All Things Vanessacery: March 2012

For those PCSing to Hawaii, out of the kindness of my heart, I decided to compile list of tips, links and numbers to help making moving to paradise less stressful:

Army Installations

Schofield Barracks

Fort Shafter

Wheeler Army Airfield

Camp Smith

The skinny on living on post v. off post

If you are dead set on living on post, good luck, the housing wait list is usually long. Granted new homes are being built and they are very nice, getting a spot on post isn’t easy, especially for officers.

For families relocating to Hawaii, housing is available on post in both the North (Helemano Military Reservation, Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield) and South (Aliamanu Military Reservation, Fort Shafter and Tripler Army Medical Center) regions. All on post housing is managed by Island Palm Communities, the garrison's housing partner.

I find you can get more bang for your buck off post. Par example, let’s say your basic housing allowance, or BAH, is $2,200 per month — this is for a married lieutenant — and you live next to someone who is below you in rank whose BAH is $1,800, the housing agency will take all of your BAH for said house.

So essentially you are paying $2,200 for the same size house as your neighbor who is paying way less than you. Whereas if you find digs off post for less than your BAH, then you bank the rest.

Yeah sure you don’t have to pay for your electricity (Not 100 percent true, you have an allotment and once you exceed that, you will have to pay the difference), but if you find digs off post for less than your BAH, then you bank the rest.

Keep in mind Hawaii’s cost of living while generally follows trends similar to the mainland, is approximately 30% above the national average. The median price for single-family, re-sale homes on Oahu as of July 2008 was approximately $625,000 as reported by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Housing can be relatively expensive, and rent varies depending on location and type of housing arrangements. Because of the higher land values and more outdoor living, the average family moving to Hawaii lives in a smaller house or apartment than they are accustomed to on the mainland.

Utility rates (gas, water, electric, cable television and telephone) are also slightly higher here in Hawaii, as are groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

Schools/Education

Dependent children can attend public or private schools in Hawaii. Public schools are run by Hawaii's Department of Education. The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools has information on private schools. Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's School Support Office coordinates and assists Army school-age youth with educational opportunities and information necessary to achieve academic success.

Incoming spouses can find information on education geared towards them on the Spouse Education Center's website.

Soldiers can find information on continuing education on the Education Center's website.

Higher Education – Public

University of Hawaii 

Community Colleges, University of Hawaii

Higher Education - Private 

Hawaii Pacific University 

Chaminade University 

Brigham Young University, Hawaii 

University of Phoenix, Hawaii Campuses

Pets

If your family will bring pets with them to Hawaii, begin planning as soon as possible to minimize the time your pet may be required to be quarantined.

Hawaii is rabies-free.

Hawaii's quarantine law is designed to protect residents and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the introduction and spread of rabies. All dogs and cats, regardless of age (puppies and kittens included) or purpose, must comply with Hawaii’s dog and cat import requirements.

For the latest on quarantine information, visit Hawaii's Department of Agriculture's Animal Quarantine website.

Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation operates a pet kennel in Halawa Valley. More information can be found on their website.

Certain breeds are not allowed on Army installations, and our post housing partner, Island Palm Communities, has rules and regulations regarding owning pets in post housing. All applicable policies can be found on the Command Documents page.

After you arrive in Hawaii, the Army's Veterinary Corps can provide services for your pet(s) at one of their four veterinary facilities on Oahu. Visit their website for more information.

Useful links

Support for Military Families 

Family & Morale, Welfare & Recreation (FMWR)

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii's News Paper

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii's Website

Your Military in Hawaii, a joint-services publication, provides information on all installations in Hawaii. View the guide online at www.yourmilitaryinhawaii.com.

General

Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu

Hawaii Visitor's & Convention Bureau

Air Transportation - Major U.S. Carriers 

Northwest 