Moving to Hawaii

[Alexk]

Hey all, this is my first time posting here so I guess I'll tell you all a little bit about my background and surfing history.

Name's Alex, I'm 19 and I live in Toronto, Canada and ever since I can remember I've been fascinated, almost obsessed with waves, water, and surfing. Last summer I finally mustered up the courage to venture down to California all by myself and enroll in a surf camp in Santa Monica for a week. It was the best time of my life, surfing was everything I had imagined it would be, only a hell of a lot harder, but I loved it. The worst feeling ever was boarding the plane back home, I knew everything I wanted was there and I was leaving it all behind.

Ever since I got back from Cali last year I've been saving up to go on another surf trip. I managed to save up enough money to go to Hawaii with my girlfriend. We stayed in Waikiki and surfed everyday, went snorkeling, hiked up diamond head. I was also very happy to see my girlfriend fall in love with surfing aswell (she's always wanted to try too).

We've made plans to go back again this summer and stay for longer but we have no idea how to get started. I've looked at vacation rentals near Makaha beach, but as for other preparations, I have no idea what to do. Has anyone else here gone through a similar experience and would be able to guide me a little bit. It would be much appreciated. I just want to surf!!!

[Stone Fox]

hey dude, welcome to the forum! Hope it all goes good for you in Hawaii.

We have a hawaiian member who might show you around if you ask nicely, and don't be put off by his name!

[dondiemand]

well, with your age, 19, im assuming you're in college, so it would be wise to look for schools out there..goodluck!

[gdude335]

your girlfriend loves surfing
lucky!!!!!
i need to get mine out soon!!

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

hey dude, welcome to the forum! Hope it all goes good for you in Hawaii.

We have a hawaiian member who might show you around if you ask nicely, and don't be put off by his name! :D

sure thing but i didnt understand exactly what it is you wanted to know.

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

i live downtown so i dont know much about makaha. north is mostly flat during the summer.

[Alexk]

Well, I guess I'm kind of looking for someone who has picked up and moved all the way to Hawaii and has nothing waiting for him/her there. Tips, skills I could acquire to help me get a job, what kind of money I should bring with me and where I should spend it. I want to move over there very badly, but the thought of going over with the amount of preparation and planning I've done kind of worries me. Any help would be awesome.

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

learn to speak japanese

[Dec]

Your best bet is finding a place somewhere around the south shore, or even in honolulu. Prices are much steeper aroud the north shore, and you'll get treated like a tourist an ripped off.

As for surf, like HSES' said" it's pretty much flat except for a few freak swells during the summer on the north shore. South shore is best in summer, and can still pump early on in the winter.

Oh yea, money....it's expensive! You're going to have to find a job quick because your money dissapears before your eyes (and into you're girlfriends new dresses and shirts )

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

its 2 in the morning and im stumped writing my paper...

it hink dec is right, south shore is your best bet. you wont find a job up there, and would end up spending 3 hours commuting in traffic every day(round trip during rush hour). cheapest rent in town is around $650/mo. in OK areas where they dont beat on haoles for fun, and entry level pay is from 6.50-8.50 if you work at a retail giant like GAP or something, or at a restraunt... if you have restraunt or hotel experience you could possibly make more. my friend is a waitress in waikiki and makes $3/hr plus 100-200 a night it ntips. thats where the money is. i get paid 7.75/hr for child care at a public school.

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

besides, north shore in the winter half the time is too big to surf. south shore gets some off season swells from storms in the winter, and in the summer we dont get the huge monster waves that ordinary surfers cant ride.

[IDynamite]

wow alex, are we the same person?? Im 19, from Philly PA and obsessed with surfing too. its my dream to move out to hawaii too but i figured I'd give it a few years before I'd be able to get the $$ to settle there....goodluck and keep me updated, ill meet you there.