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Hello all, my name is Shae. My husband, daughter, and I are hoping to move from TX to Kauai in November. I have read that it is fairly difficult to secure a job prior to your move. What do you guys know about this?
And also- what are some good certifications we could get before we move that might help us land a job easier?
Came from Tx as well and we spent years prepping for the move to get here, including paying off a house on island before we left TX to ensure our long term survival here. As far as jobs I am able to work remotely and my wife got the needed hours to get her licenses for doing hair in Kauai. We also have another BIG advantage on Kauai is that we have family already established on the island. Getting established here seems to take longer here than in most places and a lot of people may be stand offish just because you are new to the island, having contacts here make a big difference. Most employers I have talked to complain about high turn over rates and are weary of people from the mainland dreaming of paradise that will either never show up or leave soon after they start. My advise is to save up as much as you can, find a skill you can bring that is needed here, or be able to work remotely. The jobs here are few and getting the good ones usually require knowing the right people. I would imagine that getting licenses or certifications from the state would have to be done here on island, if so expect and plan for a long drawn out process, getting a cosmetology licenses here took months and she already had the required extra hours (the bureaucracy here is something to behold in awe). The rental market here is expensive and tight, finding any place to live can be a real challenge, especially if not on island. Be sure to check school ratings as the public schools are not always up to snuff, there is a private school here but it will cost a lot more. For us moving here has been a needed downgrade in our lives. Less stuff and more time to do the things we want but it was a big change from our normal lives in Austin, TX, but one I would not change.
Came from Tx as well and we spent years prepping for the move to get here, including paying off a house on island before we left TX to ensure our long term survival here. As far as jobs I am able to work remotely and my wife got the needed hours to get her licenses for doing hair in Kauai. We also have another BIG advantage on Kauai is that we have family already established on the island. Getting established here seems to take longer here than in most places and a lot of people may be stand offish just because you are new to the island, having contacts here make a big difference. Most employers I have talked to complain about high turn over rates and are weary of people from the mainland dreaming of paradise that will either never show up or leave soon after they start. My advise is to save up as much as you can, find a skill you can bring that is needed here, or be able to work remotely. The jobs here are few and getting the good ones usually require knowing the right people. The rental market here is expensive and tight, finding any place to live can be a real challenge, especially if not on island. Be sure to check school ratings as the public schools are not always up to snuff, there is a private school here but it will cost a lot more. For us moving here has been a needed downgrade in our lives. Less stuff and more time to do the things we want but it was a big change from our normal lives in Austin, TX, but one I would not change.
Awesome advice! If you don’t mind me asking, because we have been considering working remotely, what do you do for a living? I have family that lives in HI, but they live on O’ahu so they wouldn’t be able to help quite as much with my getting settled. But I love what you said about much needed downgrade. We have a six year old daughter and I’ve found her caught up so much in the material parts of life and can’t wait to minimalize the way we live so we can help show her what’s really important in life.
Awesome advice! If you don’t mind me asking, because we have been considering working remotely, what do you do for a living? I have family that lives in HI, but they live on O’ahu so they wouldn’t be able to help quite as much with my getting settled. But I love what you said about much needed downgrade. We have a six year old daughter and I’ve found her caught up so much in the material parts of life and can’t wait to minimalize the way we live so we can help show her what’s really important in life.
I am in software developer currently and using it to gracefully move myself into my first love of painting and art. We bought a house on a commercial property in Hanapepe town that we are transforming into a salon and art studio. Also make sure you research the different climates and towns. We love Hanapepe for the constant sunshine and true local vibe. It gets hot in the summertime though, usually tops out at 90 or so but the tropical humidity make it much different than Austin Texas heat. Our house did not have AC and it is fine for most of the year but we did break down and buy a small one for our bedroom during hottest stickiest nights of the summer but for the most part it is comfortable year round. It is really nice having fresh air in the house and no ac on all the time like we did in Texas.
We moved to Kauai about 2006. We both had loads or mainland stuff, that we sold, gave away or tossed out. It was
too expensive to ship households of stuff from Southern Calif. to Kauai. Our plan was to lease a place . Not buy .
We engaged a RE firm that handled property management. They went to work for us.
We did a lot of planning, and pre planning. We knew the areas that we wanted to live in, and what we
needed to keep life as easy as possible. We did ship the car, it was a new RX-8, which we loved, but
a better choice would have been an SUV.
We had visited Kauai for 12 years, and were very active, and new the island pretty well.
The RE lady called us, and had some property to show, and we made a special dedicated one week trip from LAX to LIH.
We found our place, and I also knew the people at Brenneckes Beach Center in Poipu, and had a position for possible employment.
This is another thing to take into consideration. My back ground was flying professionally, and a U.S.C.G
licensed Capt skippering boats. Erica is a retired M.D. After moving over, I had a job selling activies at
Brenneckes down stairs beach center. Worked at the for a while, and then the same type of work
at Lawai Beach Resort.... The last job was something that I really liked, and worked at the Kauai
Athletic Club for several years. Just a few days a week, as we were retired and wanted to be part of the
island, and be very active.
We also volunteered for beach and river clean ups, and also were Sierra Club Hike Leaders, and joined
Malama Maha'ulepu and Surf Rider. We made friends island wide, very easily, and loved kauai and the
people.
Other things come into effect as well, such as health care, and shopping for groceries, and dong our best
to stay within budget. We had friends island wide from Hanapepe to Princeville, and still do.
We had zero family, and we were able to cultivate new friends from all walks of life.
One of the ways, that we were able to relate to people was thru the Kauai Athletic Club, worked out 5
days a week, me in the early morning, Erica a bit later. We were serious about health and fitness and
also friendships, and exploring kauai, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and socially.
Medical is also something to take into consideration, There is Wilcox Hospital in Kapa'a, and other
doctors, dentists, and medical specialists. I had the VA, and Erica had Kaiser. But, for anything
huge, we had to fly over to Honolulu.
You also have to be able to compromise. We did not have a problem with that. Many times there will be something
that you need to by at the market. They do not have it. Our supplies were shipped over by barge towed by
a Tug Boat. So, when they did have something that we used a lot, we bought more than one, just in case.
The people of Kauai, locals, and residents are outstanding, and most live aloha. Honestly, it did not take us
very long to make friends and acqauintences. We also interacted with the visitors, Oh, and i was quite
active on the kauai Trip Advisor boards . More friends , real ones, the human type, who were also outstanding.
We were always respectful , open and friendly, did not lie or B.S., and we loved kauai's beauty, and the
people very, very much. Aloha became part of our lives, and we still live Aloha, even tho we are
now back on the mainland in the beach cities of orange county, ca.
Each week, Saturday Night was date night on Kauai, and still is back on the mainland.
There you go, just how we did it, and it seems , that we all have to meld into kauai life in our own personal
style with our own personal values.
It gets hot in the summertime though, usually tops out at 90 or so but the tropical humidity make it much different than Austin Texas heat.
The last couple days have been a bugger in Kekaha. Taking a camping trip to Polihale at the start of next week, hope its a little cooler!
As many who have moved here have said to me, Kauai can be a humbling place to relocate to. It does often require a sacrifice of many things otherwise enjoyed on the mainland, but if Kauai is you vibe, you'll find it more than worth it.
Joining clubs or a church if you are religious can be a great way to connect and establish relationships on island. The concept of 'who you know over what you know' finds strong manifestation here. Branch out, show friendliness, and be active in the community.
We moved to Kauai about 2006. We both had loads or mainland stuff, that we sold, gave away or tossed out. It was
too expensive to ship households of stuff from Southern Calif. to Kauai. Our plan was to lease a place . Not buy .
We engaged a RE firm that handled property management. They went to work for us.
We did a lot of planning, and pre planning. We knew the areas that we wanted to live in, and what we
needed to keep life as easy as possible. We did ship the car, it was a new RX-8, which we loved, but
a better choice would have been an SUV.
We had visited Kauai for 12 years, and were very active, and new the island pretty well.
The RE lady called us, and had some property to show, and we made a special dedicated one week trip from LAX to LIH.
We found our place, and I also knew the people at Brenneckes Beach Center in Poipu, and had a position for possible employment.
This is another thing to take into consideration. My back ground was flying professionally, and a U.S.C.G
licensed Capt skippering boats. Erica is a retired M.D. After moving over, I had a job selling activies at
Brenneckes down stairs beach center. Worked at the for a while, and then the same type of work
at Lawai Beach Resort.... The last job was something that I really liked, and worked at the Kauai
Athletic Club for several years. Just a few days a week, as we were retired and wanted to be part of the
island, and be very active.
We also volunteered for beach and river clean ups, and also were Sierra Club Hike Leaders, and joined
Malama Maha'ulepu and Surf Rider. We made friends island wide, very easily, and loved kauai and the
people.
Other things come into effect as well, such as health care, and shopping for groceries, and dong our best
to stay within budget. We had friends island wide from Hanapepe to Princeville, and still do.
We had zero family, and we were able to cultivate new friends from all walks of life.
One of the ways, that we were able to relate to people was thru the Kauai Athletic Club, worked out 5
days a week, me in the early morning, Erica a bit later. We were serious about health and fitness and
also friendships, and exploring kauai, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and socially.
Medical is also something to take into consideration, There is Wilcox Hospital in Kapa'a, and other
doctors, dentists, and medical specialists. I had the VA, and Erica had Kaiser. But, for anything
huge, we had to fly over to Honolulu.
You also have to be able to compromise. We did not have a problem with that. Many times there will be something
that you need to by at the market. They do not have it. Our supplies were shipped over by barge towed by
a Tug Boat. So, when they did have something that we used a lot, we bought more than one, just in case.
The people of Kauai, locals, and residents are outstanding, and most live aloha. Honestly, it did not take us
very long to make friends and acqauintences. We also interacted with the visitors, Oh, and i was quite
active on the kauai Trip Advisor boards . More friends , real ones, the human type, who were also outstanding.
We were always respectful , open and friendly, did not lie or B.S., and we loved kauai's beauty, and the
people very, very much. Aloha became part of our lives, and we still live Aloha, even tho we are
now back on the mainland in the beach cities of orange county, ca.
Each week, Saturday Night was date night on Kauai, and still is back on the mainland.
There you go, just how we did it, and it seems , that we all have to meld into kauai life in our own personal
style with our own personal values.
Me ke aloha pumehana
Denny and Erica
I've always enjoyed your posts, Denny, both on this forum and on TripAdvisor. They are so positive and full of useful information. Thank you for sharing you knowledge/experience with us, and keep on keeping on sir!
I think I have posted this before, but we needed a kauai fix for our hearts and minds, and last june we flew
over for three week visit.
Our hearts are still there, and always will be.
We visited a wonderful friend up in Hanapepe, Ed, who owns the Hanapepe Bookstore. Had a very nice lunch at
a neat cafe across the road .
Also ran into Shanty Bob and Mrs Shanty up at Lava Lava and Peggy from Kekaha. As well as some new residents, from the north shore who now live in Kiluea.
The friendship list goes on and on, and we feel so very fortunate to have shared aloha with the wonderful people
of Kauai.
It is good to see new people who are planning to make Kauai there home. May they love it, like we all do.
As mentioned here, we really believe in getting out and exploring all of Kauai's shores, wilderness areas,
waters, fresh and salt, and meeting the wonderful people
As many who have moved here have said to me, Kauai can be a humbling place to relocate to. It does often require a sacrifice of many things otherwise enjoyed on the mainland, but if Kauai is you vibe, you'll find it more than worth it.
.
Jobs are scarce now. Pandemic. And all. So moving to Kaua'i is a spiritual quest. Get away from it all. Relax. Living in paradise. No way on the city life. Just coconuts and beaches for me. If this is you or what you want, Kaua'i is the place. You'll find a way. Where there is a will, there's a way. Absolutely no smog. No pollution. Just clean air to breathe. Kaua'i is for you.
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