Hey guys,

I'm planning on leaving Miami this year. I've been here my whole life, and it's time to go already. The idea of Hawai'i hit me recently, and I can't believe that it didn't come sooner. I was thinking somewhere in South America, and then I realized that I could live in a natural paradise, with new culture, and I can continue my current career.

So, I've had my S for about five years, and I would like to keep her in the family for much longer. I'm repainting the car soon with plasti-dip in white. After reviewing rough prices for shipping the car, and websites about moving to Hawaii, I have some questions. Please chime in and let me know if I'm wrong about some things.

The question is whether I should bring my car or sell it? It's pretty unmodified. The car is lowered on eibach springs, and the catalytic converter was changed for a test pipe. I looked into getting the Hawai'in driver's license, but I don't know what I need to do with my car. There aren't any smog regs in Florida that I'm aware of, and I've never done any smog inspections on it either. Can you give me some info on this?

Also, I read somewhere online that buying a car in Hawai'i is a bad idea because most used cars are not well kept. Is this true? I imagine that the salt water contributes to a shorter lifespan for the car. How are the roads? Are there any good stretches for a fun drive? What is the terrain like? Would a jeep be a more suitable ride for the island life? Would riding a motorcycle as a daily be possible?

I know this is an S2000 forum and that this topic is inherently blasphemous, but I've never been to Hawai'i. What kind of driving experience can I expect?

 

i would probably keep the s as you have owned it for a few years. being unmodified is good considering most s2ks out here are or have been modified.
we do not have emissions testing out here but do have a yearly visual safety check by registered safety check stations (dealers, gas stations, etc).
since you have modified suspension you will need to get a reconstruction permit aka recon. see the attached thread for info: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/809...age__hl__recon

as far as cars in hawaii, they are just like any other place, there are good owners and bad. salt air content is not an issues just as long as you wash one/twice a month.
oahu roads are not the best. there is a definite lack of maintenance but it seems to have gotten a bit better recently with numerous repaving projects.
we have a few roads that can be driven spiritedly but not for long as they usually are residential areas. terrain is not as issue unless you are an off road enthusiast.
a jeep is not necessary. motorcycles are fine to daily but not during the rainy season (usually winter).

 

I moved here from Orlando, FL in January of last year so I was in a similar position. My family is from Hawaii and I've lived here in the past, but my fiancée moved from Miami to Orlando and to Hawaii with me.

I shipped my car through Pasha. It took about 7 weeks (probably due to the holiday season). I had a good experience with them.

On Oahu you must perform an annual safety check and acquire a Reconstruction Permit for most modifications to your car. The recon permit limits your height adjustment but I have coil overs so I can lower my car afte passing with the conservative drop. If your springs are too low you may want to swap to oem to get your safety check or get coil overs for a conservative drop to pass recon inspection.

Let us know when you plan on moving and what not

 

To address the spirited driving conditions: way more twisted than you will every find in Flordia. No race track on Oahu. Most twisty roads are through residential areas.