07-08-2014, 01:11 AM
You would think there would be a rush to sell in Honolulu and move to Hawaii island. It's not just the median home price, there is a property tax that goes along with it. There was one guy I knew that had bought a house for $75K many years ago, and the assessment had gone over $600K with almost $15K for property tax. It does force a lot of Oahu locals to do something once they retire, since their retirement income isn't enough to cover the property tax, even if the home was paid for.
The sardonic humor is that most of these retirees prefer to move to Las Vegas than Hawaii island. I know several people from Oahu and they don't like Hawaii island, either the vog or that it's too primitive or there are no AA restaurants. Also, a lot have kids that had to leave the islands for jobs on the mainland, so they are moving to be near their grandkids.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
The sardonic humor is that most of these retirees prefer to move to Las Vegas than Hawaii island. I know several people from Oahu and they don't like Hawaii island, either the vog or that it's too primitive or there are no AA restaurants. Also, a lot have kids that had to leave the islands for jobs on the mainland, so they are moving to be near their grandkids.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*