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| How does Phoenix, Arizona compare to Honolulu, Haw - 5/18/2006
Are the some safe areas or streets in Phoenix, Arizona and what are some to avoid?? Anyone knows if the 3000 block of West Northern Ave a safe area to reside and what about the Northern Chateau Apts there? Is it good? What about West Bell Road and the Desert Star Apartments??
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| Honolulu/Oahu: a mixed bag.. - 4/13/2006
I've lived in Hawaii, mostly on Oahu, for over 14 years and have just left there for more affordable climes.
The good/great stuff about Honolulu/Oahu: fantastic climate (except for the last 40 days of almost solid rain...worst in 35 years); the beaches (except for the occasional staph-infected ones); the folks (except for the boom-box yabos, and mean-spirited/angry young-folks); the surf; the Aloha-spirit (still alive); O'Neil's Pub in Waikiki (especially the live Irish-music on Sundays); Brunch at "Duke's"; the North Shore (especially the town of Haleiwa); the Waikiki Shell (especially when Jimmy Buffett plays there...fantastic!); "mauka showers"..(cool you off nicely); "Slack-key" guitar music...one of Hawaii's best gifts to the world.
The bad/horrible stuff: the cost of living (almost as high as San Diego!); the traffic (the City/County of Honolulu has more cars per mile of road than any other county in the USA); the anti-haole/outsider attitude of a lot of the locals, especially some of the local surfers; poor quality/slowness of almost any work you want done; the timing of the traffic-lights on the busiest streets (some of the worst I've encountered around the world); the general attitude of "we don't want to change/improve anything"; the lack of anything for tourists to do when it rains.
My suggestion: if you want to live in Hawaii, have a look at the Hilo-side of the Big Island-Hawaii. It's a bit moist, and the beaches are few, but the natives are friendly and the price of real-estate is still (relatively) low. With my aloha...Mike G.
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| Hawaiian Paradise? - 3/26/2006
Hawaiian Paradise?
After living in Honolulu, the Waikiki area, we have discovered the hidden “values” or lack of them on this one piece of God forsaken land some people refer to as paradise.
Paradise it is not here is a list bad thing with the area of Honolulu, which the brochures of visiting Paradise do not offer:
Food Cost is way above the mainland prices, with much price gouging of the tourist.
The locals have to learn where to shop to keep the price down although its’ still way too hi.
Cost of rent and purchasing a house 5-8 times that of the mainland.
Noise pollution and lots of it.
Heavy Drug users
Lots of homeless and/or insane people living on the streets other state have sent her with a one-way ticket to paradise.
Very high risk of Catching TB 2X+ that of the mainland, and much dirt and filth on the streets and in public places, many nosey dumpsters that run over with stench.
Hookers are abounding.
Thieves are all around, you must watch you back if you a tourist.
Food, mostly oriental in nature will make you sick.
The Humidity is Very high, Lots of Rain, at various times during the year.
It’s not safe to go out on the back streets at night and some even in the middle of the day.
This cultural mix only likes “white” mainlanders if you’re just visiting; else lots but not all hate the whites.
You will see no animals much on the island of Oahu, Just Pigeons & Rats.
People are just plain rude, no “southern hospitality” like where I came from in Tennessee.
Islanders think, the mainland US is mostly desert like Las Vegas their Favorite vacation destination.
Most white people that come here are either really young or really elderly from the mainland, and 99% of them wear Shirts and dress slouchy. Asiatic people dress to the 9’s one the other hand, so the impression is mainland Americans, as well as Canadians are slobs. (And I can see their point)
This is the nosiest place I have ever lived on earth… no serenity in Honolulu or surrounding area.
Housing is Crowded and expensive, many natives live in shacks because of the influx of tourist money and investments in high-rises from abroad.
Gas prices are ridiculously high, yet Hawaii has gas production facilities and exports many metric tons of crud oil to the orient and Australia.
Pineapples are priced high for the tourist.
The population is overcrowded… and you should watch you back at all times to keep from being attack, jacked up and having you money and jewelry stol
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| In General - 7/6/2005
In general Oahu is a place where you can grow old and die happy. If you are young and plan to buy a home when you get here it might be a good idea to have a high paying job, with many of the homes in good neighborhoods averaging around 1.5 million, and apartments will run you about $900 or more for a 1 bed/bath, that's just the price you pay for paradise. Beautiful places, immaculate beaches on the windward side of the island. Public schools are mediocre at best. Private schools while expensive are worth the money. The local language "pigin" takes a bit of getting used to. Great emergency services 42 firestations and 18 ambulances patrol the island. Crime rates vary from area to area. The busy pace set by the continental US is all but lost here in the islands. A term known as Hawaiian time refers to Hawaiis generally relaxed lifestyle.
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