Hawaii

Yes there are areas like that as well. Probably not as much. USVI needs to do a little more in the area. I saw in August that they had a program to remove the old dead cars lying around, So that's a start.
Speaking of cars, I don't see as many rusted out junkers on the road in STX as I saw in Hawaii. Can't figure that out yet.
In most cases the buildings are much newer in Hawaii. Christiansted on STX has buildings that date back to the 1800's. Probably earlier. Quite quaint.
The people in STX are MUCH more friendly than the people in Hawaii. It seems that the true Hawiians want the mainlanders off the island, and the Asians just, for the most part, seem rude. I have two friends that were born there and spend years there. One of the reasons they left was the racism. the other main factor, was making a good living VS cost of living.
The cost of living, especially housing is much more affordable.
We have been to 3 different islands; Hawaii,Maui,and Kawaii. And while it was pretty on all three, I never had the desire or the the money to move there. Have not been to Ohau, but have been told that the traffic was like L.A., and the place was just like any big city. You had to get far away to see nice stuff.
On the way home from STX the first time, we were planning on getting a place there, and trying to set a timetable to move there.

Haven't been to STT yet, but will only visit, as we bought a place on STX in April.

The beginning of your question was pretty good, the end sounded kinda prejudicial!

When I moved here many moons ago, I also looked at Hawaii as a possible home. While it is a lovely spot, I found it to be too busy (wall to wall towels and people on the popular beaches), too remote (many hours from the mainland and plane flights between the islands) and too mainstream American.

In the Virgin Islands even on a busy cruise ship day, there are hide outs. You can take a ferry to another island or be in Miami in a couple of hours. And while we are ostensibly American, sometimes it is hard to tell! 😉

I have to say two things that I found that are similar are the food- Who knew that macaroni and cheese would trickle into such different cultures! and the us vs. them insular beliefs.

Aloha

I am in Hilo, on The Big Island of Hawaii. Yes, there are run down places here like everywhere in America, but the run down places cost big money here for what you get. There is a local attitude here at times, but for the most part it is just a different culture than most Americans are used to, and the local community is just trying to hold on to it as much as they can without rude mainlanders running all over it. I have taken the time to learn the local culture, and except it as what it is, and it works for me, and I appreciate it. I am a minority here being blond, and for the most part people are nice. Saying that, I am thinking about moving to Saint Croix, so I will be looking into things like: can I find work there? I am a handy-man type here in Hawaii, and make a living at it. Can I do that there? I tile, build things, drywall, plaster, paint etc. etc. The real estate market has gotten out of hand and I'm priced out of it for the most part in Hawaii. So I am planning on selling in ten months or so and buying on Saint Croix, where the realestate seems less expensive. I do understand island life. I've lived out in the middle of the Pacific for five years now and know that WalMart runs out of things and you have to wait on the next container to arrive to get some of the simplest of things.

Hello,

I was laughing to myself about the rusted out junker cars comments. I was remembering back to when I lived on the Big Island of Hawaii and my junk-heap scout broke down and i slept in the back of it over night. The great thing about island living though is that in the morning i woke up to someone outside saying my name! Someone recognized my truck and stopped to check on it and found me still asleep under a tarp in the back! (That car sat there for awhile!)

Then, later, when I lived on Grand Bahama Island, I had the actress, Kathleen Quinlan, in my junked-out beetle when it lost a part and died in the middle of the road. She actually got out and pushed my car to the side of the road with me!!! (That car also sat there for awhile!)

I have never lived in the USVI, but I have visited. My husband and I have chosen to move to St. Croix over Hawaii for a few reasons. Some of it has to do with the cost of real estate, but there are other reasons, too. I like the ocean better in the USVI. The water is more calm and less dangerous in general. I like the beaches better, too. The USVI also has great hiking and different climate zones like Hawaii. I love the diverse cultures throughout the Caribbean, as well. We are looking forward to experiencing many histories, cultures, and people throughout the various Caribbean islands. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed learning of Hawaii's cultures, as well, but I don't think it is quite as diverse as all the different islands nearby the USVI.

Well, those are just our reasons. I miss Hawaii, but we are looking forward to growing roots in St. Croix. I wonder what kind of junker we'll drive there????? We'll try not to leave it on the side of the road!! 🙂

Kat

Kat: If you do leave it by the side of the road, remember it's the LEFT side! 😉

IMinHilo-
We don't even HAVE a Wal-Mart to run out of things! lol