I just got into the University Of Hawaii at Manoa-
Majoring in marine bio.
Going to be moving to Honolulu January 2nd.
I’m going to be needing a room, a part time job, and some friends to surf with.
I’m also wondering about traffic conjestion. Bring my car over, buy one, or is the metro so good that i can get all over the island with my boards?
Cheers.
-Austin
I am moving to oahu on Feb.28. I will be attending the world medicine insititute for a masters in acupuncture, and oriental medicine. I have some family on my brother in law’s side that are local paddlers. They are picking me up from the airport, and showing me around, as well as introducing me to people, so I don’t get medded with too much. I also had some of the same questions that you had. I will also need a apartment, and a part time job as well. Hopefully we can get a little help from the swaylockians. I will need some friends to surf with as well, good luck with the move.
just be prepared for the rent and other cost of living expenses here.
most families need the multiple incomes just to pay the bills.
that’s why the homeless population is growing geometrically.
used cars are cheap here cause people keep buying new ones
gas isn’t
neither is traffic
buses don’t take boards
but if you’re staying anywhere near UH
all the crowded southshore surf spots are just a bike ride away
I’d research some really good sunscreen
and you might considered cutting your hair if you don’t want some unemployed blahlah taking his frustrations out on you.
I’d spend alot of time volunteering with some organizations like surfrider or DAHUI beach cleanups or with any of the organizations holding contests in Waikiki so you can meet the “special” folks who can give you a get of jail card for any of the lineups here…
Just remember to pay your dues to earn your spot and the rewards will be endless that’s all…
see you soon…
Thanks for the advice,
rent seems to be about the same here and there.
gas is 3.49/gal here…how much worse can it be?
Whats a blahlah and why dose he hate my cool hair?
Cheers.
Props on the advice, thanks. If I could ask one question, where would you live if you had to be in the city for school? Everyone that I have talked to told me to move out of the city, and just make my way there early. I know some towns are not too friendly to new faces, so where is the chill place to live? Any insight will be welcomed by all. Thanks, again.
unless you’re living in a pit or sharing with others expect $1800-$2500 /month in town close to the hot lights of honolulu.
solo rentals are very hard to find nowadays especially in town…
even the hotels are converting to upscale condos or time shares.
If you try hard and have connections you can find a cheaper place and it’s way better to live in town if you have to go there rather than to commute. You can bus it but it’s still a challenge. I commute from the Ewa Plains everyday and get up at 3:30 AM to leave at 4:45AM to get to work by 6:30AM I get off work and leave downtown at 6:30-7:00PM and do it all over again every work day. Depending on where you live the commute can take up 20-30 percent of your day.
In town makiki(to surf ala moana) or kaimuki(to surf waikiki diamondhead) would be the choice areas especially if you don’t have a car. The chill places to live are Hawaii Loa Ridge, Kahala, Tantalas, Nauru Tower, the Ilikai, or anywhere in waikiki. Need a 6-8 figure income to qualify but that’s where all my bosses own homes and they all live a pretty good lifestyle… If your sneaky and know the right people you can find a pool/caretaker house at one of the mansions at diamondhead and live in luxury watching and taking care the property for the non-resident owner. I know quite a few folks who got that dream gig.
If you don’t have to go to downtown Honolulu, I would live on the northshore or makaha and just hang around there alot. There’s no more beautiful countryside, people and surf in bicycle/walking distance than in those two places.
a blahlah(blala) is like a real local local (construction worker etc etc) who hasn’t quite achieved moke status yet.
the kind of guy that won’t punch you out but give you alot of lip when in the accompaniment of friends…
the evolution kind of goes like…
local, then blala, then troll, then moke, then enforcer, then inmate…
a troll is like a mini(short)-moke
the kind that looks all stubby, buff and stuff
until you paddle in
and you find out
the top of their head
doesn’t even reach your shoulders
when they are on land
or
those real ugly mokes
but with the super high voice.
they look spooky
until they open their mouth
then you’re afraid to laugh
eventhough you’re busting inside…
Thanks again for all the info, I know we are going to spend a little more for rent then we do here. I planed on about the 1500 a month range. I am just a student, so the 6 to 8 figures income doesn’t apply, far from it. That’s funny about the evolution of the local, hopefully there are some cool people in the mix as well. Do you think it would be best if I contacted a real estate agent? I have heard that all of the apartment complexes go through agents to do their leasing. If you don’t mind me asking, and you can pm me if you want, what are some spots to surf that are less localized, and not so crowded, or does this combo just not exist on the island? If you don’t want to unveil your spots I don’t mind… I appreciate all the advice so far, and I’ll have my chance to run about the island, and check stuff out soon. Thanks again.
like everything here
you have to have “connections” to make the most of it
if your friends have friends here in the “biz”
that’s the best way to go
otherwise everyone is just pretty much just ripping everyone else off
especially in town and other areas of high transitory poplulants
prob is the military single guys bunch up their housing allowance and move in to these places
jacking up the prices in town
all the young-uns want to be where the action is
and that’s in town.
as far as surf
diamondhead cliffs
is the communal surf spot of that side
otherwise outside of waikiki
everyspot has a crew and pecking order
although there’s alot more goofiness in town
due to newbies and visitors than elsewhere.
I hate crowds
so I don’t surf town or northshore anymore
unless there’s a way to catch it
during the off hours
when everyone is elsewhere.
I do have my own secret spots
when you get here and when the times right usually during the summer
I can show you some of them
Proneman’s seen their potential and surfed some of them
I don’t think any of this is a secret but here’s a recap…
One of the longest and most perfect performance waves on the southshore is courts for regulars and bowls for goofys although the pecking order’s rough.
Queens is one of the most perfect play waves in the world but that’s also another 100 guys to deal with.
Pops, paradise, number two and threes are also great regular foot waves and are way outside but the further out you go the rougher the pecking order can be.
towards diamondhead there’s alot of great breaks and they tend to be a little more even keel than where the lineups are easier to get to from the beach.
theres tons of take off spots all along the cliff at diamondhead and alot of super secret spots all the way to kokohead where another epic left exists.
If you bring your board to school you can walk down paddle out to point panics and beef it out with the bodysurfers or the intense crew at kewalos but further towards the airport theres flys and a bunch of other breaks.
thanks or the loads of info.
i’ve been looking on craigslist for rooms and they are running between 400-700 within 2 miles of UHM.
hey, Rhino, how’d the move go???
Pretty well. I found A nice room in a house in Kapahulu, and have surfing diamond head quite a bit. it’s about 1/2 walk from my house…I need a bike! Got some good marine bio classes too, this semester should run pretty smoothly. I’m still looking for a job…but I think I might be able to pull off not working for a while.
Cheers.
Nice, man sounds good…I’ll be there at the end of Feb, I’ll pm you we should go have a surf…
Souds like a plan.
Glad to hear things are going well! I’ll be on Oahu for a bit starting this Friday, might see you if you DP Diamond Head.
Study and surf as much as possible!