So what do I need to do to SUCCESSFULLY move to Oahu?

Good luck, hon. I fear your post may not get you the info you so desperately need. Many folks who are already living in the islands can't find jobs in nursing... things are super duper tight right now. My advice (and I'm on the mainland right now but trying like crazy to get back) is to stack your cash like crazy. SAVE SAVE SAVE. You probably have an awesome standard of living in Indiana (I was born in Cincy) and that will not be possible on Oahu without winning the lotto. Start cutting your lifestyle back to something simpler NOW, so it won't be an unpleasant shock (esp. for your wife) when you do get out here.

^ Wow... sounds like you are living bare bones as it is. My recollection of the midwest was that the standard of living was excellent... especially compared to the pricier states (aka CA, NY, NJ, HI). I wish I could tell you what specialty areas to focus on in order to have a better chance. Heck, I even emailed a nursing program at UHH to ask that very same question: which areas of nursing have the greatest need in HI? They never even responded to my email. SMDH. Sorry to say that I haven't found many folks willing to help a mainlander get out to HI. I wish I could be more helpful. All I can tell you is to get an advanced practice degree and as much experience as you can... and pray a lot. I know I am.

Ceteris:
You're a guy, so I won't try to "sugar coat" this. I'll be direct and straight-forward.

Listen to Big Island Bound. Make a choice. Which is more important?
A. deferring student loans OR
B. moving to Hawai'i ?

Or... you can choose option C.
C. move to Hawai'i, rack up credit cards, then move back to the mainland after 6 months because you can't afford to live here.

It doesn't matter what you do for work. It doesn't matter if you can get a job here. If you are so racked with student loan debt that you can't afford to live here, you're gonna go home.

Make a choice.

Do you ever get patients with major health issues... and they say, "Help me!" The doctor says, "If you want to get rid of your health problem, you need to eat right & exercise!" The patient says, "No, not interested, give me a pill instead!" What category are you and your wife in? Financially, I mean? Will you take the healthy option (pay off debt) or the convenient option (take classes)? Again, your choice.

The #1 thing you can do for yourself, if you want to live long-term in Hawai'i is to... and I know you're not gonna wanna hear this... is to get the monkey off your back. Stop taking 6 credits of college, stop putting time and money into those classes... and START putting more time into work. Work overtime. Pay off the debt!!!

If you and your wife are both working and making good $$, can't you put $10,000 per year into your loans? If you're like most people... you can ... but you won't.

If you don't believe me, go talk to Dave! www.DaveRamsey.com

I say this with compassion... pay off the debt. You'll be happier and your marriage will be stronger.

Lisa ;-)

Lisa from Maui is giving it to you straight, no chaser, lol! Debt is the monkey on your back... I couldn't figure out why you were living so broke with two nursing incomes... OK, you gotta pay off the debt. Put in the hours and pay it off ASAP... I'd start saving cash, too. Dave Ramsey is definately a good source for financial advice, so is David Bach. I followed his Automatic Millionair Homeowner book and have since gone from being a renter to a homeowner AND a landlord! The thing is, and I say this with aloha, if you are having financial trouble in Indiana, ****, wait till you hit Hawaii. You will financially ruin yourself and end up coming back to the mainland with a broken heart and tail between your legs. Trust me, I know. Good luck, you can do it if you buckle down and work as a team.

Big Isle Bound: Loved your post!
You wrote, "if you are having financial trouble in Indiana, ****, wait till you hit Hawaii."

I was laughing so hard my abs hurt. (big big smile) Gee, and I thought it was just me.

THANK YOU for the laughter. Yoo be... e komo mai!

Lisa ;-)

P.S. BIB, what island you from?

Glad I could make you chuckle, Lisa. I'm actually from the mainland. I moved out to Oahu in '04 to go to HPU. I came back to the mainland and it was the biggest mistake I ever made in my life. Now I am trying like mad to get back. If I can get into this PA program I'm hoping I'll have a chance to save serious cash and move to the Big Island.