Mistakes We Made Moving To Hawaii

Do you know how much time, energy, money and faith goes into moving to Hawaii? We created this video to help share our mistakes and insights to save folks from making costly, time consuming and lethal mistakes.
We have 15 years of knowledge to share here and there's something for everyone!
If you would like to join the volunteer Facebook page, go here: / 541913754682495
Also consider taking the Pono Pledge to be good stewards, thoughtful visitors and amazing residents of Hawaii. ponopledge.com
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:12 Google maps
2:31 Why did we move here at first
3:21 Terrain of Hawaii Island
4:48 Child Care
5:05 Jobs on Hawaii
5:49 Elevation
7:16 Bringing stuff to Hawaii
13:39 Shipping your car
15:10 Loneliness
18:00 Finances
20:00 Community
22:50 Assimilating
25:00 Ocean Safety
27:20 Pests
30:36 Do you Belong Here
Julie and Eric Ziemelis are Hawaii lifestyle experts and Realtors. If you love Hawaii and want to consider a move here, join our 365 Ohana on www.365HawaiiLiving.com and download a free copy of "How To Move To Kona" and if you are considering purchasing a home on Hawaii Island, join and get a complimentary copy of our "Insiders Guide to Buying Real Estate On the Big Island of Hawaii" and gain access to our private Facebook groups. We also have a fantastic network of agents on other islands, as well!
Eric Ziemelis | RS-80376
Julie Ziemelis | RS-85062
365 Hawaii Group
REAL Broker LLC
[e-mail]
www.365hawaiiliving.com

[@onestitch66]

As retired persons we have decided that 6 months here and six months on the mainland works for access to medical care. We have a lovely group of people here we are friends with and a lovely group on the mainland. Financial we are able to have places both places that feel like home. I grieve every time we leave and look forward to returning as soon as we have left. Our months away remind us how much we love it here. We pack the months away with medical appointments and visits to family and then we are ready to come back to our Aloha Home.

[@365Hawaii]

That seems a great way to handle many of the issues of living here full time.

[@Vesparado]

Seattle to Kealakekua (1300 ft) transplant 6 years ago. Yes food and gas is pricey, but wow, property taxes are the lowest in the nation, and you don't need to buy coats and fancy clothes (It's not a fashion show here, yay), and if you have a yard you can grow food all year long. I have never looked back to cities and trends and noise. It's all about nature, the amazing ocean, the people, and aloha.

[@Daisygirl888]

Moved to Maui 6 yrs ago from Northern California. Best decision ever. Never going back to the mainland.

[@Tomoej76]

Thank you for giving the transplant information!

[@birdcreek1]

Always enjoy your videos and all the information you have provided 😊😊

[@christinewhyte7267]

As much as I watch you two wonderful people, I don’t think we would feel that way. Your information is always spot on! Been there twice and can’t wait to move. You two are the bomb ❤as someone said. Thanks again!

[@365Hawaii]

Thanks for watching...we just try and let folks know issues before they get here..some people are more resilient than others!

[@suehofkamp8594]

Your story about the B52 Bombers is hilarious! We retired and moved here in 2021. We bought our condo two months before arriving and it was a video showing only. We came with five suitcases and two carry on’s. We found sending essentials in boxes through snail mail was the cheapest and sent quite a few boxes for $2K. We shipped our car. The hardest part of living here has been cost of food and shopping. We do have to order a lot of things on line. But the Pro’s make up for the Con’s. Hands down. Recently we had a couple move in next door. They were here 9 months, sold their condo and left because things just got too tight. I don’t think they were prepared.

[@365Hawaii]

It's so hard to actually "prepare" yourself to move here with so many unknowns! Now insurance premiums are going up for everyone and that will raise costs higher.

[@niraakara]

Really applaud 👏 your messages here! Best part, and the most important part is how much respect you showed for the island and the locals, the culture, ecosystem caring for the place etc! So many important messages… even if basic, that people ignore… like, they’re tropical islands (not North America mainland), bugs etc. It is so important coming from folks like you who have a good following to get these messages out. One thing that’s heartbreaking is how badly so many tourists treat turtles (and other fauna), and environment in the islands! Also, due to the high fertility of islands, any plant/tree if not well taken care of care of can get invasive and suffocate local flora and fauna that depend on it! One other thing that I’d love to bring up is what American Bird Conservation (ABC Birds) organization advocates “Cats indoors”. I believe ever since colonization 90% of the bird species have gone extinct and cats outdoor and feral cats have had a big role to play in this (I believe in USA alone cats contribute to 2.4 billion bird deaths!). Thank you for this. Great job!

[@365Hawaii]

You make some great suggestions and appreciate your feedback on this video. We have tried in other videos to make it clear to not handle or get close to the turtles, it's an ongoing mission of education to try and reach people!

[@niraakara]

@@365Hawaii Thank you so much! Yes, I’ve noticed that you support the islands in all ways in your videos. You folks are model Kama’ainas! Aloha!🤙 😊

[@pitbull2484]

15:30 Loneliness Damn straight. We just moved to Oahu. And man…what was I thinking bringing my family out here. We picked the wrong area to rent. It’s an old, old community, no young families or any kids for my kids to connect. 9 months left on this lease :( We are trying churches and volunteering, trying more churches. It’s wild.

[@elisas.2056]

Love this! Thank you.

[@365Hawaii]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@obedfuentez2286]

Awesome, I think it will be soo! Helpful.

[@jillfaulkner768]

I really like your video's. So informative. Goal is half the time there and half on mainland. You are teaching so many great things. I love being a part of a community. We live in a small community now and coming from a big city. ❤

[@briha3142]

The South Point reference made me think of the first time the wife and I went swimming at the old Kona Airport……we like to float on noodles, however, at that specific location, noodles are NOT a good thing to use! Better to use SCUBA GEAR, as the water has a continuous undertow, and if you’re floating on top of the water, you WILL be sucked out to sea! Thankfully, a young local Hawaiian man heard me whistle from where we were at, (and I was motioning for him to come out to us) almost in line with the surfers out there, we were, and he dropped his stuff on the beach, got into the water on his board and proceeded to come to us, and when he got to us, he took my wife on his surfboard and took her in, and then he came out to get me, soon afterwards! What a wonderful young man, to have saved us from being sucked out to sea! No amount of me paddling on the noodles worked, to stop us from going out to sea!

[@corenascafe6177]

Wow, we can totally relate to your video! We moved and bought a House here right before a big crazy Kona low, an earthquake and Mauna Lau blew ( I really understand Pele at that point my neighbors house was glowing red ). We asked ourselves was this a big mistake? We got real lonely a year later. We went traveling and that helped for a bit. But loneliness set in again. We had retired and we didn’t want to go back to work. Our friends we had here started traveling so they were not here or other friends who do not live here all year long. We also couldn’t afford to eat out all the time, which what we liked to do here because we still haven’t sold our house on the mainland that’s really hard to deal with from afar. So many things are different from vacationing here then living here and yes do not bring mainland culture here, learn from the locals, your are a guest, learning in the school of Aloha. And Aloha means so much more, there is a deeper meaning and history to that word and yes the United Stated annexed Hawaii. And also there are so many cultures here besides Hawaiian to respect and that have a lot of history here. We watched 365 videos before we moved here and after to prepare ourselves for ins and outs and people and culture and businesses and restaurants, it was a great help. It’s funny, I remember I had taken an art class when I first met my husband many moons ago, the teacher had asked us to draw our future. Well, I literally did, I found a picture of that drawing right after we moved here. I somehow drew my neighborhood here and the house that I live in now. I never planned on living in Hawaii but in a way it called to me, and I am here to just learn and I try to give back in my own way. By the way there is a free Aikido classes right on the water at the community center that can be another calling.

[@johnmartinez9628]

Hi, I have been enjoying your videos, in fact I just became a subscriber. I've been watching them back-to-back to glean information for my upcoming trip to the big island. Though this is just a vacation trip I wanted to be prepared and somewhat knowledgeable before getting there. The information is refreshing, down to earth and you guys are a great couple. I liked your Kona Airport Travel Tips video, Top Five beaches on the Big Island and Avoid these Mistakes on the Captain Cook Monument Hike. I'm still viewing them, but wondered if you did any videos on the ancient Hawaiian sites and petroglyphs on the island? I appreciated your openness and honesty regarding the history of the island and spoke about the island being conquered and how sensitive the Hawaiian people still feel about it. Being related to Native Americans that history is all too well know. I look forward to coming to Hawaii and just wanted to say you guys are doing a great job!

[@marlainemagnus3168]

Wow sounds like costs have really sky rocketed. January 2015 I moved by brothers things back to mainland. A container was 5k then

[@marksthedad2]

This is definitely a must-watch video for anyone with dreams of Mai tais and Paradise. The most important thing of course is, as you said over and over again, planning, planning, planning. And being creative with time and money. For many folks the best way to meet new friends is to volunteer your time. The 365 Hawai'i Island community fund page is a great place to get involved.

[@365Hawaii]

Thanks Mark! People can actually join the FB group. facebook.com/groups/541913754682495

[@jimmythestoryteller]

Hello from the Bay Area. You said you used pallets to move some of your stuff. Can you tell me which company you used? Thanks.

[@LadyMysti]

My family & I have followed your channels for quite sometime. Do you have any videos that help the legally blind or those on fixed income regarding prices and services for the blind? Mahalo for all you do.

[@molassescricket6663]

Very informative, thank you! I’m curious, I shop at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc, in SF Bay Area. Is it more expensive then that, and gas at Costco here is in the mid 4 dollar range, more expensive? 32:14

[@harrymiram6621]

Watching from Oahu=170 miles E/60mins flight time from Kailua-Kona. According to latest, most relevant info, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart & Whole Foods are in Kona. Trader Joe's Wholly mainland U.S. establishment. Very few U.S. chain restaurants in Kona. >75-80%of Big Island businesses are locally-owned/operated...Buy Local, Support Local

[@brianfranklin4762]

Hey guys, What company do you recommend for shipping a car from the mainland to Kona?

[@vuaeco]

Not worried so much about making friends on the big island. If I need friends, I would move to LA or New York, not the big island especially Puna. "People who move and live here want to be left alone", that's what the locals told me. "It's not for everyone and it takes certain kinds of people to live in Puna".

[@jimandcathep9915]

As far as moving household items/container moving, what companies have you heard good things about and that people would recommend moving from the mainland west coast? From what I have seen Matson seems to be up there - I have not read good things about Pascha - and I haven't read anything good or bad about Royal Hawaiian movers. Just assuming that since you're realtors that your clients might give you some feedback on movers and the process !

[@brindydworshak4523]

You two are the bomb❣️ Love you so much. You and your family only deserve the very best that life has to offer. You’ve busted your asses more than anyone I’ve ever known. Let’s bring Grocery Outlet to the islands. How fab would that be? Our very favorite grocery store besides Trader Joe’s…..

[@juustcat]

Hilo is a pretty wet climate. How are the pests there? Specifically spiders..?

[@catmandriver3297]

Our daughter is moving to Oahu w/family & military spouse for 4 years. We are retired in AZ&KS homes. We would love to buy - not practical for only 4 years? We are torn after only being a visitor on vacation 3 times and now losing our support here from them our only family moving there. We just don't know where to begin. Sublease? Is that a thing? 3-6 months or ? Any insight please. Your channel has given me hope and I feel uplifted by many of your videos. Mahalo

[@tYarisdaprincess]

If you're moving over long term, I heard from other creators that it is better to take your things with you instead of buying new on the big island. You're talking more about moving back and forth? Or does your advice stand for that situation as well?

[@kristinesharp6286]

Most people thinking they are moving long term only end up living there 1-3 years.

[@tYarisdaprincess]

@@kristinesharp6286 my parents are retiring there

[@harrymiram6621]

Re: Ocean Safety...If you go to swimming area/beach that's making the rounds All over the internet, watch/see how many locals are in the water. Hawaiian ocean currents are Nothing to be trifled with! During late spring/early fall--May/September--waters are, more/less, calm/placid enough to swim, kayak, SUP or snorkeling. Ocean tides/currents are NOT like mainland U.S. lakes, rivers & streams. The rest of the year, especially N/E facing shores can be tumultuous, nasty, vicious &, to the extremes...Deadly!...When in Doubt, Don't Go Out!

[@deanmalkewich2366]

Lots of good points. I spent about 10 winters living and working on BI and it can definitely get lonely and depressing. Embracing the culture is important, but there’s also an attitude with some native Hawaiians and I’ve had beer bottles and rocks thrown at me on my bike rides, been pulled over on a ride on queen K and threatened (by someone obviously cracked out). It can be an unfriendly place, not everyone there embraces tourists.

[@thomasreto2997]

Appalachian American please.....on a more serious note. Yeah the ocean constantly changes by the minute and life is fragile

[@RonSiebert-ou4xh]

Wow!!! How could your psychic have possibly known that your elderly mother that recently passed away have short, grey hair? What are the chances??? (LOL)!

[@365Hawaii]

HA! I know that it sounds weird the way I told the story, but it was deeper than that and my mom came through other intuitive people to share information. Like I said, you can believe it or not, but having my brother tell me later that he had spoken to my mom before she passed away and she told him she wanted me to have that table..but she didn't write it down. I'm just glad I have it!

[@AncientEgyptArchitecture]

Your first mistake was not moving to the East side/Hilo. Your second mistake was not investing in east side properties back in 2005...you could have quadrupled your money by 2023. Your third mistake was shipping your car...better to store the old one and buy another, used beater, on the island. Your worst mistake, not moving here in the '90's, before it was despoiled by big-box stores, real estate development and greed.

[@russtgrower750]

So the hilo side is cooler in general basically due to the elevation and wind? You guys are looking so good, the islands must slow aging lol