AboutMalia Expertise Aloha,
I can answer I would say about 99 % of all questions relating to Hawai`i.
Experience I work for tour agencies as a tour guide so have a wonderful island experience especially from the view of travelers and newcomers to the islands. I am also a high school language teacher.
Question My company is sending me to work in Honolulu for a year. Of course, I didn't argue. Although they've offered suggestions on where I can find rental space, I'm looking for more opinions. The criterias I would like are: not too expensive (relative to HI....around $1750/mo?), within 15 minute drive of the airport with no traffic, low crime, very little military people living in the area, unfurnished, and a house/townhouse. By the way, I love the military. I served 10 years. It's just that when I lived in Italy, I find that I get a full cultural experience when they're not densely living in my area. Any help would be great. Thanks!
Answer Aloha Andrew,
You will love our islands :-)
Yes the price you mention is pretty much what you have to pay around town for something decent.
As for not being close to the military, I know what you mean, I also have no problem with our military but there is less of a community feeling when you live around military facilities because there is a lot of constant change.
You definitely want to look at areas East of the airport, or, as we say going towards Diamond Head. In the other direction going to Pearl Harbor, Pearl City and Aiea you have mostly military housing.
To the East, you can check out any neighborhood around Ala Moana, Waikiki, Mo'iliili, Makiki and even as far as Kaimuki and Kahala. If you look at a map, you will find these neighborhoods. Crime is low in all, actually we have one of the lowest crime rates in the nation, after all we are a remote set of islands in the middle of the Pacific with little room to escape.
Now as for traffic, mile wise, Kahala is only 10 miles away from the airport, but traffic in Honolulu can be awful at peak times. So if you have to be at work at a specific time, let's say anywhere between 6 and 9 AM and then later from 3 to 6 PM traffic going to and coming from the airport is bad, on the highway and off roads. I am not sure if that's your working place or not, but it gets congested.
Let me know if I can help you further.
Malia
