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Coming to Live in Hawaii? A Strategy for Relocation Success.

By
Industry Observer with The Wine Siren & Agent Caffeine

Statue of King Kamehameha

Moving to Hawaii is a little like moving to another country.  We have many different cultures, many different customs and a hundred little neighborhoods to experience them all in. Some people come to Hawaii knowing exactly where they want to purchase.  They have the advantage of traveling many times to the island or may take a friend or relative's word for a neighborhood. 

If you have never lived in Hawaii, be assurred that each individual's experience is unique.  Each experience is never repeated because of the many differences and nuuance the island hold.  One resource you might find helpful for rounding out your first visit is a trip planner, complete with an event advisory calendar, courtesy of the Oahu Visitors Bureau

I had a couple in town who are relocating from the East Coast come to visit.  Before they got on the plane they had some ideas on where they might want to live. Many from people they had talked to who offered their own opinions oon where the couple should live.  With that said the couple began to focus on East Oahu and Hawaii Kai, a longer drive than they might have originally considered, but based on other people's opinions of the area.   The more time they spent on the island and the more time they spent exploring the island the more they began to understand what really fit them and their lifestyle. In the end the decision was made to live on the Windward Coast, approximately 12 miles away from where they thought they wanted to live.

                                                                               Palm Trees Honolulu Hawaii

It is important to talk to your agent about the nuances of the different neighborhoods and the things that separate them from other neighborhoods.  For example, Manoa is a wonderful area, with many grand homes,  schools and a great place to bring up kids.  It is also a lush, area that is prone to daily rains and the average rainfall in the month of December is 7.2 inches (avg. over a period of 72 yrs).  Many homes have incredible mountain view s. If you enjoy regular rainfall and a very green tropical environment, Manoa is the place for you. 

Manoa Valley hillside, Honolulu Hawaii 

 Just 4 miles away is the neighborhood of Diamond Head, consider one of the drier sides of the island, next to Waikiki.  Nearby there is surfing off the coast of Diamond Head, there are trolleys that round the lookouts and buses going to Hanauma Bay.  Diamond Head is the sunny side of the island and holds a different kind of charm and appeal, particularly to those most active lifestyles. 

Although Diamond Head is a hop and a skip from Waikiki, the pace is vastly different as is the makeup of the people in the area.  You don't feel at all like you are near one of the most frequented tourist areas on the map.

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