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My Search For An Affordable Life on Oahu

My Search For An Affordable Life on Oahu

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Saddened by the gloomy weather in Washington state, Robert Kramer set out to find out if he and his wife could, on a fixed income, afford a perch in "paradise."
Hawaii’s High Cost of Living Leads to Trade-offs on the Big Island

Hawaii’s High Cost of Living Leads to Trade-offs on the Big Island

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A Kona resident knows why he lives on the Big Island despite limited career options, but he is wondering if that will still make sense as he gets older.
The High Price of Living in Low-Cost Puna

The High Price of Living in Low-Cost Puna

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Lava, hurricanes, invasive species and social pressures are par for the course in the fastest-growing area of the Big Island. One resident found there was a price to pay for greater affordability.
From a Homeless Shelter in Honolulu to a Good Life in Virginia

From a Homeless Shelter in Honolulu to a Good Life in Virginia

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Hilton Moore spent years in and out of a homeless shelter in the capital before finding more opportunity and a lower cost of living on the mainland. He wants others to know a more rewarding life awaits.
The Price of Paradise in Pele’s Shadow

The Price of Paradise in Pele’s Shadow

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What the Big Island’s natural-disaster discount gives, it can take away.
Is it Time We Bid Aloha to Oahu?

Is it Time We Bid Aloha to Oahu?

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As a late-in-life father, Rod Todorovich feels a special responsibility to secure his young son's future. That could mean moving from an island he's lived on for nearly half a century.
Identity Crisis: Am I Rich, Poor or Middle Class in Hawaii?

Identity Crisis: Am I Rich, Poor or Middle Class in Hawaii?

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A mother’s upbringing, shifting circumstances and the high cost of living make her question her social and economic identity.
Why Would Anyone Move From Hawaii to Russia?

Why Would Anyone Move From Hawaii to Russia?

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Oahu’s high prices and limited jobs market are spurring a young Waimanalo local to move to the former Soviet Union in search of opportunity and a better living standard.
Do I Need to Leave Hawaii?

Do I Need to Leave Hawaii?

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A lot of my friends have left the islands. I can keep working multiple jobs and hold on, or move elsewhere for a better quality of life.
The High Cost of Reclaiming My Paradise Lost on Oahu

The High Cost of Reclaiming My Paradise Lost on Oahu

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Harvey Meeker longs to raise his daughter on the island where he grew up, but the price of paradise is keeping his family from returning to Hawaii.
I Had to Re-acclimate to Hawaii’s High Prices

I Had to Re-acclimate to Hawaii’s High Prices

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When it comes to the cost of living in the islands, many locals play the “adjustment game.” Maybe it is a sign that the state needs to make some adjustments of its own.
The Price of My Health Emergency in Hawaii

The Price of My Health Emergency in Hawaii

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Lawrence Boyd almost died and then lived in fear of the medical bills in a state with the nation's highest cost of living. He was in for a surprise.
When the Price of Paradise Means Not Coming Home

When the Price of Paradise Means Not Coming Home

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Oahu-born Paul Arinaga enjoys the fine beer in Belgium, but he yearns to return to Hawaii. He just has to figure out how to get a handle on Hawaii's cost of living.
Alone in Paradise — High Prices, a Small Jobs Market and the Passage of Time

Alone in Paradise — High Prices, a Small Jobs Market and the Passage of Time

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Stan Fichtman's entire family has left the island, relative by relative, leaving him to celebrate their half-century anniversary here alone. Why have they gone and how long can he last?
Tech Exile — Low Salaries and the High Cost of Living Keep Me From Moving Back to Hawaii

Tech Exile — Low Salaries and the High Cost of Living Keep Me From Moving Back to Hawaii

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A local woman who is earning a Ph.D. in computer science on the mainland is the kind of young professional the start-up community wants to lure back to the islands. Why isn't she coming back?
A More Affordable Paradise: Hawaii Is Dead, Long Live Hawaii!

A More Affordable Paradise: Hawaii Is Dead, Long Live Hawaii!

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Lifelong local Mark Heilbron says he has found a "New Hawaii" that is even better — and cheaper — than the real thing. It just took him a while to say where it is.
The Price of a Place Called Home on Oahu

The Price of a Place Called Home on Oahu

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Keopu Reelitz hopes to buy a home near her ancestors, but as housing prices rise, her dream slips further away.
The Cost of My Cancer in Hawaii

The Cost of My Cancer in Hawaii

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By the time Cora Spearman found a lump on her face, she knew everything had a price. She just didn't know how much she would pay.