Please Close - Thanks everyone for all the help... I'll keep you guys in the loop if anything come about.

 

most of us are on oahu so i couldn't give you much insight into big island living. hopefully, some one can chime in.

 

I worked in Hilo for about 8 months in early 2001 or so. It's slow-pace. Pretty much everything back then closed by 9. There was like one sports bar in Hilo Town where I had a few beers and threw darts.

I love the place and even contemplated buying some land there (super cheap back then, about 9K for an acre) to build my retirement home. I'm not sure what work kind of work your wife found there, but that place was complete dead back then and I'm pretty sure it hasn't changed much.

I wanted to move there because my fiancee and her family was from there, but that never panned out.

If you like a slow-pace, quiet life -- it's a great place. And having an S there could be fun even if it rains alot in Hilo.

I can't recall any KIA dealers there. Just look it up.

 

Driving on the big island is treat! Chain of Craters road and the like.. compared to Oahu it feels so wide open in general. you will be taking the slow paced life for sure in Hilo (I went to a surf shop right downtown Hilo and the guy behind the counter was handing out Heinekens to shoppers) But I'm thinking Omaha is pretty chill.. all I can think of is Counting Crows' "Omahaaaaaa, somewhere in middle America" haha. Coqui Frogs are ultra annoying on the big island though. They kept me awake some nights.

 

Thanks for the inputs everyone. It's pretty slow paced here as well and not a whole lot goes on here. It'll be an even swap but minus the snow (a plus). I'll keep on with the research.

 

Snows on big island too! Also Hilo is VERY local. I won't elaborate too much here, but if you've been to Hawai'i before then you might have an idea

 

You'd be paying a VERY high price to escape snow if you move to Hawaii, especially the east side of the Big Island. Not much to do in Hilo except smoke herbs. The west side is a little better but overall things are still pretty slow economically. Culturally you'd also feel more comfortable on the west side if you're white. Like the rest of the country, car sales are down so unless you're a repo man you'll have a hard time finding work at a dealership. Sounds like you're fairly young so it might be fun to live in the islands for a year or two until reality kicks in. You're wise to look before you leap.

 

Thanks for all the advise. Haven't actually been to the big island. Vacation in Ohau and Maui a few times. You guys might be right. We are a younger couple so the Big Island may not be the right island. We will look into Ohau and I'll let you guys know what comes of it. Thanks.