Surfing Waves

I am 17 and am moving to oahu on jan 4 i have many questions about the island and need some help answering them
1. Where to move i found places both in honolulu and the north shore and don't really know where to live i would rate my surf skill on 3 out of 10 and ten being pro the reason i am moving there is to surf and work for 4 months
2. North shore how are the jobs and how is life when there are not waves always something to do?
3. I want to surf as much as possible but i want something to do at night too
4. wheres the best party scene because i want to do some partying when i'm there
5. where are the most constant waves?
so if someone can tell me the pros and cons to living on the northshore compared to somewhere in town that would be a really big help to me

someone please help

I was born and raised in town on Oahu so let me break it down best I can. As for surf, it kinda depends on when you're planning to move here. As you may already know, the north shore gets cranking during the winter (~November through February), anywhere from 2 to 40 ft. faces, and sometimes bigger than that. Of course, the waves up north pack a lot more punch than the waves in town and when it's crowded, localism can be an issue so just be respectful and cautious. Almost any break along the North Shore can get crowded during a swell, but there are still some secret/hidden spots. Unfortunately, I don't know any of them. Compared to N. Shore, town waves are weaker and smaller but still definitely fun. Town can also get pretty crowded but the crowds are usually friendlier. Also, during the summer, N. Shore will pretty much go completely flat but town can have waves even in the winter. They'll most likely be small but it's not often that town goes completely flat. As far as jobs go, your best bet will be in town, but I honestly have no idea what the job situation is like up north. And for nightlife, it's definitely better in town. Even though country has a couple fun bars, clubs, parties.... there's still a MUCH wider variety in town- Waikiki, downtown, Ala Moana. So if you only consider yourself a 3/10 in surf skill, it might be better to stay in town since the jobs and nightlife are better, and there are still good quality waves in town that can pack some punch. So you can do what I do- surf most of the time in town, and when there are swells up north, make the 1 hour drive for some fun country surf. Hope this helps!

soccerkid,
Will share some of my experiences based on working on the 4 primary island off and on for the last 23 years. Will ask some questions of you first.

- Where are you from?
- Have you ever been to HI? If so, where?
- Are you Caucasian?
- What kind of work are you looking for?

Ok, based on skill level of 3 out of 10 (10 = pro), the Winter North Shore is going to be too big for you. No offense, it'll always be too big for me no matter how long I live.

The few towns along the North Shore are small, with a minor exception. The small town size means a) work will be hard to come by, and b) there will be no night life. If it were me, I'd give up the idea of night life in order to a) live closer to good surf, b) save money,and c) not waste time. I'm an old guy now, but eons ago I was 18 years old. I spent about 2 years at the NJ shore - mostly to work unskilled to semi-skilled jobs and spend lots of time in the clubs having live bands. I loved live rock and roll. But, know what? Spending too much time there kept me up late too often, introduced me to girls that were not very desirable (but I was too dumb to know), and kept me away from studies and developing other skills / talents. You don't have to make these mistakes.

The minor exception is the town of Laie. That's where Brigham Young Uni (BYU) and its Polynesian Cultural Center are so it's a reasonably-sized town. But #1, because it is BYU, there will be very little night life. But #2, you may be able to get a job there working in grounds keeping or sanitation. But, #3, in order to get a job under the BYU organization, you're going to have to be a clean cut young stewart (and for all I know, you are).

I'm with duyechi, you're probably best off in Honolulu. You need to be aware of several things: 1) crack and other drug use in rampant, 2) cost of living is high, and 3) if you are Caucasian, you are a Haole. A "haole" is a white devil from the mainland. You will experience discrimination if you fit this description. So, you better have a thick skin and bring your patience. If you have never experienced discrimination, you are going to get a huge life lesson. Remember, be patient. Don't bring many things of value. Given your age and the employment you will be eligible for, you're not going to be able to live in really nice places.

On to some more positive things. If you have visited the Hawaiian Islands, then you know the water is beautiful and warm. Many Hawaiians spend part of every day in or on the water. You'll find surf that is "good enough" around Honolulu. The longer you live there, the more places you will find out about. You will probably want a car. Salt is in the air all around all islands. This rusts cars out pretty rapidly. One of the easiest ways to get a decent car in decent shape is to buy one from a car rental agency like (National, Avis, Hertz, Dollar). These cars are usually 2 to 3 years old and because there is a minimum of paved road and minimal speed limits, they are not usually torn up like on the mainland. These cars usually come with a warranty, too. The down side at present is that because the tourist industry has been hit hard by the global down turn in economy, there are less of these types of cars to buy. However, be patient and get to know the guys and women at the car rental place and you'll prevail.

Good luck.
don't hesitate to ask additional questions
billie

Assuming you are caucausian, I would think you will find what you are looking for on the mainland. I am 40 years old and grew up here being "haole" and its not an easy thing to do. From the moment you step off the plane, you are going to be discriminated against, which makes life harder than what you would find on the mainland. The next thing is your age, 17 years old, you are going to have a hard time finding a place to rent due to your age. Even if you were 18, many place or people will not rent to such a young person, especially if you are halole. Reason being is that many before you have tried the same thing and left (breaking the lease) at a moments notice when things did not work out well. All that being said, I love Hawaii, I will never leave. Waves are great, people are fantastic and I can surf year round. I have experienced all the negatives that a haole can experience here but very seldom do nowadays as I guess I have earned my "stripes" over the years.
If you are hell bent on coming I would definately stay in "town". North Shore is surly more for experienced surfers and "experienced" haloles. Town would give you a better chance of making it and with time you could migrate to the North Shore.
Again, I am not trying to burst your bubble, but just stating the facts that life is going to be difficult for you for awhile especially with no friends nor family here. But then again, you could take saying "if if were easy, everyone would do it" and come on over. The rewards of living in Hawaii are like none other but Hawaii is not for everyone. I believe it takes a certain type of indvidual as us locals can spot them out pretty easy.