Expert: Malia - 1/20/2009

Question
My family and i want to move to hawaii to get away, we have 2 boys and one of them has autism and my concern is where would be the best place to live and that will offer help to my son. he is high functioning and right now all he dose is get ocupaional and speech therapy in school.. is there a place that ofers that to kids like him in hawaii?

Answer
Aloha,
You will love it here. The kids can be outdoors all year round so you do many things, even if they require a specific schedule and time, the way autistic children need it.
We have an excellent health system here and one of the best in the nation actually.
Plus here we are very tolerant, meaning we accept anyone, even if they are different. My daughter who is almost 8 has a child with down syndrome in her school as well as an autistic boy and no one stares at these kids, they are just kids like everyone else.
Check the website for the DOE of Hawaii (Department of Education) as well as
the website of Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children. They have all the addresses you need, they offer classes for almost everything and everyone and can give you any number you really need to start your new life here. In the meanwhile if there is anything else I can help you with, let me know.
Oh and I would choose O'ahu or eventually Maui as an island. They have the most variety for anyone and any condition, the other islands might not be as flexible and developed and it would mean a lot of island hopping for you.
Malia