There are even Interstate highways on Oahu, although I'm not sure what other states they connect with (or how)
Check out www.honolulustreetmagazine.com and www.hawaiimotorbeat.com Hawaii has a rich heritage of hot rodding.
S.E you're out west so you are already accustomed to higher home prices and cost of living in General than most of the folks back this way. But by comparison I saw a recent televison show that was documenting home prices on the big island. A home that would be in the 100-150K range back here runs right at 1.2 million there. Anything that would have to be imported from the mainland is going to be high regardless. My mom did find retirement living on one of the smaller islands that she could buy into for 70K plus the monthly fee. But when she died the 70K was gone so no equity. 10.00 gallon milk, probably not but the cost of living on the islands is very high compaired to the mid west.
Both generalizations. 1. You still can't find a place where so many people from so many different places come together and live and work together. 2. We all don't have "money". There are some very real low income areas that are tough to live in. Not to mention the huge amount of homeless people we have due to the economy falling out. 3. But yes, there is a large car culture here. Historically, there were a lot of Hot Rods and Customs being built out here pre-war and through the late forties. Some Hawaii Rods even made it into the little pages back in the day.
The best advice you ever got: Move to AZ. Property is dirt cheap. Probably not as cheap as Detriot now that I think about it. But very reasonable. People are super great in AZ. Cost of living is reasonable. It's hot here-I love it. It's a dry heat Anywhere along the Colo. river is good. My town has more rods, customs, of special interest cars per square block that any place in the world. Lived here 6 years and still seeing new ones. Many, many car clubs if that's your thing. I've seen the temp here get to freezing four times. Three times this month. This is the first winter I've had to wear long pants but then it's kinda' cold in Detroit this year as well. Easiest state in the union to get a car registered and no stupid restrictive inspections. Cops are super understanding, they inforce the laws but they don't look for ways to make you have a bad day. Consider Hawaii has highest cost of living in the USA except Alaska. It's an island you can't drive very far in your car. When you do drive your car it will be at 45mph. Nice place to visit but it grows old fast. You can rent a hot rod there. I did, nice little glass Model A on a V6 Ford running gear. Was fun. Like every thing in Hawaii it was expensive. The island thing makes for a very restrictive hot rod life and the laws are not hot rod friendly. As far as living in a shack, Hawaii has more bugs then any other state and most of them bit. OBTW it rains: a lot. You will note that for all their assurances that rods exist on Hawaii all the posters here did not post one picture of a rod. I spent 20 years in the Army and another 23 working for the Army as a civilian, I've been everywhere, AZ is the best place I've ever lived.
Cars rust in hawaii. If you run through puddles they are salt water a lot of times. Island fever is a factor. Rent a place there for a month and see if it works for you.
Just got back from walking on the beach with my wife and dog (saw one other person). A year and a half ago we bought a 2200 sq. ft. vacation home in the Florida Pan Handle for about .40 cents on a dollar off the original price. The beaches are pristine sugar white sand (actually ground glass) it squeaks when you walk on it, the water is usually emerald green and crystal clear and never crowded. The Spring Breakers go to Panama City not here. I've been to Hawaii several times, its nice but the beaches are no better then here. Froms magazine listed the ten best beaches in the world, two were in the US, Maui and the Florida Pan Handle. The good news is you don't have to go 5000 miles to enjoy it. If I want to, I can buy a Double Cheeseburger from MacDonalds for $.99. You won't do that in Hawaii. Lots of car events in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. Cruising the Coast one of the best. Yeah, I know I sound like I work for the Chamber of Commerce but the Pan Handle is truly God's Country. Florida's a good place to live with no state income tax.
We travel to the islands 2-3 times a year. Just got back from Kauai end of October. Prices are high- yes. You are on a rock in the middle of the ocean- what do you expect? We usually go to Maui as I own a condo in Kahana. Most of the hot rods seem to be on the big island. There's a show probably once a year in May held just above Kona in the WalMart parking lot. They get 80 or so cars. You haven't a clue Maybe not HAMB friendly but there are rods there. Alii ' Drive in Kona K Mart Parking lot Kona Peggy Sue's Kehei, Maui Kapolei, Oahu I could go on..................
Eventually, the jalopy journal will be based out of Hawaii. Sent from my iPhone using the Jalopy Journal App! (coming soon to hoodlums world wide)
OK, OK so there are rods there they are pretty much likely to stay there, they,er not gonna' drive to Texas or some other place not as good as AZ That should stir things up some.
If you move to Fla. make sure its south Fla unless you want to freeze your ass off,26 degrees tonite Tampa,Fla. and you don"t want to go to the keys. Lived in Fla all my life went to Key West 1 time and will never go back.Everywhere you look dudes walking the streets holding hands,thats all it took for me to hit the road out of that place.
Too funny! Heck, probably half the population is now Haoles because lot of the locals got forced out and moved to Vegas... Forget about renting a shack as lot of the locals there live in shacks with its bad economy. Factor in the bugs, high costs, no jobs, etc. it'll be tough for a newcomer to make a go - unless you have some connection. Jobs may or may not be an issues but be prepared to work several unless you have a big savings to live on. I used to have a gasser when I lived there and drove it on the streets as my daily driver - with 5.13 gears! My father said I could have only one car but then Custom Supreme was $.50 a gallon at the time - figure out how long ago that was... Cars are limited as you'll see the same cars over and over unless a new car is built or another arrives from the mainland. When I moved to Calif. 30 years ago, I never looked back! My suggestion is to seriously consider and do your homework before making your move. I hear you about the snow and understand your reasoning but do be practical... Aloha!
Wasnt there a country song about ocean front property in Arizona? If that guy sang a song about it, it must be true!
Not true, they like you until you talk about staying! I think your best bet would be a government job. http://www.usajobs.gov/ Type in Hawaii in the "where" box. Good luck!
I would actually like to live in Hawaii for awhile. I'm sure that if the speed limit didn't get to me then the fact that I couldn't drive to Calif or Ore to see family would. I hate to fly. The thing that would bother me is living in the slums or whatever they call low income houseing in hawaii.
Jaws (Peahi) is on the north shore of Maui. It's between mile marker 13 & 14 off Hana Highway about 3 miles N of Paia. Access is a long muddy dirt road littered w/ old cars to the cliffs overlooking Jaws. The cars were put there to deter your access but doesn't work very well.
I forgot to mention that they have a "reconstruction" law there which a car has to meet certain criteria to pass and run on the streets. It would have to pass an inspection and display a sticker on the windshield to be legal. Not sure how a mainland car would fair with the laws as it's been awhile since I had to get one... it was a pain in the ass back in the days to pass. I know my cars in Calif. would never make it...
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