***Official HI Chat Thread***
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From: Ahead of YOU
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Honolulu, HI
Just wanted to say say hi. I've had the Evo for about a year, but haven't made it to any meets or anything. Between work and life, it's super hard to meet if it isn't on a weekend afternoon/evening. I've posted a couple time on ForumsHawaii, but not here... Hopefully see everyone around.
Hey guys, I have been thinking about moving to Hawaii, doing research on jobs (I am a Chef), living expenses and such. I was wondering, what are the emissions laws like and what fuel is available there? Fuel price? Any tuners/good mechanics on the islands? Also, wondering if they price gouge on cars purchased there because of the obvious. I will never sell my Evo, so my choices would be to store it here and have it maintained and buy a another car on the island or have mine shipped there. If I can't drive my car there I will of course leave it here. Also anybody have any connections? I haven't had to apply for a job in a long time, don't really want to start now, and if I asked my boss I would prob get BLOWN UP.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Honolulu, HI
To quickly answer at least some of your questions:
1) There are no state emissions laws here (i.e., no smog testing). However, we do have safety checks on Oahu. This can be an incredible pain and often requires getting a "recon" tag that specifies what modifications you have (as long as they are approved by the recon station for use here). Some modifications lead to an immediate denial of safety. Cops can also pull you over to check to see if you have all your modifications recon'ed if they require it. Basically a roadside visual inspection compared to your list of modifications certified by the recon station. This is more or less how it works. Some of it is fuzzy as each inspector at recon seems to have a different idea on what is ok and what isn't since there is no exhaustive list of what is acceptable. More like general guidelines. For example, suspension will fail if it is "too stiff." What does that mean exactly? Up to the inspector. More on that can be explained later.
2) We have 91 octane and almost every station has E10 in their fuel as it is mandatory here. However, a few places do have ethanol free fuel, but you pay a premium as it requires a special exemption. The prices change depending on which island you are on, but expect at least $3.53/gal. for 91 as of today.
3) Prices on nearly everything are higher/much higher then on the mainland. It can be viewed as a paradise tax. Cars, bread, milk, gas, housing, etc.
4) There are some good shops/tuners. It is really limited here though (obviously). The good shops can be hard to find and sometimes still have little experience in what you really need from them. This also varies greatly depending on what island you're on.
Moving to Hawaii is kind of a big deal. I know a lot of people that have come out here, figured out that your pay doesn't reflect cost of living, hated it, gotten island-fever, whatever, and left within a year or two. It really isn't for everyone and is kind of a different world (especially if you are from Michigan). Hope that helps some.
1) There are no state emissions laws here (i.e., no smog testing). However, we do have safety checks on Oahu. This can be an incredible pain and often requires getting a "recon" tag that specifies what modifications you have (as long as they are approved by the recon station for use here). Some modifications lead to an immediate denial of safety. Cops can also pull you over to check to see if you have all your modifications recon'ed if they require it. Basically a roadside visual inspection compared to your list of modifications certified by the recon station. This is more or less how it works. Some of it is fuzzy as each inspector at recon seems to have a different idea on what is ok and what isn't since there is no exhaustive list of what is acceptable. More like general guidelines. For example, suspension will fail if it is "too stiff." What does that mean exactly? Up to the inspector. More on that can be explained later.
2) We have 91 octane and almost every station has E10 in their fuel as it is mandatory here. However, a few places do have ethanol free fuel, but you pay a premium as it requires a special exemption. The prices change depending on which island you are on, but expect at least $3.53/gal. for 91 as of today.
3) Prices on nearly everything are higher/much higher then on the mainland. It can be viewed as a paradise tax. Cars, bread, milk, gas, housing, etc.
4) There are some good shops/tuners. It is really limited here though (obviously). The good shops can be hard to find and sometimes still have little experience in what you really need from them. This also varies greatly depending on what island you're on.
Moving to Hawaii is kind of a big deal. I know a lot of people that have come out here, figured out that your pay doesn't reflect cost of living, hated it, gotten island-fever, whatever, and left within a year or two. It really isn't for everyone and is kind of a different world (especially if you are from Michigan). Hope that helps some.
Last edited by the7thsin; Sep 16, 2010 at 08:49 PM.
To quickly answer at least some of your questions:
1) There are no state emissions laws here (i.e., no smog testing). However, we do have safety checks on Oahu. This can be an incredible pain and often requires getting a "recon" tag that specifies what modifications you have (as long as they are approved by the recon station for use here). Some modifications lead to an immediate denial of safety. Cops can also pull you over to check to see if you have all your modifications recon'ed if they require it. Basically a roadside visual inspection compared to your list of modifications certified by the recon station. This is more or less how it works. Some of it is fuzzy as each inspector at recon seems to have a different idea on what is ok and what isn't since there is no exhaustive list of what is acceptable. More like general guidelines. For example, suspension will fail if it is "too stiff." What does that mean exactly? Up to the inspector. More on that can be explained later.
2) We have 91 octane and almost every station has E10 in their fuel as it is mandatory here. However, a few places do have ethanol free fuel, but you pay a premium as it requires a special exemption. The prices change depending on which island you are on, but expect at least $3.53/gal. for 91 as of today.
3) Prices on nearly everything are higher/much higher then on the mainland. It can be viewed as a paradise tax. Cars, bread, milk, gas, housing, etc.
4) There are some good shops/tuners. It is really limited here though (obviously). The good shops can be hard to find and sometimes still have little experience in what you really need from them. This also varies greatly depending on what island you're on.
Moving to Hawaii is kind of a big deal. I know a lot of people that have come out here, figured out that your pay doesn't reflect cost of living, hated it, gotten island-fever, whatever, and left within a year or two. It really isn't for everyone and is kind of a different world (especially if you are from Michigan). Hope that helps some.
1) There are no state emissions laws here (i.e., no smog testing). However, we do have safety checks on Oahu. This can be an incredible pain and often requires getting a "recon" tag that specifies what modifications you have (as long as they are approved by the recon station for use here). Some modifications lead to an immediate denial of safety. Cops can also pull you over to check to see if you have all your modifications recon'ed if they require it. Basically a roadside visual inspection compared to your list of modifications certified by the recon station. This is more or less how it works. Some of it is fuzzy as each inspector at recon seems to have a different idea on what is ok and what isn't since there is no exhaustive list of what is acceptable. More like general guidelines. For example, suspension will fail if it is "too stiff." What does that mean exactly? Up to the inspector. More on that can be explained later.
2) We have 91 octane and almost every station has E10 in their fuel as it is mandatory here. However, a few places do have ethanol free fuel, but you pay a premium as it requires a special exemption. The prices change depending on which island you are on, but expect at least $3.53/gal. for 91 as of today.
3) Prices on nearly everything are higher/much higher then on the mainland. It can be viewed as a paradise tax. Cars, bread, milk, gas, housing, etc.
4) There are some good shops/tuners. It is really limited here though (obviously). The good shops can be hard to find and sometimes still have little experience in what you really need from them. This also varies greatly depending on what island you're on.
Moving to Hawaii is kind of a big deal. I know a lot of people that have come out here, figured out that your pay doesn't reflect cost of living, hated it, gotten island-fever, whatever, and left within a year or two. It really isn't for everyone and is kind of a different world (especially if you are from Michigan). Hope that helps some.
Thank you.So no smog test, but you have to tell them what is done to the car and that is the determining factor if you can drive it? So $4000 to get the car there they tell me I cant drive it and $4000 to get it home. I am just going to assume my car wont pass, whats NOT done to the car is becoming the shorter list.
$3.50/gal. is not terrible considering. Our gas has the 10% ethenol here too.
I realize that everything is more expensive/a ton more expensive, just trying to gauge it. Especially with a larger purchase like a car. Would it be cheaper to buy it here and ship it to Hawaii? Figure to ship it there is prob $3-4000, I know its $5000 to ship it to Grand Cayman, but I figure we have more boats going to Hawaii.
Hawaii is not the first set of islands I have looked at. I just had an offer in St. Thomas but the cost of living/pay did not coincide. If I did move to Hawaii, I wouldn't plan to be there more then 3yrs. As a Chef, if we want to make more money, and keep climbing up through the ranks, we have to move. I am not talking about Fridays to Red Lobster
Casinos and Resorts, if the money is not right, I won't go. I like to open new properties or restaurants get them running and move on. Plus I could never go on vacation there, the whole time I would just be thinking of what I could have bought for my car with the vacation money. If I want to see those places I have to get a job there. Then I can go on a vacation to MI, to see my car, be a ton cheaper. You just have to look at from an economic stand point, its cheaper to live there then vacation there.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5
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From: Honolulu, HI
Yes, that definitely helps a great deal Thank you.
So no smog test, but you have to tell them what is done to the car and that is the determining factor if you can drive it? So $4000 to get the car there they tell me I cant drive it and $4000 to get it home. I am just going to assume my car wont pass, whats NOT done to the car is becoming the shorter list.
$3.50/gal. is not terrible considering. Our gas has the 10% ethenol here too.
I realize that everything is more expensive/a ton more expensive, just trying to gauge it. Especially with a larger purchase like a car. Would it be cheaper to buy it here and ship it to Hawaii? Figure to ship it there is prob $3-4000, I know its $5000 to ship it to Grand Cayman, but I figure we have more boats going to Hawaii.
Hawaii is not the first set of islands I have looked at. I just had an offer in St. Thomas but the cost of living/pay did not coincide. If I did move to Hawaii, I wouldn't plan to be there more then 3yrs. As a Chef, if we want to make more money, and keep climbing up through the ranks, we have to move. I am not talking about Fridays to Red Lobster Casinos and Resorts, if the money is not right, I won't go. I like to open new properties or restaurants get them running and move on. Plus I could never go on vacation there, the whole time I would just be thinking of what I could have bought for my car with the vacation money. If I want to see those places I have to get a job there. Then I can go on a vacation to MI, to see my car, be a ton cheaper. You just have to look at from an economic stand point, its cheaper to live there then vacation there.
Thank you.So no smog test, but you have to tell them what is done to the car and that is the determining factor if you can drive it? So $4000 to get the car there they tell me I cant drive it and $4000 to get it home. I am just going to assume my car wont pass, whats NOT done to the car is becoming the shorter list.
$3.50/gal. is not terrible considering. Our gas has the 10% ethenol here too.
I realize that everything is more expensive/a ton more expensive, just trying to gauge it. Especially with a larger purchase like a car. Would it be cheaper to buy it here and ship it to Hawaii? Figure to ship it there is prob $3-4000, I know its $5000 to ship it to Grand Cayman, but I figure we have more boats going to Hawaii.
Hawaii is not the first set of islands I have looked at. I just had an offer in St. Thomas but the cost of living/pay did not coincide. If I did move to Hawaii, I wouldn't plan to be there more then 3yrs. As a Chef, if we want to make more money, and keep climbing up through the ranks, we have to move. I am not talking about Fridays to Red Lobster
Casinos and Resorts, if the money is not right, I won't go. I like to open new properties or restaurants get them running and move on. Plus I could never go on vacation there, the whole time I would just be thinking of what I could have bought for my car with the vacation money. If I want to see those places I have to get a job there. Then I can go on a vacation to MI, to see my car, be a ton cheaper. You just have to look at from an economic stand point, its cheaper to live there then vacation there.As far as shipping is concerned, you can budget more like $2,700. I shipped my FD out here in June (it was in storage for the better part of 2 years) and that's what I paid for enclosed transport, fully insured. The only catch was that my car was too low to be put in a container on a ship, so it was sent with a company that parks cars internally on the boat (so no problems with sea-spray and sun). Car came in damn near perfect condition which was a suprise. A lot of other people that have made the trip were not that lucky.
I hear you on moving around as a chef. I know a few high-end chefs that do similar things. It may be hard for you to "break" in here too... but I don't really have anything solid to say with that as I practice law and not fine cuisine.
If have any questions about what it is like for a transplant here, please feel free to PM me. There are a lot of weird things that you may not realize.
Just some more info on hawaii. I have been there 2.5 years and have had 3 heavily modified cars. The ones you look at knowing it wouldnt pass safety/recon. But if you know people, yu are covered. I get safety every year, and have never had any problems with cops. Yes they ask me about things, and all i do is tell them im new to the island. (even 2 years in). They will explain what recon is and let you go. As for shops, its better to just do the work yourself. or have the fine people of this thread help you out. Dont waste your money on people who prolly know less about your car than you do.
I too have been on island and had 2 modified vehicles, with no problems. sometimes i get the " Is you vehicle lowered" and i always say Yes its lowered 1". then they give me the recon deal. Ive been on island for 6yrs now. Gas= 92 ****-Octane. The only trusted place i would go for my evo would be LEAF Racing other then doing it myself.
RAD Motorsports is not a bad spot either since i live close to there, but prices are alittle on the higher side.
CLUB808.net kinda faded away when Tony and Ed left. Its still around but most of the people dont want to meet at decent places and chill. They want to meet at the races.
RAD Motorsports is not a bad spot either since i live close to there, but prices are alittle on the higher side.
CLUB808.net kinda faded away when Tony and Ed left. Its still around but most of the people dont want to meet at decent places and chill. They want to meet at the races.
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From: Ahead of YOU
umm club808 is dead. officially. there isnt a site anymore either. it was hacked and bombed. there is a new site in its place. i dont know if the owner is making it public, as the site does involve a lot of racing. i wouldnt trust leaf racing as far as i can throw them. i guess this is biased because i knew the guy before he opened his shop and saw his work.