Need a change!

[bug_power]

Well I'm finishing up my Masters degree this spring and after that I'd like to move. I'm considering a move to the islands to teach. I was wondering what teaching positions pay out there and if I could make enough money to actually afford a place to live. I'm not much of a tourist person and actually preferr something on Maui or something vs. the big island. Can anyone give me some advice?

[timgfallon1]

My family lives out on the Big Island, your best bet there for cheap real estate and decent pay is on the Hilo side of the island. They bought a house in Waikoloa (North of Kona) for almost half a mil. The house is only 1,300 sq. ft. - A totally ridiculous price for a house of that size.

[jstroup]

My best friend and his wife are both teachers in Lahaina (we also lived there for about a year and half) I can tell you that having Masters degree will help your pay a little...but I do know that when he moved from Colorado to HI, his salary didn't change substantially, and certainly didn't compensate for the high cost of living but it is doable! The trick is to adust your lifestyle. You don't need a lot to be happy out there given your surroundings...my free dive gear and surf board took up 90% of my time. Just make sure you do go out there with a decent amount of "safety" money. Average rent in West Maui for is going to fluctuate based on location and town you are in. Kihei will be a little cheaper than Lahaina. One cheaper way to go is to look at "ohana" listings. If you want to buy...hope you are already loaded or taking a lot of money with you from a previous sale. When I left the West side, average home prices ranged from $600K-$850K making condos your best bet. A lot will depend also on your current situation...married, single, children? Those factors will dicate what is doable and what may not be. Shoot me a pm if you have any questions, hopefully I can point you in the right direction.

[MauiFreeDiver]

Can anyone give me some advice?

Sure, stay on the mainland!

[bug_power]

Maui...my grandfather lived there probably before you were born, and everyone one else in my family has lived there before except me. My grandfather was there during Pearl Harbor, my parents met at Diamond Head during a concert and my sister was born on Honalulu. I was "lucky" enough to be born in Oakland, Cali. and spend most of my life on the Gulf Coast. I figured a college educated teacher with a history of working with under privileged children would be a welcome site in the community. I'm not really sure how to take your post.

[tw1012]

Don't listen to Maui, a lot of Hawaiians have an anti mainland Haoli mentality but if you are respectful and have a good attitude you will find more people accept you than don’t. I was lucky enough to find some spearos that were willing to go diving with me, you will meet some great people and some assholes that think since they were there first no one else has a right to be there. Have a good time it’s a great place to live.

[los mentirosos]

I'm just curious. Does MauiFreeDiver really believe there would be any Hawaiian natives left if the nasty old USA didn't stop the Jap's from taking the islands during WWII? I suspect we were the VERY MUCH lesser of two evils.

[MauiFreeDiver]

I'm not really sure how to take your post.

Take it how you will, the reality is your dollar can stretch 4 times more in texas than it will here, I believe you will have a hard time getting by on just a teachers salary, but it can be done. I was just giving you some advice. Aloha

[bug_power]

no problem...that's why I said I didn't know how to take it. It could have gone either way. I've met "locals" on just about every beach I've been at, but wasn't sure if that's what you were trying to say. Texas has one of the lowest cost of living then a lot of places. I'm just tired of our muddy water we have here. I wouldn't mind teaching in some other countries. I'll be certified in Math and Technology. I'm just tired of the Texas Coast.

[ocfirefly]

try a condo in san diego....pretty good diving at the local islands as well as decent beach dives...surfable waves everyday...great weather. you can find condos in north san diego county(coastal) between 200 to 300K. marry a dentist!

[tw1012]

The reality is that everyone is a little protective of there spots and don't want other people killing fish that they might have the chance to take. The dent other hunters put in the fish population is minimal compared to other threats like commercial fishing, pollution, etc. (Man I sound like a liberal hippie). We should all appreciate the fact that we have an addiction in common.