[Victoriakem]

A friend, a blonde caucasian, worked in Hawaii for an agency & found prejudice against whites. She just stuck it out until her contract was over & never returned. Other than the beautiful scenery, she didn't find anything worth staying for.

[WindwardOahuRN]

Originally Posted by Victoriakem

A friend, a blonde caucasian, worked in Hawaii for an agency & found prejudice against whites. She just stuck it out until her contract was over & never returned. Other than the beautiful scenery, she didn't find anything worth staying for.

I've lived here over six years. To say that there is not prejudice, in many forms, would be misleading. It often goes both ways. It is also extremely common for the people here to joke about different cultures and ethnic groups and refer very freely to people according to their race or ethnicity ("the Haole girl, the local Japanese..."). Not exactly politically correct and often misinterpreted as prejudice but very often spoken without any malice at all. Then again, sometimes there is malicious intent. Just like in the rest of the world.

I'm from the NY metropolitan area and very used to living with many different cultures. I expect that there will always be prejudicial feelings, on all sides, in any community. Just the way the world is.

Again, I think sometimes newcomers to the island tend to take the "aloha spirit" ad campaign a bit much to heart and are very disillusioned when they find out that Hawaii is not the cutesy-sweetsy paradise portrayed in the tourist brochures.

Sometimes it is also difficult for Caucasian newcomers to get used to the idea that they may not be in the majority. Oh well...

I am also blonde and caucasian. And getting along just fine ;-D.

Not to play devil's advocate, but maybe there were other issues?

Sorry your friend had such a negative experience here but, in all fairness, she was only here for a few months.

[blee1]

Originally Posted by maryruth

Just curious what everyone has to say about what is the biggest misconception that everyone has about Hawaii??

We live in grass shacks, eat pineapples all day, and surf to school/work...

[WindwardOahuRN]

Originally Posted by blee1

We live in grass shacks, eat pineapples all day, and surf to school/work...

LOL!

My favorite question from a mainlander:

"What's the exchange rate in Hawaii?"

I offered to give them one of my dollars for two of theirs...;-D

[zenman]

Here's what you have to get used to in Hawaii. I emailed quite a few university anthropology depts. asking if they planned on having a distance education option for their medical anthropology courses. All answered back promptly. The University of Hawaii answered back, "Who is this meant for?" Well, darling, it was meant for the anthropology dept. as that was the email you posted for inquires. Hello...anybody home?

[WindwardOahuRN]

Originally Posted by zenman

Here's what you have to get used to in Hawaii. I emailed quite a few university anthropology depts. asking if they planned on having a distance education option for their medical anthropology courses. All answered back promptly. The University of Hawaii answered back, "Who is this meant for?" Well, darling, it was meant for the anthropology dept. as that was the email you posted for inquires. Hello...anybody home?

And your point is?

There are people here asking valid questions about moving to and living in Hawaii.

If they really are determined to make a life here, there are those who can assist them in doing so.

Hawaii has its problems, as does any place on this planet. I've been successful in living here so I might be able to assist others who wish to make a successful transfer to the islands.

I do believe you departed after a year or two. Since you were unable or perhaps unwilling to make a go of it here, you might be able to share your negative experiences, things that might deter others from moving here, from making a mistake.

On the other hand, I might be able to help them make a successful transition...;-D

[WaynesvilleRN]

Do you think that a "travel nursing" role would be the way to go first before deciding to go full time???

[WindwardOahuRN]

Originally Posted by WaynesvilleRN

Do you think that a "travel nursing" role would be the way to go first before deciding to go full time???

I've worked with lots of travel nurses here. It's a good way to find out if living here will work for you, without having to make a full commitment to moving here.
I haven't seen all that many make the permanent move, though. I think the biggest deterrent is the cost of housing. Not only are rentals expensive, they're scarce.
With travel nursing, there's no worry about finding housing. You can look at the travel assignment as a "fact finding mission."
Here are some sites that you might find interesting:

Hawaii Real Estate Central - Honolulu Board of Realtors® II

Rent - Hawaii rentals, apartments, vacation rental property, Rentals Illustrate

[zenman]

Originally Posted by WindwardOahuRN

And your point is?

There are people here asking valid questions about moving to and living in Hawaii.

The point is (which you should have been able to recognize) is that I'm sharing my negative and positive valid experiences of living on Oahu for 3 years. Having worked with 40 cultures, I have a little insight in how Hawaii compares. So, please try to relax. Instead of trying to defend your state or attack anyone, please just let interested others do what they want with the info. Mahalo.

[cardiacRN2006]

I love Hawaii, and in fact, I am getting Married there is 54 days! But I would NEVER live there. Fact of the matter is, if you are white, they like you only if you're a tourist. My mother lives there and when we visit, I go to the local places to eat. It's very obvious I'm not as welcome as I am at say--Dukes Restaurant! A PP is right, maybe whites don't like to be part of a minority, but I have never seen that kind of openly accepted prejudice anywhere. And I live near the Mexico boarder, so I am quite familiar with prejudice!
I've never even visited Oahu-and I never will. Working in healthcare, I've had several friends who have worked there on travel assignments. Lab techs, nurses, etc. They have never had anything nice to say about Oahu. Traffic, crime, drugs...
Hawaii (for me) is vacation only!