08-25-2008, 07:19 PM
Hilo is one of the most multicultural towns in the US (the University of Hawaii at Hilo is rated top for student diversity. To look at downtown Hilo, it looks more like Monterrey Bay "Cannery Row" BEFORE the face lift a few decades ago... but it has a very unique charm in its dishevled-ness. In Hilo there are some fairly good schools & one of the best & oldest charter schools in the state (Connections Public Charter School)right on the bayfront. Hilo town has a number of different neighborhoods, each with it's own 'feel'.
I have subbed in a few of the middle schools... there are some kids that get picked on, and there are those that 'pose' & have a 'wanna be' type attitude.... but those children are a minority of the population.... and usually have issues of their own... and also probably have a councelor that is trying to work with them... By far, I have seen more tolerance here to children that are 'different' (culturally, socio-econmically & behaviorally...) so that I would not worry just because that... It is PC for the kids to ask each other "what are you", something you don't hear in many areas...
Coming from SoCal, do you want to live in an area that rains? (although not the norm, there are times when it can rain & be cloudy for a month or more & streets can get flooded & such...) Will you be too far from family & friends to see them often? Can you tolerate differences (I know that sounds weird, but there are many diverse attitudes & lifestyles here....)?
As with anything, YOUR cost of living would depend a lot on different factors... the one thing that can really increase the costs for some is electric... if you normally use a lot of electricity OR the place you are living has an electric hog... you could see mind boggling electric bills.... out side of that, with farmers markets for fresh produce (and many neighbors will share the crops they have) it is easy to eat on a small budget... milk has just topped over $5/gal at most stores, and locally produced milk runs about $2 MORE...
There is free county wide bus service, so if you live &/or travel near a bus route that is a bonus. If you need costs of particular items, I am sure someone might know...
I have subbed in a few of the middle schools... there are some kids that get picked on, and there are those that 'pose' & have a 'wanna be' type attitude.... but those children are a minority of the population.... and usually have issues of their own... and also probably have a councelor that is trying to work with them... By far, I have seen more tolerance here to children that are 'different' (culturally, socio-econmically & behaviorally...) so that I would not worry just because that... It is PC for the kids to ask each other "what are you", something you don't hear in many areas...
Coming from SoCal, do you want to live in an area that rains? (although not the norm, there are times when it can rain & be cloudy for a month or more & streets can get flooded & such...) Will you be too far from family & friends to see them often? Can you tolerate differences (I know that sounds weird, but there are many diverse attitudes & lifestyles here....)?
As with anything, YOUR cost of living would depend a lot on different factors... the one thing that can really increase the costs for some is electric... if you normally use a lot of electricity OR the place you are living has an electric hog... you could see mind boggling electric bills.... out side of that, with farmers markets for fresh produce (and many neighbors will share the crops they have) it is easy to eat on a small budget... milk has just topped over $5/gal at most stores, and locally produced milk runs about $2 MORE...
There is free county wide bus service, so if you live &/or travel near a bus route that is a bonus. If you need costs of particular items, I am sure someone might know...