U.S.V.I.'s or Hawaiin Islands?

What island are you planning to visit?

USVI = Island living with slow, relaxed, caribbean pace

HI = Island living with fast, typical US urban pace

That seemed to be the big difference, if money is no object. You can get more for your money (real estate wise) in the USVI than in HI, but if the slow (can be frustratingly slow/inefficient) pace of things isn't for you, forget it.

I think there is a person on this board who has actually LIVED in both HI and the USVI (currently) though that should be able to tell you just what you want to know. Not sure, but I think it is Onika.

Chris

All 3 of them.

Soryy Chris, I am not the person who lived in HI. How rich in spirit would I be if I were fortunate enough to have lived in the VI and HI?!
There was a woman who posted frequently about 1 month ago who was living in Hawaii and was inquiring about relocating to the VI.
ManhattanGuy try searching for Hawaii and it should pull up her name and maybe her email address. Not sure whether that violates the rule against unsolicited emailing though, so I defer to the board management (ISLANDER) for that call.

I currently live in Hawaii. On Oahu.I have lived here for 3 years and I have seen a lot of changes. Whn I first moved here I was paying 500 a month splitting a nice condo with a fabulous ocean view of Ala Moana Beach Park, and the sailboat harbor. Rent has skyrocketed here in the last 3 years. Now You cannot find anything decent for under 700 a month for a studio.The rate of pay out here is not good either, expect to be luky to make 10 dollars an hour. I made over 20,000 last year and have nothing to sow for it, as cost of living is really high. Work work work and all money goes to bills and rent, and food.You can find some deals here that are cheap, but the living standards are much different than the mainland. I mean no bathtubs, only showers, and the places look like the ghetto of the mainland, but are perfectly acceptable here in Hawaii. I don't know if the large Asain population here has anything to do with the standards of living, may be use to those satandards coming from other countries, but not like the mainland. Most of Waikiki and surrounding area are slummy buildings. If you are looking to share a rental, I have seen some rooms for around 450 a month.Not too bad, but forget about having an affordable place of your own unless you get help from the state. I hear the waiting list for affordable housing is 5 years. Highest paying jobs here are specialized degrees like nursing or teaching and are in demand. My friend from San Diego moved out here. She was making 40,000 a year doing Information Systems in CA and only getting paid 14.00 and hour here. Hotel jobs are union, hard to come by, but if you can get one they pay around 13.00 hour. Honolulu is a city. Good bus system and easy to get around w/out a car. It is safe here. Most things are car theft (highest in Nation) and HUGE Ice (crystal meth problem) but I have never been affected by it. Mostly locals. People are racist here against white people, reverse racism, and expect to be called a haole if you make someone mad. Doing buisness is very frustrating if you are use to efficiancy. Most people in the service industry are not from here IE: asia, (Phillipines) and don't speak English very well. Others from here, have a poor work ethic, and laziness is apparent and frustrating. It's all about who you know. The cheapest price for a crappy house is around 250,000 or condos from 125,000 for a pile of crap. It's sad, and that is one of the reasons I was thinking of moving. All of the rich people from the mainland who can afford Hawaii are moving out here, buying up all the land, charging an arm and leg for rent, and alot of the locals are moving off the island to find a better way of life. Alot are moving to Vegas. It's sad and that was one of the reasons I was looking into moving to the VI's. I saw condo's were still reasonable there, and I figured if I am going to be working, I might as well be getting something out of it, instead of all my money going to a slum lord. The good things about Hawaii are: it's safe, and VERY BEAUTIFUL here. Easy to get around. Friendly people. I wish it wasn't what it was, and I wish I could afford to stay here, but If I want to have a family in the future, I don't want to do it on welfare, and housing assistance just to live here. It has been fun living here, but I am ready to move on and plan for the future and Hawaii is not reasonable for that.
UNLESS: you are an entrerpreneur , and can think of some way to make over 40,000 per year. Hope that helps, need more info, email me.

Many of the things that Sara said may have been true to the Hawaiin islands but they are also true to the Virgin Islands. The standard of living here is also much lower then the mainland. St. Thomas has a 30% poverty rate which is 10% higher then Hawaii. Having almost moved to Hawaii twice, I know a lot about it. The crime in the VI is arguably among the highest in the nation thought you may not be affected by it directly since it is MOSTLY among locals who know eachother. In my opinion, the whole caribbean way of life is much better then Hawaii, thats why I am choosing to live in STT. Chances are you would be moving to Maui or Oahu, both are a lot like a big city on the mainland with a beach and palm trees thrown in. While VI is like taking a bunch of Jamaica and a little bit of America and the result is to me AMAZING!!

Although we are the "U.S" Virgin Islands there isn't much US feel here. When you try to have things shipped here by mail a lot of places won't because they've been stung too many times. If you want to live in the US you'd be better off in HI. A friend of mine moved to STT from HI and she has very much regretted it. She's lived many places in the world and this according to her was one of the worst moves she could have made.
It will take you quite a bit bs to open a bank account here and the cost of living it pretty high. Expect to wait a long time to have anything hooked up like tv etc and if you need repair expect to wait even longer! Lots of racisim (reverse) here also. If you get in an accident and you're not a "local" you can pretty much figure on being the loser.

I lived in Hawaii for 10 months a few years ago and hated it, I think mainly because I had an employer who tried to control my personal life which made me crazy and stressed.There is lots of racism (reverse)and not a lot of english spoken. Traffic is horrible unless you would live on Molokai which has very little tourism and is awesome! Friendly people ,no traffic, quiet, empty beaches. As for Oahu or Maui or the Big Island, very crowded and touristy. I've also been to VI and planning on taking a job there in the next couple of months and I like the VI much better, much more relaxing and I think more beautiful. I'd say if you're to live in HI live in Kona on the Big Island, less traffic and stress there than in Honolulu. Personally I'd take the Caribbean any day over Hawaii. Hawaii boast of the Aloha spirit but personally I didn't see it too often and I'm a very friendly midwestern person who is very open minded.

Echogirl, this thread is 4 1/2 years old. I suspect the OP made a decision long ago. 🙂

Yeah I know its old, but just had to put my 2 cents worth in since I have a very strong opinion about which place to live. Maybe it will help someone now whos trying to decide. Sorry if it upset you!

It didn't upset me at all.

What the heck is reverse racism?
Judging some one on the color of their skin is racism. Period.
Calling it reverse racism implies white folks are inherently above judgment.
Sorry for the negative tone, but that was driving me a little crazy.

In that case I'll put in my 2 cents too and say that even after the housing crash you're dreamin' if you think you can rent a studio on waikiki for 700 a month....

beachfront studio in kona for 600. i seen it! used to live there. 🙂

Yes there is racism on Hawaii. But I don't think it's hate based. There is a huge mix of cultures on Oahu. A lot of the ethnic groups stick together and don't have a lot of intraction with others and some are embarrassed of how they speak English which can appear to be racism but it's not. I found in my time there that if you can learn the proper greetings and smile and not be demanding that you break through it easily.

The last place I lived at kuilima condos near Turtle Bay North Shore was 1bedrm, 1 bath, kitch/liv with small lanai for $2200/ month.

With all due respect, mrj, i was referring to another island. Actually I prefer Kona as well.