Ok, so ignore my previous comment to RG because I did something pretty crazy last night. I applied for a job in Honolulu. Mrs. ble and I have been talking lately about how you only get one shot at life so why not live a little? Now I'm still an engineer at heart, so I would never be one of those that picks up and moves across the country/world without a good job lined up first, but I figured that it never hurts to try. I know that it is not the best financial decision at all, but who's to say if I'm going to make it past 50? Or 40 for that matter. Honestly, the job description fits my experience to a T almost and would be a step up in responsibility, so professionally it would actually be a good move. By the way dleg, didn't you say that you've been working with Leidos on your utility project out there? It wouldn't be people from their Hawaii office would it? That's where I applied. I've lived my life very conservatively ever since high school and now I'm starting to think "**** it, let's try something crazy (but not too crazy)!" We'll see if I make it past the first line of HR...
Yeah - Leidos is doing our IRP and new energy supply RFP. I'm acting as the utility's PM and I'm very active on this job. They are using people from their Denver, Orlando, and Austin (I think - maybe Houston?) offices. No one from Hawaii, but the Denver and Austin folks worked on the Guam IRP a few years ago. I am very impressed with them, so far. I wouldn't hesitate to go to work for them, based on my experience with this particular team (former SAIC, I think? they were all from other companies Leidos bought out, so take that for what it's worth).
Forgive me a "dude", but, Dude, go for it! Island life is awesome, and is indeed worth it, even if just for a little while. Chances are you will get hooked, and find that it's just plain difficult to leave.
As for those of you saying it's so far away, puhleaze..... it's a freaking State! It has an Interstate highway! There's over a million people on Oahu! There are dozens of flights every day to the mainland, a rock bottom prices (for the distance)! The quality of life in terms of amenities is at least what you have, now, and better in terms of the climate and island stuff. While there is some prejudice against "haoles" by the backwoods islanders, Oahu is very diverse and metropolitan, and you will make friends quickly.
My only caution is that the Hawaii consultant world is very incestuous and corrupt. They all have to play the political game to get work, and most are military hangers-on (carpetbaggers). The incestuousness refers to who they hire. If you're Hawaiian born, of Japanese or Filipino descent, you are in. If you're not, you might find it hard to break in or fit in once you are there.
It's very true that all of us islanders are hesitant about hiring off-islanders due to the poor retention rate. I didn't know that was the case with Hawaii as much, but definitely out here. I think that is the root cause of some of the incestuousness. But if you prove yourself to be a hard worker, don't act superior to them (well this is how we do it on the mainland, don't you know anything???), and demonstrate that you enjoy living there, you will likely be warmly accepted.
I have 15 years utility experience.
