Kona or Maui?

Well, having lived on Maui 20 years and visited the Big Island several times, I have this to offer:  I'd probably choose Maui.

• The economy on the Big Island is still pretty depressed while Maui is experiencing a little bit of a rebound. 
• Commuting is less on Maui, since everything is a little closer together.
• Less air pollution (kona is frequently socked in with vog, so if you have asthma or allergies, watch out)
• Lots of swimming-friendly beaches (I can't say the same thing for Kona) which spreads everyone out so they are frequently uncrowded.
• I can't speak too much for the training and racing available on the Big Island, but Maui truly has everything: great aquatic centers (which are FREE), great swimming beaches, a very active running community (check out Valley Isle Road Runners website virr.com), and one road triathlon (june) and Xterra worlds (October).  Miles and miles of relatively safe roads for cycling.

Rent for two-bedroom cottages range between $900-$1500/month on average, depending on location and condition.

Other than being very far away from my family, there isn't much I don't like about Maui.

I'm not a parent, but I hear the schools aren't great - OOPS - read about homeschooling...so not an issue for you.

We live in Makawao, about 20 min from "downtown" (Kahului), the airport, and the closest beach.  Everything else is under a hour to most places.

If you want to know more, just PM me! 

I live on Kauai, but I would pick Maui over the Kona, like the person before me said for the same reasons. Also Maui is more lush where the Big island is so new you look at a lot of old Lava fields...

I am also an RN and work at a hospital. There is a union here. Kauai is a great place to live!

I live on Kauai, but I would pick Maui over the Kona, like the person before me said for the same reasons. Also Maui is more lush where the Big island is so new you look at a lot of old Lava fields...

I am also an RN and work at a hospital. There is a union here. Kauai is a great place to live!

No island specific advice, just some notes

Have you spent any significant amount of time here? Moving and living in Hawaii is a lot different than visiting. Everyone is always really jealous, but it's not like we're sitting on the beach drinking mai tais every day. 

The time difference is really noticeable too, at least if you have family/friends on the east coast. 6 hours means that you have to call people before 2pm and it's a pain if you have to call some customer service places. 

Online shopping does not always offer free shipping to Hawaii even on free shipping promotions.

There's no off season and Christmas cookie season coincides with bikini weather.

Don't think that nicer weather means more daylight hours - since we're near the equator we're closer to 12 hours of sunlight all the time, sunset is at 7:15 in June.

Last I checked for a plane ticket to LA was $800. So it's not cheap to leave either. However, if you have any desire to go to Australia or New Zealand, you're basically halfway there compared to everywhere else in the US!

All that said, we've been here almost 6 months. Both my husband and I are still glad (I think) that we moved here, but we'll be ready to go when his tour is up.

There are so many swim-family friendly beaches that I think everyone is spread out fairly well.  Of course weekends and holidays will be a little more crowded, but never to the levels you see on the mainland.  We live in Makawao but usually go over the west side (Lahaina) and walk Kaanapali beach with our dog on the weekends.  It's a nice walk, we can get a good swim, virtually no other locals are there (because it's touted as a tourist beach) and rarely do we see another dog.  Hop over Black Rock to the beach north of Kaanapali, Kahekili Beach, and you get another nice stretch for walking, swimming, snorkeling.  Plus its a great place to start a brick workout!

Further up the west side: body surfing is great at a beach called Slaughterhouse - lots of steps down to the beach, though, so hard to haul a lot of stuff; and surf is premier at Honolua Bay (with great snorkeling in the summer, but again difficult to access).

Central/North shore, Kanaha Beach Park - mostly kite and windsurfing; Baldwin Beach - beautiful long stretch of beach, few people, great keiki (child) beach at the end protected by a reef; Hookipa Beach park mostly surfing and windsurfing.

South Shore (Kihei/Wailea) - all the way out at Makena - huge, popular beach but rarely crowded (watch the shore break!!) and beautiful swimming; beach fronting the Makena Resort (old Maui Prince Hotel) - picnics, swimming, family beach; Polo Beach and Wailea beach the same; Keawakapu beach in Kihei - good family beach; Kam I, II, III beaches - great for picnicking/family.  Sugar Beach in north Kihei - great for long walks - swimming is rough due to reefs.

That kind of covers the "hot" spots.

I am a critical care RN and work on Kauai. When I first moved here I got hired before I was actually living on island. I would apply. Do you you have your Hawaii RN license yet?  How much experience do you have?

There is a union here and seniority plays a big part when someone is considered for specific jobs sometimes..

xmann - PM me with your email address and I'll connect you with my friend, Robin Ferrier, who is an ICU nurse at Maui Memorial.  Maybe she can give you the inside scoop.

You can also see if there is any travel contracts? Sometimes there are... We have had a bunch in our ER due to the fact no-one could stand working for the manager and nurses wouldn't last long. Now we have a new ER manager and amazingly they are keeping nurses... Call Human Resources to find out the scoop as well...

Lanai is super remote and expensive, but has a neat small-town feel.  There is essentially one nice beach there - Hulopoe Bay - near the boat harbor.

Most residents take the Expeditions Ferry over to Maui to do their "stock up" shopping at Costco, etc.  Plan to buy a LARGE cooler to fill with food and haul over there with you.  There are no major grocery stores, and no fast food.  I think there are one or two small restaurants in addition to the two hotels.  It is privately owned island and the resorts are managed by Four Seasons.  Everyone is essentially there to serve the resorts.

A friend of ours was an EMT assigned over there -essentially a pre-retirement assignment - nothing ever happens over there. 

Maui Memorial Medical Center is where, what I would call, "Central North."  It's sort of on the north shore of the island, centrally located in Wailuku (the County seat - LOL - do people use that term anymore?).  If you live in Central Maui (Kahului/Wailuku/Waikapu) you are really no more than 45 minutes from virtually any beach on the island (with the exception of Hana, which is more of a 1-2 hour drive).

If you are considering Hana Medical Center (very small, rural medical center but badly needed in the area), you will be 1-2 hours from "town" (Kahului) and is on the eastern coast of the island.  There is a small general store and a gas station in Hana, a couple of small restaurants and a hotel, but that's about it.  Hamoa Beach is beautiful and in the area, but can be rough due to the east-facing shoreline.  There are smaller beaches along the scenic Hana Highway.