Location: Hawaii

[Brandi]

please note, all of these questions are generic and will be asked for all locations so some may sound silly. The questions underneath each area are only there to help you think. Please feel free to skip things that don't apply or to elaborate on things that I did not mention.

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)


Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)

[Nikki]

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Most of the housing is very nice. They are remodelling I think most if not all of them.
Which area did you live in and did you like it? We lived in Pearl Harbor on Ford Island. The housing was brand new, very nice and roomy and your pretty much have your own little island minuse the beaches but I think its great for kids.
Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Heck no... It is outrageous for homes there, renting or buying. Most of the homes aren't even worth what you will pay.

Any additional thoughts? Housing was really the only plus side for me there.


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Dominick went to Pearl Harbor Elementary
Did you like them? No, there curriculum is way off of what he had been learning the previous 2 years, they are very far behind mainland kids.
Did your kids like them? He like how laid back it was there, they wear uniforms but its not the typical uniform. It's aloha wear.
How do you think the school system was overall? Very poor, that is a major reason why we left.
Any schools you would recommend over others? No I have heard the same about all schools there.
Did you go to college while you were there? No
If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Pearls commy is horrible, always out of food, jammed packed with locals, just bad. Hickam has an awesome commissary. I didn't mind driving the extra 5 min to go there. No big crowds always full of food, not so many local people barging in front of you. It was very nice there.
The NEX there is the biggest in the world. I loved the NEX there.
Do you shop there or out in town? You have to get to know the price differences, sometimes you can find better deals out in town if you know what your looking for.
What stores are available out in town? Walmart, Kmart, Macy's, Sears, Costco, Sams Club, home depot, Best Buy and there are a few malls with the normal mall stores inside.
What is the local shopping like? It's not bad, they have a ton of local stuff in every store, their style is alot different then what is here in California.
Malls? There are a few and they are all pretty good.
Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? Very High but I think California is actually a little higher. High? Average? Low? High, Milk, gas, food, housing is all way more expensive then most places.
How did it effect your family? Not much really, You get cola which is a nice amount over there so it really helps out with the cost of things.
Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? No but a job would have been nice.
Any additional thoughts?)


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Pretty good, for the most part they are very helping and nice.
Are there resources for family and spouses? Yes the FFSC
Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? The Beach, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing, night clubs, concerts, Diamond Head Hikes, luau's
For kids/families? The same as above except for the night clubs. Oh and there is a zoo that I would not recommend, they have Sea Life Park which is ok but I dont think its worth the money and a water park that I have heard is fun.
Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?) LOL yea the whole Island.


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Hot and Humid during the summer, fall and spring and pretty mild during the winter. I actually got cold most of the time after you adapt to the warmth, 75 feels freezing.
Are there seasons?) No


Overall:
(Would you go back again? No, I didn't care much for it there. Why or why not? There is not much to do there besides the beach. It gets old after a while and you start to feel like you are trapped with no where to go. The traffic is worse than California.
What are your main likes and gripes?) Ko Olina was my favorite place on the whole island. It has some beautiful scenery, its kind of like and extended vacation, nice weather mostly. The downfall is there is really nothing to do. People say that you have to just put forth the effort but we were not the type to sit at home on the weekends, we were always gone finding something to do. Alot of the beaches are nasty dirty and the traffic is horrible. In my mind it is a great place for vacation but totally different experience to live.
__________________

[April]

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)
There are lots of housing all over the island. We lived on the Kaneohe Marine Corps base which was behind a secure gate (you have to have an ID to get on) which made it hard for some people to come visit. It was decent housing and they were building quite a bit of new units when we left Dec 2004. Houses out in town are really expensive and small. However, if you can afford to buy you will make good money when you sell.

Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)
There is an elementary school on MCBH. It was hot and humid and no air conditioning. My son hated it because it was too hot to learn not to mention all the dirt blowing in. Schools in Hawaii are awful. If you can afford private school it is the way to go.
I attend the University of Hawaii in Manoa while there. It got the job done but was not challenging. Make sure you get the resident tuition because you are military. Otherwise, its more expensive than its worth.

Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)
Commissary and NEX are ok on MCBH. We found ourselves going to Pearl or Hickam; they just were so much bigger and nicer. There is lots of shopping all over the island and of course its expensive.

Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)
Cost of living is outrageous. COLA helps but its still expensive. We made it ok but just be prepared. A gallon of milk out in town was about $8 and the commissary was almost $4.

Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)
The military community is huge. Lots of support and programs for family/spouses. There are very lots job opportunities but can be frustrating getting one. There is a strong sense of family there and most tend to hire someone they know.

Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)
There is so much to do I can’t even begin. Swimming, snorkeling, hiking, camping…….so much and all year long.

Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)
The weather is very mild. Pretty much 70-80 year round. Humidity can be high especially in certain parts of the island and at certain times of the year.

Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)
I would not go back by choice. It is just too remote and too hard to get off the island. Family/friends think it’s too expensive to visit. It gets very lonely at times.

[Diamond]

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)

Yes there is Military housing here.....but it depends on what is availible when you arrive. Some of it is about 20 mins away but in rush hour can be over an hour. Over all the housing is going through alot of renovation. So alot of it is new.....or newer. They still is some older housing.

We live in the Pearl Harbor area.....so we are pretty close to everything. We were in older housing when we first arrived on island. We are now in newer housing. We like it.....we have alot of room and the garage and central air is a huge plus.

I know alot of people who buy houses here....so I know it is possible to do. As far as areas......I don't have any recommendations.....but I know a excellent Real Estate Agent that can help.


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)

We have no kids. So I do not know first hand about the schools.

I have not attended college here......but they are several on the island.


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)

There are two commissaries close by, Pearl Harbor and Hickam. Each has benefits....but I usually go to the Pearl Harbor Commissary. The Nex is huge.......alot to offer.

I do shop out in town.....but not for FOOD.....it is too expensive.

There are 4 Wal-Marts, K-Marts, several malls. It is all a matter of getting out and exploring. There is alot offered....it just depends on what you are looking for.

Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)

Cost of living is high enough we get COLA. It affects us because I hate paying so much. but then when I go home I realize that prices are high EVERYWHERE.

We don't do anything special to make ends meet......just our norm. When it is on sale and not pershible we stock up.


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)

There is a very strong Military Community here. There are several resources.....FFS offers alot. Most Commands have a FSG.....here they call them Ohanas.....they can be a great source of support if you choice to be involved.

The biggest suggestion I have is to experience it for yourself. Everyone has their opinion of it FSG (Ohana). Be open minded.....if the last Command you were at had a horrible one....that does not mean this one will be.....or vice versa.



Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)

There is alot to do.....mostly outdoor beach events. We recommend getting a copy of Liberty in Paradise. It contains a list of activities to do. There is also a great website that updates weekly on activites to do. Alot of things are free and family oriented.

The website is www.greatlifehawaii.com

It's an island....there is not much driving distance.


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)

We love the weather here. It stays pretty much the same. Shorts and sandals ALL year long. After a while if it does get to about 75 people bust out the jackets.....because that is cold. If there are no tradewinds then it is humid. There are no changes in seasons......major benefit no shoveling snow.

It rains....but usually not a heavy rain....more tropical mist. I say usually because this year we just had an extremely heavy rainy period.

Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)

At this point we do not know when we will be some where else. If my DH receives orders somewhere else....we will go there. If it then turned out he receives orders to come back .....we will.

Ideally I would prefer to stay here or on the West Coast. For us and our lifestyle we like it here. It is a great location to be able to see alot of deifferent places.....thanks to AMC flights.

[wb3690]

Housing: Depends on the Base......we live on the Marine Corps base. we live in privatized housing (not all the housing on this base IS privatized)....it's sufficient. Small, but we have a garage which is nice........alot of homes are being built.......thankfully they have central A/C. Don't let a landlord tell you you DON'T need central A/C......you do. I'd live in housing again due to the cost and size of most housing off base.



Schools: Public schools are sad. My son attends Mokapu Elementary on the Marine Corps base....it's fine........not great so I definitely have to supplement him. Thankfully he picks things up really easily, but alot of kids fall behind. Schools just aren't a priority in hawaii......this is one thing that will stop us from staying.



Shopping: MCX on base is lacking.....the NEX is really nice. Hickam AFB has a nice exchange.....I hardly get to the army one. the Marine Corps commissary is fine......I do alot of my shopping at Costco though. They have both Sams and Costco......I go to local grocery stores for fruit and such.....sometimes it is lacking on the bases. They have a decent mall downtown.......big open air mall that is fun with alot of shopping. I enjoy it. They have outlet stores a nice big Walmart they opened. I think they have plenty....sure there is no target, but they deliver fast. That is one thing you learn where you can shop online and get the orders from fast and for a good price. Amazon is good, Old Navy, Lands End, Target.....all good and fast.



Cost of living: High, but honestly not anything worse than California. They have more expensive gas etc. My friend just moved from pearl to monterrey and said it was worse there! You get COLA here........when we were a lower paygrade it was harder to make ends meet, but now it's not so bad. We actually are saving a ton here.......we never touch our cola.

Military Community: There is alot to do here......alot of trips, boating etc. the Hale Koa is a military hotel in Waikiki with great rates and a setting that is
comparable to other expensive hotels in the area....we go there alot for just a weekend.


Recreation: If you like to be outside this is a great place, beaches, boats, hiking....tons of sports.........everyone is very health conscious. The stuff for kids is a bit lacking, but when it is nice all year long, GO outside. They have the Children's Discovery Center, Bishop Museum, Leapin' Lizards, Gymboree etc..........


Weather: Es perfecto!

Overall: I love Hawaii. Love the weather, the people, the food..love the island hopping......love the nightlife.......great place. Not a fan of the distance from family or the schools..........we've been here since 1996 and this will be our last tour.....we'll leave in 2008 or 2009.

[=Mrs.AiNokeA=]

Well hmmm not sure about the whole military part but I was born in Hawaii guess that mean's I'm lacking in education. The weather there is nice I lived on the island of Maui though not Oahu. The other girls are right though the schools are lacking but hopefully they will get better. I cant compare it to other schools cuz I have grown up there but I am sure that private schools in hawaii would be the way to go. There isnt much to do there it is kinda boring. The zoo and other places there arent that great if you have other stuff to compare it too. Living in Hawaii I liked going to the Water park cuz it was the only one we had and I thought it was fine. Coming to the mainland there is a lot more stuff to do over here. My DH was also born on Maui and he says he wouldnt want to live there again lol. I dont mind it but the prices are pretty high but then again so is Cali's prices. I dont know I think it really depends on the person.

[mara_jade81]

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)

I can only speak for Navy housing around Pearl Harbor. Half of it is PPV right now and the rest is going PPV by the end of the summer I think and they are really improving it. We have lived in Moanalua Terrace and now Radford Terrace (the first redone area built in 2002 or 2003). M.T. is all two bedrooms about 950 square feet. Decent houses, one car garages, lots of playgrounds in that area. They have had some trouble with break-ins (cars and houses) but we were never hit. A lot of people had problems because they left their garage doors open or unlocked.

Radford is being completely rebuilt, they are almost done. The brand new stuff is super nice and the house we are in is pretty nice too. They only have one playground in the area right now but are supposed to be building more with the new houses going up. Haven't heard much about crime in this area. The security guys told me that they don't have a problem here though.


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)

My kids aren't old enough for school but I haven't heard many positive things about the schools here. I am thinking about sending Madison to a Christian pre-school though called Tiny Tots and I've heard lots of positive things about it.


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)

The NEX and commissary are great but I don't really have anything to compare them too. They are the only NEX and commissary I've really been in. I have been to the AF exchange though and it's nice as well. Mostly we shop at the commissary for food and do a lot of shopping at the NEX but if we want a better selection of things (toys or electronics) we go out in town. There are tons of malls around here, Pearl Ridge, Ala Moana, and the Waikele outlets.


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)

Things are more expensive here. Houses are outrageous and it's near impossible to buy one. The COLA helps a bunch and if you are smart with your money you can live comfortably and save a little bit as well. We try to use coupons and look for sales, just common sense stuff like that.

Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)

Since Jason is at a joint command I feel a little out of touch with the general Navy community. They do have a nice gym here, intramural sports and the MWR is always doing things. They have tons of family activities going on during the year that we try to take advantage of. There are several pools on base too. I really need to take advantage of the classes at the gym! And the bowling alley. Oh and the ASYMCA offers playmornings around the different housing areas (all military branches) and they have outings every month or so. We take advantage of all of those too. We've gone to a pumpkin patch, a stables, Ko'olina, Bishop Museum, Leapin' Lizards, and more.


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)

There's a water park about half an hour away from base, give or take. There's tons of places to hike and of course lots of tourist things. They have luaus, the Polynesian Culteral Center, day cruises, etc. etc. Some things can get expensive of course but it's free to go to the beach! They have Chuck E Cheese here, a place I found called Leapin' Lizards. Really there's plenty to do if you look around. Honolulu has a nice zoo.


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)

The weather is pretty consistent. It gets up into the high 90's during the summer months and can be in the 70's during the winter (which feels chilly once you're used to the weather here). There's nearly always a breeze which keeps the humidity down. The winter months are the rainy months but I'm from Oregon so I don't think it's that bad. This year has been bad of course but that's unusual. Pretty much you have the wet season and the hot season here


Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)

I think I'd come back here again if we had the chance. I could think of worse places to be stationed at and the weather is great. It is more crowded than I'd like and traffic can be the pitts but overall being stationed here has been pleasant.

[Victoria]

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)
We lived in Moanalua Terrace (PH Housing) I loved living there, but depending on rank, you can totally find a place in town and pocket the rest of your BAH. That's what we're currently doing with renting a townhouse in Ocean Pointe, out in Ewa Beach.

Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?)
My son isn't in school yet, but the education system here is the worst in the nation! If we get stationed here again in the future, I'll definitely be putting my son in private school.
As fas as college goes, I've taken a few online course via the community college in my home town. My husband has also taken courses via HPU.

Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?)
The Commissaries and NeX are lovely! I do tend to shop out in town at Sam's Club, Walmart, K-mart, etc. The local malls are fabulous!!!

The Barbers Pointe Commy seems to not have as great a selection compared to all the other commys. The bread and milk from there tend to go bad before their expiration dates too.


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?)
The Cost of is pretty high compared to the mainland. If you qualify, check out WIC!

Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?)
There are tons of resources!!! Greatlifehawaii.com is a wonderful link for all kinds of activities. Also the fleet and family services is a great help.

Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?)
Going to the beach, hiking, biking, snorkelingm etc are always options

Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?)
During the winter season, it's always rainy. It's always good to pack snow jackets, in case you visit relative during their winter season. It wouldn't be fun to show up there with shorts and flip-flops..haha! Light jackets are also used on the island on ocassions as well.

Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?)
I don't think I'd want to be stationed here again in the future. It's just too far away from our families and not all of our family is fortunate enough to come visit. We have an 11 month old son whi has yet to meet my in-laws.
The drivers and the potholes here are what I dislike...LOL!!!
I also dislike the fact that many companies do not ship to Hawaii.

[islandprncss]

Housing:

How is military housing there?
- From what I've seen and heard, the military housing here is okay. There are some that are REALLY nice. And some that are okay looking. I don't really know much about it since my hubby and I live off-base.

Which area did you live in and did you like it?
- I am currently living on the west side of Oahu, Waipahu (Y-PA-WHO) to be exact. I grew up here so I like it here. There are a few military families that live in our area. Most prefer to live closer to the base which is (Pearl City, Salt Lake, Pearl Harbor)
- Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? I believe they're about the same. But if you want to be wise, it would be good to buy a home. You'll be investing instead of paying someone else's mortgage.
Any additional thoughts?
- None.


Schools:
Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them?
- I don't have kids at the moment.
How do you think the school system was overall?
- The school system is really not all as great as the schools on the mainland. But I have no complaints. We're probably behind in some subjects so those students that come from the mainland and are advanced can go to a class that is also advanced. I've been out of high school for so long I can't remember the name of the class. LOL.
Any schools you would recommend over others?
- I'd say if you have the money, send them to private school.

Shopping:
How are the commissary and NEX?
- I LOVE IT! The NEX is huge. And the commissary is really cheap. During paydays it becomes so packed that it's hard to maneuver your shopping carts. That's why I prefer to shop during "down-time" days. But overall, I LOVE IT.
Do you shop there or out in town?
- I shop in both NEX & Commissary as well as outside. I go to Sam's Club, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Daiei, etc.
What stores are available out in town?
- Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club, Marukai, Longs Drugs, Daiei
What is the local shopping like?
- Good. Tax isn't as high as CA.
Malls?
- I go to Pearlridge Mall and Ala Moana Mall. We also have the Waikele Outlets where they have Kenneth Cole, Coach, Saks, etc.
Any places you recommend?
- Those three shopping centers mentioned above I'd recommend.
Any additional thoughts?
- If


Cost of living:
What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low?
- Cost of living was somewhat high. But COLA does help.
How did it effect your family?
- Didn't affect us much. You just have to know WHERE to shop for certain things.
Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet?
- Well, I shopped at the NEX or Commissary for my big shopping needs. As well as going to Sam's Club and buying in bulk.
Any additional thoughts?


Military Community:
How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?
- The military community here is huge. And there are A LOT of resources for family and spouses.


Recreation:
What is there to do in the area for adults?
- Well, they do have concerts here from time to time with local artists and if you're into the clubbing scene, Waikiki is a good place to go.
For kids/families?
- You can take your kids to Sea Life Park, Hawaiian Waterpark, the beaches.
Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?
- Everything here on the island is within driving distance. It doesn't take more than an hour and a half to go around the island. Well, depending on traffic of course.


Weather:
What's the weather like?
- Weather here is perfect. I like the tropical weather more than winter seasons and whatever else. It get hot and humid at times and that's when we would bring out the air conditioners. But there are times when it's just perfect. Hot but very breezy. During winter season, it would rain and be a bit colder than normal.


Overall:
Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?
- I love it here. If possible, I'd like to stay here forever. Love the weather, the food, the people, the short distance driving. LOL.


Pretty much everyone's experience will be different. You make it your own. If you want to have fun, be outgoing. Experience everything that Hawaii has to offer.

[brandewijn]

We are a Navy family so I'm speaking about the Navy areas...I don't know much about the other branches here or their bases.

Housing:
(How is military housing there? Which area did you live in and did you like it? Is it affordable to buy or rent in town and if so what areas would you recommend? Any additional thoughts?) Most of the housing areas are PPV and extremely nice. But this does mean long waiting lists and because most of the areas are right by Pearl Harbor, it is extremely overcrowded IMO. There are some housing areas further away. We live in Navy housing on an Army base 17 miles from Pearl Harbor and about 5 miles or so from Kunia. We just went PPV, half of the housing was remodeled about 5 years ago and the other half hasn't been redone since the 60's it looks like. For us, it wouldn't be worth it financially to live out in town but for others it works out well.


Schools:
(Which schools did your kids attend? Did you like them? Did your kids like them? How do you think the school system was overall? Any schools you would recommend over others? Did you go to college while you were there? If so, which college and how did you like it? Any additional thoughts?) My DS isn't old enough for school but the schools here are horrible. A lot of the moms in our neighborhood homeschool, a select few send their kids to private schools. I don't know about the rest of the island but in this area, you have to pay for your children to use the bus. I "think" it is around 30 cents to school and 30 cents to home per child. If we are ever forced to come back here, our kids will go to a private school.


Shopping:
(How are the commissary and NEX? Do you shop there or out in town? What stores are available out in town? What is the local shopping like? Malls? Any places you recommend? Any additional thoughts?) The NEX is great and so is the commissary there. But we shop at the PX and commissary at the Army base we live on. I don't like how the NEX is always so crowded but they do have a better selection than the other commissaries on the island but quite a few products are a bit more expensive because of the amount of customers that shop there. I love how the NEX is almost like a little mall with it's small shops, food court, etc. We only shop for food at the commissary, it is too pricey to shop at the local stores. We usually shop clothes-wise at the outlet center - Children's Place, Carters and Old Navy, they have lots of great sales there. The Wal-Marts are just horrible so we use K-Mart. There are quite a few malls but the best is Pearlridge. Love it!


Cost of living:
(What is the cost of living like? High? Average? Low? How did it effect your family? Was there anything special you had to do to make ends meet? Any additional thoughts?) I believe I read before we moved here that Hawaii is the 2nd most expensive state, Alaska being #1. With that said, it is expensive but you do get COLA to help make up for the difference. We just shop wisely and look for deals which there are plenty if you look hard enough.


Military Community:
(How is the military community? Are there resources for family and spouses? Any likes or gripes? Additional thoughts?) The military community is like any other...just average really. There is a FFSC for resources, and command FSG's.


Recreation:
(What is there to do in the area for adults? For kids/families? Is there anything within a few hours driving distance?) Pools, beaches, hiking, shopping, very depressing zoo, aquarium, water park, scuba diving, shark cages, snorkeling, dinner cruises, whale watching, surf competitions (you can join in or watch), museums, surfing, etc. Unfortunately almost everything to do is very tourist-like. It's a ton of fun but after the first year you've done everything probably more than once and it gets old pretty fast.


Weather:
(What's the weather like? Mild? Seasonal? Hot? Humid? Rainy? Cold? Are there seasons?) The summer's are HOT! But even hotter down by Pearl. The winters are a really warm with a lot of rain.


Overall:
(Would you go back again? Why or why not? What are your main likes and gripes?) I am "content" living here. I loved it for the first 6 months or so, then hated it. Now I am just comfortable in my house really and knowing where everything is. lol I'm glad I got the experience of coming here but if I had the chance, I would go back and DH would pick a different set of orders and we won't be coming back here if we have any say in it. I hate the traffic, the heat, the bugs (oversized roaches and centipedes), I hate being stuck on this island. It might be different if we could travel elsewhere by car every now and again but we can't and flights are expensive. We are simply stuck on this rock. Hawaii seems to be a hit or miss destination. You either love it or you hate it. 50% chance for each outcome.