It was an exciting development for you and everyone else in the office. You work for one of the companies in Layton supplying luxury granite countertops for kitchens and backsplashes. The company is now finalizing the acquisition of another company in Hawaii. And you’re going to be sent there to oversee the transition and the operation.
You were just “ok” with it in the beginning. But then the California native in you started to think about how it would be like to be near the ocean again, to ride the waves of Hawaii. Now you’re excited. You haven’t been to Hawaii before. It’s an indefinite posting, so you want to get as much information as you can. What are the main things to know when moving to Hawaii?
About Hawaii
It’s the 50th state in the grand union of the United States of America. It’s the state where you can say hello and goodbye to someone at the same time because the word used is the same: aloha.
The state’s population is now composed of various ethnic origins, including Asians and Caucasians. “Hawaiians” are descendants of the original ethnic inhabitants of the island, much like the native Americans are the unique ethnic group of the entire USA. Hawaiians account for less than 10% of the state’s population. Use the term “locals” if you want to inquire about activities local people do. So you could ask, “Where do locals eat for the best poke?”
Preparing for the Move
It’s easy to get excited, and you might be running around doing unnecessary stuff because of the excitement. You need to focus because many people say that moving to Hawaii is just like moving to another country. Here are the things that you should take note of:
- On the ground research. Experts advise that you take time to prepare and do research. Stay for a short vacation before you make the move to scout the island. The critical thing in this vacation research is to map out your daily routine from your current residence to that of the island. Where are the bus stations, grocery stores, automobile repair shops, bookstores, etc. concerning where you might be living.
- Get to know the locals. Hopefully, your vacation research will turn up with a few names of acquaintances who you could touch-base with regularly when you go back to your hometown. Maintain communication with them, by SMS or through social media. If there are random questions that pop up in your head, it’s easier to shoot them a message and then get a realistic reply.
- Housing decisions. If the company is going to pay for your housing, this might not be that big of an issue. But your research will always indicate that Hawaii is an expensive place to live in. Prepare to spend between $800 to $1,200 per month on rent. That’s just a studio, and the price varies depending on the location.
- When in Rome. As the saying goes, do what the Romans do. The culture, the weather, and people’s temperament in Hawaii are different from that of mainland America. Do not expect that all these would change because you arrived on the island. You must adapt to the more relax and slower pace of getting things done. Soak up the breeze and enjoy the ocean view.
These are just four points. There’s more to learn about the food or how to behave on the road. But this list should set you on the right path.
