Feeling Homesick

A friend of mine moved away to Texas to work in a hospital. After eight months there, she had to move back for a family emergency. She was able to get a job on the Big Island. I think it depends where you want to work, though.

You might try Shriner's or Kapiolani if you are doing Peds. The fact that you are a local will definitely give you an edge if there are openings. Kudos to you for having the gumption to venture out to the Mainland and get some experience. It will serve you well. Definitely a plus.
I'm not sure what you mean by "current job rate in HI." Unemployment rate? High. Higher on the neighbor islands than on Oahu but still very high.
Yes, you heard right about the situation regarding experienced nurses here. I know more than a few who were doing agency work (choose your own hours, work when you want, off to the beach when the surf is up...) and when the agency work dried up, they were trying to get FT positions in hospitals. SURPRISE!!! The jobs were few and far between and often were positions that had gone unfilled because they were "undesirable"---off shifts, lousy units, etc. Totally unexpected, a major reality check.
I wish you good luck. Hurry home....

I hope you can make it back home, I'm sure the opportunity will come up for you.

I'm not sure if you would consider agency work, maybe you have family to stay with here until you get started or find something full time? But I think Nursefinders was recently hiring for home care work and they wanted experience with peds. It might at least be a start.

Dear Howzit:
I can absolutely relate to you being homesick. Am there. Doing that.

I disagree with the kid. I have seen, many times, that even though a person has the best of intentions, and lots of hope, oppportunities often do not come up. I have seem people invest alot of time, $$$ and effort into option A, and then when option A does not work, I have seen them crushed.

I would suggest that you stay on the mainland for another 2-3 years...
keep getting experience in your specialty...
maybe get experience in a different specialty...
become more marketable...
wait for the economy to improve...
and then move back to the islands.

Have you thought about a 2 week vacation to Hawai'i?? It might help re-energize you, recharge your batteries, so you have the strength to continue living on the mainland.

Lisa ;-)