Hana would be good. The problem is so many blind corners and the risk of opposing traffic on a one lane road. It wasn't fun for me.

very true

I found the road to Haleakala was worse, especially when in the clouds and you look to your right and the cliff is right there lol.

how's your paint holding up? I see a lot of paint issues on cars there, I assume cause of the heat

[buoywx]

Originally Posted by Atticus808

very true

I found the road to Haleakala was worse, especially when in the clouds and you look to your right and the cliff is right there lol.

how's your paint holding up? I see a lot of paint issues on cars there, I assume cause of the heat

I haven't done this, but the tip for the crater road is to go at night for the driving experience. No traffic and if there is a car opposing you can see the lights in advance. Picking a good weather night would be key too. It's 10,000 feet and it snows there sometimes. It is actually the steepest road in the world. You can go from sea level to 10,000 feet in thirty something miles.

The paint is fine like new. My car is lucky and lives in a garage. It seems to be the metallic type paint that fries here. The clearcoat doesn't hold up. My truck has that issue after the brz took its place in the garage.

I just passed 7k miles after 2 1/2 years. There is just not a lot of miles you can drive here.

[soulreapersteve]

Originally Posted by MonoRaven

I work to live, I don't live to work!
I've had that motto most all my live. A lob is just to provide resources (money) so that I may enjoy my personal life to the fullest extent that I choose.

This is how I am currently... lol

[torqdork]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

Oh no doubt. And "employed" does not mean well paid. I was just curious and figured I would look it up. The stats were actually a bit concerning to me since the Canadian average was way above the US one.

Apples and oranges. If US used the same methodology as CA, your unemployment rate would be lower than ours.

Also, political changes in the US calculation added anyone working even one hour per week, double or triple counts those working multiple jobs and removed anyone no longer looking for work that is at the highest level in decades. If they were included, the actual US unemployment rate is well over 14%.

It's amazing that the economy is still standing but so much of it is borrowed money funding a record number of entitlement recipients.

Back to Hawaii, I love the place, Heaven on Earth and I've been to five of the islands many times each. However, lately there seems to be less aloha than years ago. I'd still consider retiring there but would choose location carefully and within range of a Costco.

Haole aren't welcome in many neighborhoods and if I had little kids wouldn't let them attend the public school system due to bullying reported by more than one group of friends who left the islands because of that.

I never had a problem there, always fit in easily by respecting customs and traditions like where to surf aided by guidance from Kamaʻaina friends.

Aloha

[EAGLE5]

Wrong, mostly.
http://milescorak.com/2012/05/04/the...an-it-appears/.

[Captain Snooze]

There is a constant turn-over of home ownership at the coast not far from where we live. The coast is a very popular holiday destination. Many people think because they had a wonderful holiday there it would be a great place to live. So they move to the coast and discover that that living there all year is quite different from spending two weeks a year there.