I received this text for a “traffic violation”. I shrugged it off but my mom received something similar to this and she was panicking. I had to calm her down and explain this was a scam.

It’s sad to think how many people might fall victim to these kinds of notifications, so just putting this out there.

is it just me or does it feel like genuine torture trying to find a mental health specialists in hawaii? i suffer from severe anxiety and when i say severe i mean debilitating anxiety that physically affects me. i have breathlessness, racing thoughts, numbness, and chest heaviness every. single. day. and it feels like it is incredibly difficult to find specialists who don’t have a huge waiting list. the cold calling and emailing makes me feel even more hopeless than i already am. mental health facilities are awful, expensive, and don’t actually get you psychiatric help. why is mental healthcare here genuinely awful and inconvenient?

I’ve been working at my first big girl job now for over 6 months and I’m nearly done paying off my student loans (only $2k left and I can pay that off in the next paycheck). I make 65k a year, I’ve saved a pretty decent emergency fund, my credit score is in the high 700s, and I feel like I’m close to being ready to move out of my family’s house. I live in Ewa and commute to Downtown. I started touring some apartments and I’m most interested in one in Downtown. Is $1,800 a month (electricity, water, sewer included) a good price? Would I be paying too much for my salary?

I don’t qualify for a bunch of low-income places, so apartment complex suggestions are welcome. I’d like to pay as low as possible while also still having a nice/newer apartment

I guess I haven't watched local news, or Green, in a while, but this interview and how he characterizes the LG race is just...wow.

Green has not formally endorsed any lieutenant governor candidate, but has been vocal about his preference for Kauaʻi Mayor Derek Kawakami.

“I would say, vote for the person who you think is going to help the state be healthy, who’s gonna get housing,” Green said. “Don’t vote for somebody who is looking for a fight, because it’s not about fighting, it’s about healing and helping.”

Part vent, part curiosity if this is business as usual:

So, the 20 year old refrigerator died. I am sad, but amazed it lasted that long. The new ones don't last nearly as long anymore.

Anyway, 5 weeks ago I order what I think is a reasonably priced medium sized refrigerator from Lowes. It wasn't in stock and had a 2.5 week delivery time. We're on an island and be trucked in from another state in days. It is what it is.

So the day before delivery, I get a call that it's delayed for 2.5 weeks. To say I'm disappointed is an understatement, but what can I do?

I guess I could try to cancel the order and spend almost twice as much on a fancier in-stock refrigerator, but that's not what I want.

From what I understand, all appliances are shipped to a local distributor. Lowes does not have a warehouse of their own. All sellers have their inventory go through there. Lowes only can go with what happens with the distributor.

Meanwhile, I look online and the Lowes website has apparently incorrect information saying an order today can be delivered within 2 days. That was irritating, but the local Lowes team has assured me that's a glitch in the system. Corporate will not adjust the computer systems to reflect the reality of Hawaii's inventory system.

Now, 3 days from the updated delivery date, I get a notice indicating that delivery is delayed two more weeks.

Seen plenty videos of people fishing by the triangular rock wall formations. Do you need DOD Identification or is it open to the public?

Has anyone flown out of Hawaii (or Hilo specifically) with a temporary paper ID for ConfirmID? How was it?

Context: I just turned 21 and go to college out of state. DMV only had appointment for the 31st and I leave August 1st 😭. Even then my ID wouldn’t have come in on time. I don’t have a passport either.

If I can just get through TSA all of this will be smooth sailing 😩🙏🏽 My horz. ID will get mailed to my house then my family can mail it to me 😍 That’s only if I can get through TSA 😃
If only we had online renewal 😭🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 how do all my kaʻū kanaks do it man 😪😪

My new job doesnt offer medical insurance, need to buy my own private insurance. What do people use that get good coverage in Hawaii? PPO preffered.

The linked presentation was made by Lily Hi'ilani Okimura, a local activist. She is quite popular on social media and I think she did a great job on this guide.

Jarrett Keohokalole serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, which holds direct legislative oversight over the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) which sets rates and regulates the state's regulated industries.

He has also run his campaign on a platform of helping locals with the skyrocketing cost of living. 

The great thing about local candidates running for national office is you can see what they have done with the power they already had, and whether they put their money where their mouth is. 

We have seen massive rate increases after rate increases after rate increases. This has been going on for years and has not been limited to the Strait of Hormuz period. 

How “well regulated” do folks in Hawaii think our regulated industries are? Including those with monopolies. I think most would agree that it has not been great.

But the bigger question is WHY?

For me, I always follow the money. Jarrett’s donor roll, especially the largest donors, looks like a who’s who of regulated industries and people who profit off those industries. With Matson and affiliates being one of the largest.

https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/?committee_id=C00913848&two_year_transaction_period=2026&line_number=F3-11C&data_type=processed

“In fact, much of Keohokalole’s funding in the past quarter — about $1 out of every $10 — came from Matson and its employees, including CEO and Chairman Matthew Cox.”

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/incumbents-lead-the-money-race-for-congress-will-outside-groups-wade-in/

To the extent the cost of living pain can be decreased though changes in shipping rules, to what extent do you think Jarrett will focus on the interests of local residents versus the special interests of his high dollar donors?

EDIT 1 - half a day of discussions and not a even single supporter can say what Jarret has done to improve cost of living in Hawaii, especially when doing so would upset his big money donors.

Instead of answers, the majority of the responses are questions back about Case, who, last time I checked, is not chair of the legislative committee that has oversight over Hawaii's PUC. That is Jarrett's job to help protect consumers -- you know, protect Hawaii residents against the very same companies who cut him large donation checks.

If you are a supporter, this is your time to shine. Show how he has not been beholden to his special interest, high dollar donors. Explain what he has done instead.

But I guess the answer is nothing?

Almost One-Year Update: We Moved Our Family to Hawaiʻi Anyway—and We’re Thriving

Almost a year ago, I posted here about moving my family of five from California to Hawaiʻi. I explained that my wife and I had secured healthcare jobs and believed the move was the right decision for our family.

I also promised that I would return and give everyone an honest update.

We are now approaching our first full year in Hawaiʻi, and I am happy—and honestly proud—to report that we are not merely surviving.

We are thriving.

When I made my original post, the overwhelming majority of the responses were negative. Some people offered legitimate warnings about the cost of living, housing, schools, employment, and the realities of island life. I understood those concerns, and some of that advice was useful.

However, many responses went far beyond constructive advice.

People said we would not make it through our first year. They predicted that we would become financially stranded, end up living in our car, damage our children’s future, place unbearable pressure on our marriage, and eventually be forced to return to California.

Some people appeared more interested in watching us fail than helping us prepare.

Well, we came anyway.

I am still employed full-time in healthcare as a surgical tech. Despite some assumptions made in the original discussion, I had an established healthcare career before moving here and did not arrive without professional experience or a dependable source of income.

Since arriving, I have received wage increases, continued developing professionally, and taken on additional work within the local healthcare system. My wife also successfully continued her healthcare career after the move.

We both have stable employment, benefits, dependable income, and opportunities to continue growing.

One of the opportunities mentioned in my original post did not work out exactly as planned. However, we did not depend on that opportunity to survive. We secured housing, remained current on our obligations, and established a stable home for our family without receiving free or significantly discounted housing.

Our rent is not cheap.

Groceries are expensive.

Electricity is expensive.

Shipping can be inconvenient.

Housing is smaller than what many families can obtain for the same amount of money on the mainland.

None of that was a surprise.

We researched the cost of living before relocating. We created a realistic budget, arrived with savings, maintained an emergency reserve, paid our expenses, and adjusted our lifestyle where necessary.

We have remained housed, employed, insured, and financially stable throughout our first year.

We did not become homeless.

We did not end up living in our car.

We did not need relatives to rescue us.

We did not arrive expecting Hawaiʻi to solve all our problems.

Before moving, we sold our home in California, paid off debts, and created a financial cushion. Since arriving, we have continued rebuilding our credit, protecting our savings, and planning our family’s next steps.

We are now exploring the possibility of eventually moving into a larger home because our family has become established here and would like additional space. We are approaching that decision carefully and are not rushing into something we cannot afford.

Most importantly, our children are doing amazingly well.

They adjusted to their schools, made friends, developed routines, and became comfortable in their new environment. They have become part of their school communities and are progressing academically and socially.

The transition was nowhere near the disaster that some commenters confidently predicted.

One of our children requires additional support, and several people used that as another reason to claim that moving here would harm our family. Instead, we approached the transition carefully, maintained structure, remained actively involved, and helped each child adjust at their own pace.

Our children are happy.

They are safe.

They have friends.

They participate in activities.

They spend more time outdoors and have experienced a culture and environment different from what they previously knew.

Our family trains together in martial arts and other physical activities. We spend time outside, explore the island respectfully, support local businesses, and continue learning about the community beyond the tourist areas.

Our household is together, and Hawaiʻi genuinely feels like home.

That does not mean every day feels like a vacation.

We work.

We deal with traffic.

We pay bills.

We sometimes work additional hours.

We deal with limited space, higher prices, crowded roads, and the reality of living far away from certain relatives and mainland conveniences.

Living in Hawaiʻi is completely different from vacationing here. I agree with everyone who emphasized that point.

However, difficult does not automatically mean impossible, and expensive does not automatically mean irresponsible.

We did not come here believing we were entitled to anything. We do not claim to be local, and we do not expect Hawaiʻi to change to accommodate us.

We came knowing that we were entering an established community with a deep culture, a complicated history, serious housing concerns, and legitimate frustrations regarding the number of people relocating here.

We listen.

We learn.

We try to treat people with respect.

We teach our children to do the same.

We understand that earning trust and becoming part of a community takes time.

Our experiences with people in Hawaiʻi have also been far more positive than the Reddit comments suggested. We have met welcoming coworkers, neighbors, teachers, parents, and community members.

Most people we encounter in everyday life are simply trying to live their lives, support their families, and treat others according to how they are treated.

The hostility we experienced online has not reflected our everyday experience here.

Professionally, I have continued building toward my future.

I have not abandoned my long-term educational and career goals. I postponed certain plans because relocating my family, establishing stable employment, and creating a strong foundation needed to come first.

Those goals are still alive. I am simply pursuing them according to a timeline that makes sense for my family.

I have also established a small business and am working toward creating additional income streams. The business is still in its early stages, but I have completed many of the necessary legal, financial, administrative, and registration steps required to build a legitimate foundation.

We did not move here to remain stagnant.

We moved here to build a better life.

I am not writing this update to pretend that every warning was unreasonable.

Anyone considering moving to Hawaiʻi should research employment, housing, schools, transportation, healthcare, taxes, pet relocation, emergency savings, and the emotional reality of living far from the mainland.

You should not relocate here without dependable employment, a housing plan, adequate savings, and a realistic understanding of the cost of living.

Hawaiʻi is not a magical escape from financial, relationship, or personal problems.

However, there is an enormous difference between warning someone about legitimate risks and declaring that a family you have never met is guaranteed to fail.

We knew our professional experience.

We knew our financial situation.

We knew our children.

We knew what sacrifices we were prepared to make.

We also knew that remaining somewhere simply because strangers were afraid of our decision was not the life we wanted.

Not every part of our original plan happened exactly as expected.

Some opportunities did not materialize.

Other opportunities appeared.

Some plans changed.

We adapted, worked, budgeted, communicated, and supported one another.

That is what responsible families do.

Almost one year later, Hawaiʻi has given our family a fresh beginning, professional growth, new friendships, cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and a stronger sense of direction.

My wife and I are employed.

Our children are happy and doing well.

We have a stable home.

We have maintained financial stability.

We are continuing our career and educational goals.

We are building a business.

We are planning carefully for our future.

We are together, healthy, grateful, and excited about what comes next.

We made it—and this fis only the beginning.

To anyone considering a major life change: do your research, prepare financially, listen carefully to constructive advice, and remain honest about the risks.

But do not automatically surrender your future to the loudest and most negative people in the room.

Sometimes people warn you because they genuinely care.

Sometimes people are projecting their own fears.

Sometimes people simply cannot imagine another person succeeding at something they would never attempt themselves.

Our move was not perfect, easy, or guaranteed.

It was still the right decision for our family.

Nearly one year later, I can confidently say that moving to Hawaiʻi was one of the best decisions we have ever made.

Mahalo to the handful of people who offered genuine encouragement, practical information, and kindness when I originally posted.

I remembered your words too.

We are still here.

We are thriving.

And Hawaiʻi is home.