Hawaii members get in here!

[ki7hy]

So I might have an opportunity to move to Hawaii in the next year and am curious about a few things about my little hobby and a few other things I've read lately.

So getting gear in HI, is that any different than getting gear on the mainland? I went with Pinn and RUI this time and don't see a change in my future, I would imagine they still ship to HI and it's just as safe as it is on the mainland?

Also, is it even worth going? As a white single dude (with kids) I'm not sure I am as excited as I should be. Would hate to walk around and have myself or my kids called Haoles all the time just for being white or a main lander. Is race really a factor in such a culturally diverse state?

Looking at Oahu due to the job market over there. I'm an IT professional with an MBA and there seems to be plenty of opportunity for someone with skills. I also heard they don't like hiring a main lander who moved so it's another thing to consider. Am I reading to much into this?

Any input or personal experience is appreciated. It's 5AM there right now so it's probably to early to post this. I;ll try bumping it later if I don't get responses.

 

[ki7hy]

Try bumping this for our Hawaii peeps time zone. I'll try again tonight as well.

 

[Dickey]

I've never lived there or tried getting gear while I'm there so I can't comment on the employment situation or getting gear there, whether ordering or finding a local source. I can't see you having an issue with most of RUI's products, and I'd just email Pinn or PM a rep to get an answer on that. I spend a good amount of time there and have quite a few friends on different islands so I'll give you my thoughts on the race issue. I think there are going to be racist people wherever you go, but Oahu as a whole is a good island for being multicultural, as is Maui. It seems like the place where I've gotten the most Haole comments is in smaller, close nit, and usually poorer communities who seem to resent white folks (and anyone not Hawaiian really) for being well off and taking over the islands, and even then that seems to be quite rare. As a whole Hawaiian are some of the most friendly people I've ever met, and I'm from Canada. In fact when I was down there I got invited to a BBQ by a couple Hawaiian guys I had met out surfing and ended up becoming quite good friends with them and meeting a very good looking Hawaiian girl through them . I do get called Haole quite a bit from my friends down there, but as a term of endearment as opposed to an actual insult. I think the best thing to do is to respect their culture and try to participate in it without trying to pretend you're Hawaiian. It seems like the people who either disrespect/don't give a shit about the Hawaiian culture or the people who come in and act like they are born and bred Hawaiian without understanding anything about the people or culture are the ones who have trouble with people there not accepting them.

 

[ki7hy]

I've never lived there or tried getting gear while I'm there so I can't comment on the employment situation or getting gear there, whether ordering or finding a local source. I can't see you having an issue with most of RUI's products, and I'd just email Pinn or PM a rep to get an answer on that. I spend a good amount of time there and have quite a few friends on different islands so I'll give you my thoughts on the race issue. I think there are going to be racist people wherever you go, but Oahu as a whole is a good island for being multicultural, as is Maui. It seems like the place where I've gotten the most Haole comments is in smaller, close nit, and usually poorer communities who seem to resent white folks (and anyone not Hawaiian really) for being well off and taking over the islands, and even then that seems to be quite rare. As a whole Hawaiian are some of the most friendly people I've ever met, and I'm from Canada. In fact when I was down there I got invited to a BBQ by a couple Hawaiian guys I had met out surfing and ended up becoming quite good friends with them and meeting a very good looking Hawaiian girl through them . I do get called Haole quite a bit from my friends down there, but as a term of endearment as opposed to an actual insult. I think the best thing to do is to respect their culture and try to participate in it without trying to pretend you're Hawaiian. It seems like the people who either disrespect/don't give a shit about the Hawaiian culture or the people who come in and act like they are born and bred Hawaiian without understanding anything about the people or culture are the ones who have trouble with people there not accepting them.

Thanks Dickey definitely good input here. I have read that if you go with an understanding of the culture and just go with it then you can fit in. If you go down there thinking you're better even if you have a better income, job, "stuff", then you will never make it there. It's slow, everything moves at the speed of Hawaii and if you don't then you won't work. So I understand the culture deal and am about as far from racist as one can get but didn't want racism to become a part of the lives of my children. Having friends call you Haole is like calling one of your buddies an asshole so I can understand that but randoms would infuriate me. I would take offense and wouldn't tolerate that. I have also read that the people there are some of the best in the world but read so much about how white peeps don't do well there sometimes.

Thanks for you input....I appreciate it.

 

[Dickey]

Thanks Dickey definitely good input here. I have read that if you go with an understanding of the culture and just go with it then you can fit in. If you go down there thinking you're better even if you have a better income, job, "stuff", then you will never make it there. It's slow, everything moves at the speed of Hawaii and if you don't then you won't work. So I understand the culture deal and am about as far from racist as one can get but didn't want racism to become a part of the lives of my children. Having friends call you Haole is like calling one of your buddies an asshole so I can understand that but randoms would infuriate me. I would take offense and wouldn't tolerate that. I have also read that the people there are some of the best in the world but read so much about how white peeps don't do well there sometimes.

Thanks for you input....I appreciate it.

Ya I can definitely understand that pissing you off especially for your kids and having yourself or them be at a disadvantage because y'all are white. I've only had a problem once, I heard some little punk kid call me Haole to his buddies but I figured it wasn't a good idea to beat on some high school kid. Other than that it's usually people that, like you say, come in and think they are better than the locals in whatever way. Usually a person has to disrespect them first before they will come back and disrespect them.

 

[ki7hy]

Ya I can definitely understand that pissing you off especially for your kids and having yourself or them be at a disadvantage because y'all are white. I've only had a problem once, I heard some little punk kid call me Haole to his buddies but I figured it wasn't a good idea to beat on some high school kid. Other than that it's usually people that, like you say, come in and think they are better than the locals in whatever way. Usually a person has to disrespect them first before they will come back and disrespect them.

Well, I cam handle myself, not worried there but I have read where there have been incidents of "Beat up the Haole" in some of the schools which I would just go off on some people in that case but looking at the school system it's pretty poor anyway so I would likely have them in private school which luckily they have some highly rated ones over there. Will cost me around $20k a year to put both boys in but worth it I think.

 

[Dickey]

Man, that would send me over the edge, I can't stand people messing with my family and I can only imagine it's worse when it's your kids. Ya I've heard of something like "beat up a Haole day" or some shit like that, it sounds like the actual problems with that happened years ago and the term just kinda stuck around but not much has happened recently. I know a white girl that went through middle school and high school down there and had no problems, but then again she was gorgeous and I'm pretty sure she went to a private school too. Just get your boys on some gear and no-one will touch them

 

[Aldo Raine]

Ive lived in Maui and have never had one problem with racism and I'm white. I don't know how it would be for your kids going to public school but I love it here. You're right about everything being on island time for sure. Maui is a lot more laid back and country than oahu. I had the same question as you. Did you ever move here and get any gear shipped?