Relocating To Honolulu, Hawaii in 2019!

[Sam]

Hi Folks,

My family plans to relocate to Honolulu, Hawaii in June 2019 and stay for at least one month, if not much, much longer. Preschool in SF starts end of August 2019, and there's a good chance he won't get in. That would be pretty sweet as it would allow us to stay in Honolulu for at least one year before he is eligible for preschool fall 2020 at 3.5 years old.

One of the things I'd love to do is arrange a lunch, dinner, or drinks meetup in Honolulu and hit the ground running with more people to know. I have family there, so that's great, but I'd love to meet people who are interested in:

* Tennis (I enjoy playing 4.0 - 5.0)

* Golf (haven't played in a while, but am around a 10-14)

* Hiking (enjoy the waterfall hikes and more, really want to get fitter)

* Surfing (want to get into the sport)

* Have their own online businesses and are entrepreneurs

* Scuba diving (haven't found many great spots)

* Texas Holdem Poker (love playing a friendly game)

* Mango enthusiasts (Makalapa, white purees, haydens and more)

* Foodies (we're spoiled by great food here in SF, but I'm slowly discovering some awesome eats in Honolulu. Bummed Ono's shutdown on Kapahulu (http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/35529411/after-nearly-six-decades-in-business-ono-hawaiian-food-to-close-in-august/), any good Hawaiian food alternatives? Also like 5th Ave Grill in Kaimuki, bummed Le Bistro shut down too! what's going on?!)

* Best/favorite banks? Know all of them are local banks.

* Best dentists, pediatricians, opthalmologists, optometrists, primary care physicians?

* Anybody is a member of Waialae Country Club? We want to live on the south east side of Honolulu as that's where my parents are (Kaimuki), and it would be nice to play golf and some tennis there.

* Thoughts on great preschool recommendations and Mandarin language immersion preschools? We're aware of Punahou, I'olani, and Mid Pacific for K-12th.

* Finally, is it me, or is the luxury property market super soft? I've been observing properties sit since 2016, especially in places like Kahala. Feel there's an opportunity.

Thanks for any thoughts and tips! I expect this thread will take time to get some feedback/momentum, but I got time.

Best, Sam

[jekamom]

Happy for you!  Exciting! 

[couchfi]

Sam, that's amazing, Hawaii is our favorite vacation spot and we go about once a year. Would love to retire there. As someone currently living in SF will likely hit my FIRE number in 5 years, this gives me a lot of inspiration

Question: aren't you also looking for a bigger house for your family? How are you planning to buy a new house if you're not sure if you're going to live here or Honolulu next year?

[Sam]

Couchfi - We're going to look for a house while on the ground in Honolulu for the month of June, and hopefully longer. We'll see what happens with preschool and if we can find a great deal.

I want to let destiny takes it's course and be flexible for a new adventure!

[Aivlysweetie]

Aloha! My mom tipped me off to your Hawaii post, so here I am! She's a devout follower of your blog 

I live in Honolulu so would love to sit and chat while you're here for some of the things you're interested in!

Cheers!

[Sam]

Aloha! My mom tipped me off to your Hawaii post, so here I am! She's a devout follower of your blog 

I live in Honolulu so would love to sit and chat while you're here for some of the things you're interested in!

Cheers!

Sounds great! Any thoughts on my questions in the meantime? Thx

[Orphan]

Sam,

Checkout Wasabi Bistro in Waikiki. Great local place. Small and quaint. Also, do you spend anytime up by the North shore/ Kahuku area when you are in town.?

[Sam]

Sam,

Checkout Wasabi Bistro in Waikiki. Great local place. Small and quaint. Also, do you spend anytime up by the North shore/ Kahuku area when you are in town.?

Sure, I got up north every so often. Given the island is small, I plan to mix things up all the time. What’s up?

[Orphan]

We head over in May/June and get a few people together for golf at Turtle Bay and Fort Shafter. You would have a great time. If you’re interested you have an invite...

[eplusk]

Just wrote up a long response for you via PM but the PM got blocked. Can you send me a PM that I can reply to or a work email address? I have a lot of recommendations for you but some of it edges on personal information so would prefer to do via PM.

[Sam]

Just wrote up a long response for you via PM but the PM got blocked. Can you send me a PM that I can reply to or a work email address? I have a lot of recommendations for you but some of it edges on personal information so would prefer to do via PM.

Weird. I just clicked My Messages and it says nothing. I haven’t done any PMing on this forum before.

Is there  really that sensitive of info about Hawaii living? 

[howzit77]

Aloha Sam!

Good to hear you'll be enjoying an extended vacation while you're back here in Honolulu.  I'd love to meetup when you're in town over the summer so be sure to keep us posted on when you plan to be here! 

Opal Thai in chinatown is a must....the owner is awesome and makes a custom order based on a few questions he asks you about what you like about thai food....ono!

Yeah, it was a bummer about ono's shutting down on kapahulu.  Highway Inn is a decent place for your hawaiian food fix...they have several locations including kakaako.

You asked about banks.  I personally like credit unions.  I use Hawaii state FCU.  There's a ton to choose from here and a lot of them don't have many barriers to entry, if any.  If your uncles cousins brother worked here like 10 years ago, then congratulations, you qualify for membership! lol.  The fact that some of these banks still charge monthly fees to hold on to your funds is so 40 years ago....it's annoying.

You are right that the luxury RE market has softened quite a bit.  There was a flood of new properties that have come online recently which makes it pretty attractive if you find yourself in that buyer pool.  bonus for you!

Looking forward to meeting up when you come down.  A round of golf at any of our fine courses sounds like a great excuse to get out

btw, you should work on getting your hawaii state ID or drivers license while you're here.  you'll save a mint on the kamaaina golf fees!

[Mobius]

Congratulations and good for you!

I have tried on multiple occasions to get my wife to consider relocating or at least spending some extended time there, but so far - no go...sigh.
Please post some articles on your experiences so I can use them for additional fodder, as I have not given up.

Good luck and have a wonderful time.

[eplusk]

Just wrote up a long response for you via PM but the PM got blocked. Can you send me a PM that I can reply to or a work email address? I have a lot of recommendations for you but some of it edges on personal information so would prefer to do via PM.

Weird. I just clicked My Messages and it says nothing. I haven’t done any PMing on this forum before.

Is there  really that sensitive of info about Hawaii living? 

Tried replying to your PM but the forum won't let it though. Not sure if it's a setting or not. Would like to get you the recs though somehow though. Not sure if you're comfortable PMing me an email or something -- up to you.

Nothing really sensitive about Hawaii living, was more for my own privacy.

[Hawshrnk]

Aloha Sam,
I hope you end up staying in Hawaii for awhile - so many great things here and the weather just makes day to day living so much better.

For tennis on east side, I would also look at Oahu Country Club - little further east, but lots of courts and players there. Beretania tennis club is a neat place in downtown Honolulu. I have no idea how their membership works but some great players there that I have played in league. I am partial to the Kailua Tennis Club on the windward side near where I live. I play 4.0-4.5 tennis and lots of 4.0-5.0 players there. Dinner is available and open to the public Tues and Fri nights and most weekends. If you stay into July, you should check out the Mens Night Doubles Tournament at the end of the month at the Kailua Racquet Club - you can even enter with a partner into the qualifying rounds. Open to anyone.

All my preschool ideas are windward side so probably not of interest coming through the tunnels every day.

Find someone who can get you on the Kaneohe Marine Base to play their course. It is not like the nicer courses but the back nine is on the cliffs over looking the ocean - amazing views for probably a $40 greens fees.

I think Hawaii has some of the best mangos anywhere. We have a Univ of Hawaii hybrid on our property that is amazing. If we ever meetup I will bring you some.

Try "Town" restaurant for locally sourced food. Pint and Jigger for some good cocktails and think they have a speakeasy there too. Nanzan Giro Giro is a neat small Japanese place - usually a set menu. Pig and Lady is now pretty famous but for a good reason!

[bancheta]

Preschools: Montessori Community School (Kaimuki), KCAA Preschool (Kahala or near UH)

Scuba: Island Divers (https://www.oahuscubadiving.com/) has some nice 2-tank and 3-tank dives on the weekends, combination of drift and wreck, leaving from Hawaii Kai or Kewalo Basin. Great guides in general and I have never had a bad experience with them.

Restaurants: The Pig & The Lady, Dagon or Rangoon, Senia, PAI Honolulu, Helena's or Young's (both in Kalihi) for Hawaiian Food

Surfing: Summer is peak time on the South Shore. Lots of breaks from Hawaii Kai through downtown. For starters, I recommend a lesson in Waikiki. It's cheezy and not cheap, but you can learn on someone else's equipment before you do something silly like buying the wrong kind of board before you know what you're doing.

Hikes: So many - Stairway to Heaven, Mt. Olympus, Kuliouou, Koko Crater, Makapuu.

[Sam]

Preschools: Montessori Community School (Kaimuki), KCAA Preschool (Kahala or near UH)

Scuba: Island Divers (https://www.oahuscubadiving.com/) has some nice 2-tank and 3-tank dives on the weekends, combination of drift and wreck, leaving from Hawaii Kai or Kewalo Basin. Great guides in general and I have never had a bad experience with them.

Restaurants: The Pig & The Lady, Dagon or Rangoon, Senia, PAI Honolulu, Helena's or Young's (both in Kalihi) for Hawaiian Food

Surfing: Summer is peak time on the South Shore. Lots of breaks from Hawaii Kai through downtown. For starters, I recommend a lesson in Waikiki. It's cheezy and not cheap, but you can learn on someone else's equipment before you do something silly like buying the wrong kind of board before you know what you're doing.

Hikes: So many - Stairway to Heaven, Mt. Olympus, Kuliouou, Koko Crater, Makapuu.

Thanks for the recs on preschools! That’s all that’s on my mind really at present.

Thoughts on where you’d buy property? Kahala is nice and the prices seem quite soft. We have a home in Kaimuki, which is pretty central.

[eplusk]

If you want your kids going to private school there are a few feeder preschools that will increase your chances. I don't have an exhaustive list but you should look into St. Clements, Unity, and Central Union also. I think Waiokeola is a feeder school also.

Regarding Kahala, the market is soft because there's a neighborhood called Kakaako where a lot of luxury condos are being developed. A lot of Kahala residents (older and wealthy) are downsizing to Kakaako condos. The same goes for Kahala-adjacent neighborhoods like Waialae Iki.

I can also give you the scoop on private schools (my wife and I both graduated from different ones), differences in local banks, and PCP/dentist/ophthalmologist recommendations via email if you're so inclined. Up to you.

[Sam]

If you want your kids going to private school there are a few feeder preschools that will increase your chances. I don't have an exhaustive list but you should look into St. Clements, Unity, and Central Union also. I think Waiokeola is a feeder school also.

Regarding Kahala, the market is soft because there's a neighborhood called Kakaako where a lot of luxury condos are being developed. A lot of Kahala residents (older and wealthy) are downsizing to Kakaako condos. The same goes for Kahala-adjacent neighborhoods like Waialae Iki.

I can also give you the scoop on private schools (my wife and I both graduated from different ones), differences in local banks, and PCP/dentist/ophthalmologist recommendations via email if you're so inclined. Up to you.

Fascinating about Kakaako. Had no idea!  The homes on Waielae Iki have great views and are nice. Not as expensive as Lahala either.  But after living on top of a hill for the past five years, we want to live close to the beach so we can just walk there with our boy. Our favorite beach is in Kahala too.

I would love for him to attend Punahou or Iolani, but it seems quite competitive of course. My aunt and two cousins went to Punahou. Does that count as legacy? Probably not.  I like how the school is cheaper than the schools in San Francisco, and you can stick with it from kindergarten all throughout 12 grade. That’s stability sounds wonderful to me.

Which preschools would you think our feeder schools for those two great schools? I have someone different advice here in San Francisco regarding getting into the top grade schools. My friends say that it is better to go to a non-target feed preschool because these schools want diversity. Thoughts on this?

Btw, are you working in Honolulu? What’s your background again? Thanks

[Sam]

Howzit - For sure on the Local rates. So many great public courses.

Do you think it’s worth joining Waialae CC if I can get in? Membership is equity, so it’s not like a sunk cost. I love that course! Oahu CC not bad too.

What do you do in Honolulu?  Ever get island fever?