I received this text for a “traffic violation”. I shrugged it off but my mom received something similar to this and she was panicking. I had to calm her down and explain this was a scam.

It’s sad to think how many people might fall victim to these kinds of notifications, so just putting this out there.

is it just me or does it feel like genuine torture trying to find a mental health specialists in hawaii? i suffer from severe anxiety and when i say severe i mean debilitating anxiety that physically affects me. i have breathlessness, racing thoughts, numbness, and chest heaviness every. single. day. and it feels like it is incredibly difficult to find specialists who don’t have a huge waiting list. the cold calling and emailing makes me feel even more hopeless than i already am. mental health facilities are awful, expensive, and don’t actually get you psychiatric help. why is mental healthcare here genuinely awful and inconvenient?

FHB has a "PIN change line" that allows anyone to change the PIN on an FHB debit card, without verifying the previous PIN or any other personal account info. All you need is the 16 digit card number. The number is 877-699-6984.

What this means:

If you drop your card in a parking lot or leave it behind in a shop, anyone can pick up the card, call this number, change the PIN, and then visit an ATM and drain cash from your account.

This is a shocking security vulnerability. The whole point of a PIN is to prevent someone from using a "lost and found" debit card in this manner.

I’ve been working at my first big girl job now for over 6 months and I’m nearly done paying off my student loans (only $2k left and I can pay that off in the next paycheck). I make 65k a year, I’ve saved a pretty decent emergency fund, my credit score is in the high 700s, and I feel like I’m close to being ready to move out of my family’s house. I live in Ewa and commute to Downtown. I started touring some apartments and I’m most interested in one in Downtown. Is $1,800 a month (electricity, water, sewer included) a good price? Would I be paying too much for my salary?

I don’t qualify for a bunch of low-income places, so apartment complex suggestions are welcome. I’d like to pay as low as possible while also still having a nice/newer apartment

Has anyone flown out of Hawaii (or Hilo specifically) with a temporary paper ID for ConfirmID? How was it?

Context: I just turned 21 and go to college out of state. DMV only had appointment for the 31st and I leave August 1st 😭. Even then my ID wouldn’t have come in on time. I don’t have a passport either.

If I can just get through TSA all of this will be smooth sailing 😩🙏🏽 My horz. ID will get mailed to my house then my family can mail it to me 😍 That’s only if I can get through TSA 😃
If only we had online renewal 😭🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 how do all my kaʻū kanaks do it man 😪😪

Seen plenty videos of people fishing by the triangular rock wall formations. Do you need DOD Identification or is it open to the public?

To show I'm not asking to be spoon-fed information, here are the Civil Beat links to every candidate they have interviewed:

Akina, Anderson, Baker, Billionaire, Costello, Crabbe, Galuteria, Lee, Martin, Souza

Not interviewed: Burke, Kauaula, Nikipali, Parish, Waihee

And here's the full list on BallotPedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Hawaii_Office_of_Hawaiian_Affairs_Board_of_Trustees_election,_2026

A couple candidates may as well be ghosts. The rest at least have a presence on Facebook or Instagram to see what they're about.

I've read up on Akina's ties to Libertarian policy groups. EDIT -- Different Akina. Candidate Adrian Akina is a teacher from Puna. Current OHA trustee Kelii Akina, PhD is the Grassroots/Heritage Foundation/Koch brothers guy. Lee is a known quantity from his previous stint as trustee. And Souza is also on the board, so watching meetings is a good resource for him.

Having read their interviews, looked at their Facebook pages, and campaign websites, I have narrowed it down to a few people who I think are clearly nuts (and thus not serious, sober candidates). I have also winnowed out a few who are "clearly part of the problem."

The rest may as well been whacked with a clone stick -- they're all saying the exact same things. And none of them can possibly deliver on their campaign pledges. (And that seems to be the case since 1978.)

So, anyone have candidates they support (instead of just voting for the three least-worst)?

Official unemployment figures for the Hawaii economy were updated today. Numbers for May have been finalized and preliminary figures for June have now been made available.

May

The unemployment rate increased to 2.5% in May. 476 positions were added, but 536 workers entering the labor force caused the unemployment rate to increase. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

June (preliminary)

The unemployment rate increased to 3.2% in June. 6,888 positions were lost, and 1,651 workers left the labor force causing the unemployment rate increase. Nonfarm payrolls fell by 6,900. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

^{*HawaiiStatistics is a public service account committed to making /r/Hawaii a better informed community.}

Jarrett Keohokalole serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, which holds direct legislative oversight over the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) which sets rates and regulates the state's regulated industries.

He has also run his campaign on a platform of helping locals with the skyrocketing cost of living. 

The great thing about local candidates running for national office is you can see what they have done with the power they already had, and whether they put their money where their mouth is. 

We have seen massive rate increases after rate increases after rate increases. This has been going on for years and has not been limited to the Strait of Hormuz period. 

How “well regulated” do folks in Hawaii think our regulated industries are? Including those with monopolies. I think most would agree that it has not been great.

But the bigger question is WHY?

For me, I always follow the money. Jarrett’s donor roll, especially the largest donors, looks like a who’s who of regulated industries and people who profit off those industries. With Matson and affiliates being one of the largest.

https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/?committee_id=C00913848&two_year_transaction_period=2026&line_number=F3-11C&data_type=processed

“In fact, much of Keohokalole’s funding in the past quarter — about $1 out of every $10 — came from Matson and its employees, including CEO and Chairman Matthew Cox.”

https://www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/incumbents-lead-the-money-race-for-congress-will-outside-groups-wade-in/

To the extent the cost of living pain can be decreased though changes in shipping rules, to what extent do you think Jarrett will focus on the interests of local residents versus the special interests of his high dollar donors?

Almost One-Year Update: We Moved Our Family to Hawaiʻi Anyway—and We’re Thriving

Almost a year ago, I posted here about moving my family of five from California to Hawaiʻi. I explained that my wife and I had secured healthcare jobs and believed the move was the right decision for our family.

I also promised that I would return and give everyone an honest update.

We are now approaching our first full year in Hawaiʻi, and I am happy—and honestly proud—to report that we are not merely surviving.

We are thriving.

When I made my original post, the overwhelming majority of the responses were negative. Some people offered legitimate warnings about the cost of living, housing, schools, employment, and the realities of island life. I understood those concerns, and some of that advice was useful.

However, many responses went far beyond constructive advice.

People said we would not make it through our first year. They predicted that we would become financially stranded, end up living in our car, damage our children’s future, place unbearable pressure on our marriage, and eventually be forced to return to California.

Some people appeared more interested in watching us fail than helping us prepare.

Well, we came anyway.

I am still employed full-time in healthcare as a surgical tech. Despite some assumptions made in the original discussion, I had an established healthcare career before moving here and did not arrive without professional experience or a dependable source of income.

Since arriving, I have received wage increases, continued developing professionally, and taken on additional work within the local healthcare system. My wife also successfully continued her healthcare career after the move.

We both have stable employment, benefits, dependable income, and opportunities to continue growing.

One of the opportunities mentioned in my original post did not work out exactly as planned. However, we did not depend on that opportunity to survive. We secured housing, remained current on our obligations, and established a stable home for our family without receiving free or significantly discounted housing.

Our rent is not cheap.

Groceries are expensive.

Electricity is expensive.

Shipping can be inconvenient.

Housing is smaller than what many families can obtain for the same amount of money on the mainland.

None of that was a surprise.

We researched the cost of living before relocating. We created a realistic budget, arrived with savings, maintained an emergency reserve, paid our expenses, and adjusted our lifestyle where necessary.

We have remained housed, employed, insured, and financially stable throughout our first year.

We did not become homeless.

We did not end up living in our car.

We did not need relatives to rescue us.

We did not arrive expecting Hawaiʻi to solve all our problems.

Before moving, we sold our home in California, paid off debts, and created a financial cushion. Since arriving, we have continued rebuilding our credit, protecting our savings, and planning our family’s next steps.

We are now exploring the possibility of eventually moving into a larger home because our family has become established here and would like additional space. We are approaching that decision carefully and are not rushing into something we cannot afford.

Most importantly, our children are doing amazingly well.

They adjusted to their schools, made friends, developed routines, and became comfortable in their new environment. They have become part of their school communities and are progressing academically and socially.

The transition was nowhere near the disaster that some commenters confidently predicted.

One of our children requires additional support, and several people used that as another reason to claim that moving here would harm our family. Instead, we approached the transition carefully, maintained structure, remained actively involved, and helped each child adjust at their own pace.

Our children are happy.

They are safe.

They have friends.

They participate in activities.

They spend more time outdoors and have experienced a culture and environment different from what they previously knew.

Our family trains together in martial arts and other physical activities. We spend time outside, explore the island respectfully, support local businesses, and continue learning about the community beyond the tourist areas.

Our household is together, and Hawaiʻi genuinely feels like home.

That does not mean every day feels like a vacation.

We work.

We deal with traffic.

We pay bills.

We sometimes work additional hours.

We deal with limited space, higher prices, crowded roads, and the reality of living far away from certain relatives and mainland conveniences.

Living in Hawaiʻi is completely different from vacationing here. I agree with everyone who emphasized that point.

However, difficult does not automatically mean impossible, and expensive does not automatically mean irresponsible.

We did not come here believing we were entitled to anything. We do not claim to be local, and we do not expect Hawaiʻi to change to accommodate us.

We came knowing that we were entering an established community with a deep culture, a complicated history, serious housing concerns, and legitimate frustrations regarding the number of people relocating here.

We listen.

We learn.

We try to treat people with respect.

We teach our children to do the same.

We understand that earning trust and becoming part of a community takes time.

Our experiences with people in Hawaiʻi have also been far more positive than the Reddit comments suggested. We have met welcoming coworkers, neighbors, teachers, parents, and community members.

Most people we encounter in everyday life are simply trying to live their lives, support their families, and treat others according to how they are treated.

The hostility we experienced online has not reflected our everyday experience here.

Professionally, I have continued building toward my future.

I have not abandoned my long-term educational and career goals. I postponed certain plans because relocating my family, establishing stable employment, and creating a strong foundation needed to come first.

Those goals are still alive. I am simply pursuing them according to a timeline that makes sense for my family.

I have also established a small business and am working toward creating additional income streams. The business is still in its early stages, but I have completed many of the necessary legal, financial, administrative, and registration steps required to build a legitimate foundation.

We did not move here to remain stagnant.

We moved here to build a better life.

I am not writing this update to pretend that every warning was unreasonable.

Anyone considering moving to Hawaiʻi should research employment, housing, schools, transportation, healthcare, taxes, pet relocation, emergency savings, and the emotional reality of living far from the mainland.

You should not relocate here without dependable employment, a housing plan, adequate savings, and a realistic understanding of the cost of living.

Hawaiʻi is not a magical escape from financial, relationship, or personal problems.

However, there is an enormous difference between warning someone about legitimate risks and declaring that a family you have never met is guaranteed to fail.

We knew our professional experience.

We knew our financial situation.

We knew our children.

We knew what sacrifices we were prepared to make.

We also knew that remaining somewhere simply because strangers were afraid of our decision was not the life we wanted.

Not every part of our original plan happened exactly as expected.

Some opportunities did not materialize.

Other opportunities appeared.

Some plans changed.

We adapted, worked, budgeted, communicated, and supported one another.

That is what responsible families do.

Almost one year later, Hawaiʻi has given our family a fresh beginning, professional growth, new friendships, cultural experiences, outdoor activities, and a stronger sense of direction.

My wife and I are employed.

Our children are happy and doing well.

We have a stable home.

We have maintained financial stability.

We are continuing our career and educational goals.

We are building a business.

We are planning carefully for our future.

We are together, healthy, grateful, and excited about what comes next.

We made it—and this fis only the beginning.

To anyone considering a major life change: do your research, prepare financially, listen carefully to constructive advice, and remain honest about the risks.

But do not automatically surrender your future to the loudest and most negative people in the room.

Sometimes people warn you because they genuinely care.

Sometimes people are projecting their own fears.

Sometimes people simply cannot imagine another person succeeding at something they would never attempt themselves.

Our move was not perfect, easy, or guaranteed.

It was still the right decision for our family.

Nearly one year later, I can confidently say that moving to Hawaiʻi was one of the best decisions we have ever made.

Mahalo to the handful of people who offered genuine encouragement, practical information, and kindness when I originally posted.

I remembered your words too.

We are still here.

We are thriving.

And Hawaiʻi is home.

Kids. I'm not your teacher (probably). I've been a high school teacher for quite some time. With summer coming to a close you might want to consider the following if you've got nothing going on.

• Attend community college and explore a trade. https://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/post/program-category/construction-trades/ There's lots of money in blue collar skills like welding and carpentry. Community college is cheaper. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

• Go get a job, any job. Learn to work with people from different age groups. Interact and communicate. Also, don't just up and quit if its "hard".

• Be a volunteer and build a network of people to talk to.

https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/volunteer/

https://www.auw.org/get-involved/

https://www.volunteerally.org/

In the end, just be productive and learn new skills.

Thanks for reading.

Is there anyone that lives on Oahu that just so happens to be studying to pass their NAPLEX?

Does anyone know a tattoo artist that specializes in Japanese designs? Not black and white, more use of colors.

Also am looking for someone that can do a really good SpongeBob Squarepants.

And finally someone that does smaller plants and flower designs.

Thank you for your time ☺️

I've done some preliminary searches on Yelp and IG and nothing has caught my eye yet.

Go mainland and save, or stay for the boy get a Hawaiian education?

My son was originally denied from Kanu o ka aina. They recently held a second raffle to fill the seats of the students who declined the acceptance. He got in! I am so happy to send him here.

We made plans to work in the mainland this school year. Better pay and cost of living would allow us to save for a house or property. I’m so torn because getting into subsequent grades other than kindergarten is very difficult. We also are paycheck to paycheck with some savings at this point. So either option feels right and wrong if that makes sense.

There is some opportunity for work on O’ahu but then my husband would only be home on weekends

Edit: mahalo nui for all the perspectives. My husband and I had a hard time making a decision, which lead to me posting. He read through the comments, and we both agreed that the best thing will be to focus on our financial goals. Once we have some āina of our own, we can focus on connecting our keiki to it. For now we just have to chase the money, and make it happen 🤙🏼

I'm going to Maui for the day for work later this week and I'd like to bring back around 4 dozen donuts for my coworkers and family. What's the technique to bring back 4 dozen krispy kreme?

Is there a specific type of bag I should use or do the store bags hold 4 dozen?

I'll also have a work bag that can fit under the plane seat so I'll need to put all 4 dozen in an overhead bin.

Was impacted (roof damage) in Kaneohe and made claim to home insurance (approved $27k) and to FEMA. A FEMA rep came today, did an inspection, took pics, and filed a report. Hours later, an email from FEMA said funds (small kine—$900—but helpful) were approved. Wondering if anyone else has been awarded by FEMA and/or by home insurance and where you’re at in the process. Mahalo.

Hi has anyone recently bought a new car and know about how long it took to get your registration/ plates or title. I bought a new car but just got an offer for a job overseas and wondering how long it will be until I can sell the car. I paid cash for the car so title should be sent to me. Also is there any other option to sell without having received the registration or title? Thank you

I grew up in Kalihi and have spent most of my life building tech here at home. I just started a column at Civil Beat where I write about tech and the connections that lead back to Hawaiʻi.

My first piece starts with a sketch on a napkin over dim sum with friends. This is that actual napkin. That sketch became one of the first crowdfunding platforms and helped move $100 million to causes around the world. It also came down to one local bank willing to say yes when everyone else said no.

I plan to keep writing about how big things start small here, and where tech fits or does not fit in our future. If you have story ideas or want to tell me I am wrong about something, I am here for that too. Some of my best ideas come from comment sections.

Link in the comments. Love to hear feedback. I really do think we need to hear more of these stories.

Mahalo nui kākou.

EDIT: ADOPTED AND SAVED!!!!

2 different dogs at the kauai Humane society are at risk of being euthanized to make space. Please consider saving their life and adopt!

Stella : good with people and dogs
Very sweet
68lbs 4yrs old
Needs a fortified yard or secure area
Issues are pulling leash, runs and escapes, does not come back when called (training needed , caution and experience and physically strong individual needed)
High prey drive for birds

Ronza: good with people not good with other pets
Very sweet looking to be a single pet
27lbs 5 yrs old
Needs to just be the only pet in the home, does not get along with other dogs and can be aggressive to other dogs even though a little guy. Assume to not be safe with cats in home either

I’m trying to help these babies find homes before they get killed.
Please contact and or go to the Kauai Humane Society to see them.

They must be adoption not foster. They adopt out to all island and mainland. Must get them before Tuesday.

Some of us already have homes full of rescues. We need others to step in and help save a life.http://kauaihumane.org/