TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Hawaii wants teachers.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I have never heard this before:

Hawaii has one of the highest teacher turnover rates in the nation and this is more so for people that come from the mainland. They say, 'I can't live here' and they leave and we have to go back and recruit, and this cycle just continually happens.

Frankly, that makes no sense.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

flan327 wrote:
I have never heard this before:

Hawaii has one of the highest teacher turnover rates in the nation and this is more so for people that come from the mainland. They say, 'I can't live here' and they leave and we have to go back and recruit, and this cycle just continually happens.

Frankly, that makes no sense.
flan

Hawaii is a great place to visit. As a place to live?

It's got an extremely high cost of living.

Traffic in Honolulu is terrible

It's constantly overrun with tourists.

You are stuck on an island in the middle of the Pacific - to go anywhere else costs a fortune.

Native Hawaiians are not all that fond of mainland Americans who STAY.

There is limited entertainment available.

If you are not an avid outdoor enthusiast, you are not going to fit in well.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

And the turnover isn't just teachers - it's a lot of people. Make friends, and then they leave.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Salaries for teachers in Hawaii fall in the middle of national rankings for average pay. But once those salaries are adjusted for the cost of living, Hawaii has the lowest-paid teachers in the nation.

"In other states, teachers are respected, teachers are valued and they want to make sure that every kid has a good teacher," said Corey Rosenlee, president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. "In Hawaii, this problem has been going on for too long."

The teachers union says about half of all new Hawaii teachers quit teaching public school in the islands within their first five years on the job. Many blame the high cost of living.

"Hawaii has one of the highest, if not the highest, teacher turnover rate in the nation. The reality is that every year nearly half of all of our
new teachers are emergency hires," Rosenlee said.

Department of Education officials say new teacher turnover is actually on the decline -- from a peak of 50 peak in 2004 down to 37 percent in 2012.

But they acknowledge turnover remains a challenge.

"We're trying to make it a profession where people want to stay," said DOE Deputy Director Stephen Schatz.

"Teachers do this because they care about the students and they care about their community and they're not doing it to get rich, but we need to make sure they feel supported in their profession and that they can have adequate funding for the supplies that they need and that they can make a living."

Salaries for newly-hired accredited teachers with a bachelor's degree start around $45,000.

"In New York, with a similar cost of living, a beginning teacher there can make close to $60,000 starting," Rosenlee said. "That's more than the average teacher makes here in Hawaii. They pay their teachers well, but for some reason in Hawaii we haven't been doing that and that's why we have this high teacher turnover. This is why we can't find enough teachers for our classrooms."

Schatz says the teacher shortage is partly due to the limited number of Hawaii residents going into classrooms.

There just are not enough teachers coming out of local institutions to fill the number of vacancies DOE has, he said, so they need to recruit on the mainland. Union officials say the challenge with that is many come to Hawaii without realizing how high the cost of living is -- and they don't stick around for long.

"I think it's easier for folks who have roots here. They have a support network. A lot of us live with in-laws or family members or roommates. That's not an uncommon situation for anyone in Hawaii, whether they're in education or not," Schatz said.

Jenifer Evans is a first-year teacher at Moanalua Elementary School. She's a proud product of public schools in Hawaii, and has every intention to stay home, but says she's struggling to make ends meet like so many others.

"I think if the salary reflected the effort, it would definitely make an impact and keep teachers in the classroom," she said.

Her paychecks don't go far, but instead of saving up or paying down her student loans, Evans says she's spent nearly $2,000 out of pocket on supplies for her second-grade classroom

"Sometimes, when my family could afford, it they would give me a gift. 'Hey, you said you needed containers. Here you go, Merry Christmas.' My boyfriend is like, 'Hey, you need binders? Happy Valentine's Day.' The school actually gave me a $200 stipend to start off with, but $200 goes so quickly when there are no staplers or tape dispensers in the classroom," she said.

Evans says the money she has personally spent was worth it to get her students what they need to succeed, but she admits it has been at the expense of her already tight budget.

"It's really impacting the decisions I'm making in the future. How long until I can get married? How long until I can own my own home and have my own kids to put through the Hawaii education system?"

According to a recent teachers union survey, 40 percent of public school teachers take on a side job, in some cases more than one, just to cover their living expenses.

Evans says she knows quite a few other teachers who rely on a second source of income.

"They tell me, 'Sometimes I'm thinking about my second job. How do I get there and beat traffic after school when I should be thinking about how do
I support this child who isn't understanding how to read yet?'"

Union officials say it's students who suffer the most from a revolving door of educators.

"By valuing our kids that means that we make sure that every kid has a good teacher in their classroom. And if a teacher cannot afford to be a teacher
then we lose too many good teachers," Rosenlee.

DOE officials agree.

"The most important thing we can do to make education work in Hawaii is to have excellent teachers in each one of our classrooms," Schatz said.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I have never heard this before:

Hawaii has one of the highest teacher turnover rates in the nation and this is more so for people that come from the mainland. They say, 'I can't live here' and they leave and we have to go back and recruit, and this cycle just continually happens.

Frankly, that makes no sense.
flan
Hawaii is a great place to visit. As a place to live?

It's got an extremely high cost of living.
Traffic in Honolulu is terrible
It's constantly overrun with tourists.
You are stuck on an island in the middle of the Pacific - to go anywhere else costs a fortune.
Native Hawaiians are not all that fond of mainland Americans who STAY.
There is limited entertainment available.
If you are not an avid outdoor enthusiast, you are not going to fit in well.

I agree.

$60,000 a year wouldn't be near enough to have a decent standard of living in Hawaii.

No thanks.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
flan327 wrote:
I have never heard this before:

Hawaii has one of the highest teacher turnover rates in the nation and this is more so for people that come from the mainland. They say, 'I can't live here' and they leave and we have to go back and recruit, and this cycle just continually happens.

Frankly, that makes no sense.
flan
Hawaii is a great place to visit. As a place to live?

It's got an extremely high cost of living.
Traffic in Honolulu is terrible
It's constantly overrun with tourists.
You are stuck on an island in the middle of the Pacific - to go anywhere else costs a fortune.
Native Hawaiians are not all that fond of mainland Americans who STAY.
There is limited entertainment available.
If you are not an avid outdoor enthusiast, you are not going to fit in well.

I agree.
$60,000 a year wouldn't be near enough to have a decent standard of living in Hawaii.
No thanks.

I know how high the cost of living is.

I would never live near Honolulu, but Oahu is not the only island.

"Limited entertainment?" Just pick up a newspaper...

On Kauai, we have met several shopkeepers who came for a visit & decided to move.

Of course, it's not for everyone, but the serenity I have found there would make it all worth while. The pace of life is slower, people are friendlier (in general), and you don't have to be into sports to appreciate the fresh food & beautiful views.

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Well, maybe you should move there, then.

Lots of people went with the same thoughts, I'm sure, and decided it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Otherwise, the turnover rate in Hawaii wouldn't be as high as it is.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

David Morgan
David Morgan is the co-founder of Organic Themes and Kahuna Host, a WordPress theme designer, front-end developer, illustrator and surfer. This post was originally published on his blog at www.dav.idmorgan.com. He is on Twitter @ItsDavidMorgan.

After living in Hawaii for a while you find yourself asking — and being asked — this question often: “How long have you lived here?”

I’ve lived in Hawaii for roughly seven years. That’s long enough that J.O.J. (just-off-the-jet)newcomers look up to me as a knowledgeable local, but short enough that veterans still question my longevity. You could say I’m at the seven-year-itch.

When I try to explain that the priorities in my life are changing, I’m asked by some locals, “But you’re staying here, right?”

For too long I’ve felt.

These questions seem meaningless, but they’re actually a gauge of your longevity and commitment to the islands.

You see, Hawaii has an extremely high turnover rate. The islands are like arecycling center for haoles. Because, unless you’re filthy rich or born and raised here, life is a struggle in the islands. No matter how you justify it, it’s really expensive and far from — well, everything and everybody.

There are generally two types of transplants within my 25-to-35 age group that arrive in Hawaii — those seeking adventure, and those seeking escape. God knows it’s not for career opportunities.

I’m in the adventure category. I came to Hawaii because I love surfing, and I wanted to explore the world beyond the swamps where I was born and raised. Personally, I wasn’t meant to be in Hawaii forever. Deep down, I’ve always felt that, but I wish I had known it about myself sooner.

David, with his girlfriend Emily, continues to enjoy the mild weather and coastal life, as here on Siesta Key in Florida.

Courtesy of David Morgan

On the other hand, there are the “escapees.” Like the Lost Boys of Neverland, they are the lost souls of Hawaii. They’re escaping cold weather, a mundane job, a relationship, their family, the law, the past, the future or even themselves.

They usually arrive with the intention of hiding, or re-inventing themselves as “Hawaiians.” There’s nothing wrong with escape, but I think this category has more of a tendency to burn bridges and torch the ships on their journey to paradise.

Despite the attention received when flashing my Hawaii license while traveling, I was never comfortable being referred to as Hawaiian. I’m not Hawaiian. I’ve always been a Floridian living in Hawaii. While I completely respect the Hawaiian culture, and it bears many similarities to mine, it’s not mine. For too long I’ve felt like the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude. I don’t like pretending to be something I’m not, and it feels like I’ve been doing that for seven years.

I often refer to Hawaii

I created a good life in Hawaii. As good as can be created here. I built a successful online business on Maui from nothing, independent of the local economy, with my business partner and best friend since high school. I own a beautiful house in Lahaina with nearly an acre of land. It’s a few minutes from my favorite surf spots and has epic views of the sunset over Lanai. I set my own schedule and make a good living. I live the dream.

Despite overcoming nearly every obstacle Hawaii has thrown my way, the distance and cost of living has taken its toll. My girlfriend and family are in Florida.

The Sunshine State is 15 hours of travel from Maui. A lot can happen in 15 hours — like being told your grandma only has days to live, and she dies while you are trying to make it back. That’s happened to me twice.

Food, gas, bills, real estate, taxes… everything — it’s infinitely more expensive in Hawaii. That’s life here. We call it the paradise tax. Sure, you can “make it work,” but lately I found myself asking if it’s worth it.

There comes a point at which living in Hawaii no longer makes sense. In the past, the pride of parading around in the islands blinded me to the struggles and the distance.

Past articles I’ve written have been attempts to reason with myself and justify living here long-term. I thought people who left the islands couldn’t hack it, but most of them were just making a wise decision for their future.

David Morgan living his dream on the south side of Haleakala, Maui.

Courtesy of David Morgan

I often refer to Hawaii as Neverland. It’s a magical, stunningly beautiful place, but it makes you forget. It makes you forget about the world outside of the islands. It makes you forget about planning for the future. It makes you forget about the family and friends you left behind.

Then one day you realize the rest of the world has been progressing while you are living in an isolated, perpetual fantasy world. I’m sure that sounds perfect to some, but I’m 33 and there’s still a lot left for me to explore and accomplish.

I love Hawaii, the land, the ocean and the friends I’ve made. I’ll miss it, but I love and miss everywhere that I’ve lived. I left Florida for Oahu; Oahu for Maui; Maui for San Diego, and I reluctantly left San Diego for Maui again. Now, I’m leaving Maui for Sarasota, and it feels really good. Maybe I’ll be back, someday.

I’ve moved, traveled and made enough mistakes to realize it’s not about the place you live, but the people you’re with.

Hawaii has been an exploration for me, filled with good and bad experiences that I’ve grown from. It served its purpose in my life. Now, I’m ready for the next chapter and new adventures.

In Florida, my lifestyle and the weather are roughly the same — the waves are a little smaller, and the humidity is a bit higher. I’ve fallen in love, reconnected with old friends, made new friends, spent time with family on a whim, and I’ve even managed to catch some really good waves. I’m saving more moola for the future. Travel is much easier. I’m still living the dream.

Most importantly, I’m much closer to the people I love. My homeland is calling me back, and I’m listening… to that ol’ Seminole wind.

This isn’t “Goodbye,” Hawaii. It’s “Aloha,” for now.

“Hello” my old friend, Sarasota.

NAOW · Vette's SS

I know a few people who were stationed there and although they loved it, they wouldn't have stayed if given the choice. They say it gets almost claustrophobic being on a island. Plus, if you like concerts and the like, you are out of luck. It's too expensive for bands to tour there.

I know one other person who went to college there and stayed.. she is a teacher, lol.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

NAOW wrote:
I know a few people who were stationed there and although they loved it, they wouldn't have stayed if given the choice. They say it gets almost claustrophobic being on a island. Plus, if you like concerts and the like, you are out of luck. It's too expensive for bands to tour there.

I know one other person who went to college there and stayed.. she is a teacher, lol.

That's what I was talking about. I mean, sure, if you love everything Hawaiian all the time, you can find entertainment, but if you want anything not Hawaiian, it gets difficult. And the performers who do go there - their shows are sold out immediately.

I had a friend that lived there for a while - she had no desire to stay, either. My step-father was stationed there while he was in the Navy and hated it.

I've been to Hawaii - it's a beautiful, wonderful place to visit. But vacationing somewhere and living there are two very, VERY, different things.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

Scott Caan who plays Danny on Hawaii 5-0 renegotiated his contract so he is in less episodes & films a quicker schedule than the others because he doesn't like living in Hawaii.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

No, it's NOT for everyone. No place is.

Again, it needs to be a good match between YOUR personality & the island you choose.

flan

Dona Worry Be Happy · Vette's SS!!

Go there, Flannikins! We can all come visit you!

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:
Go there, Flannikins! We can all come visit you!

I've been there enough to know that I would LOVE to live there.

flan

cadiver · Senior Member

I think I could live there for awhile. I know I am not going to be staying here.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

cadiver wrote:
I think I could live there for awhile. I know I am not going to be staying here.

Have you ever been?

flan

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:
Go there, Flannikins! We can all come visit you!

This was another reason given for not being a good place to live. People use your home as a free vacation hotel. It's gets old.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

Lawyerlady wrote:
Dona Worry Be Happy wrote:
Go there, Flannikins! We can all come visit you!
This was another reason given for not being a good place to live. People use your home as a free vacation hotel. It's gets old.

Just say no.

flan

cadiver · Senior Member

flan327 wrote:
cadiver wrote:
I think I could live there for awhile. I know I am not going to be staying here.
Have you ever been?
flan

Yeah. Mostly business trips with extra days added at the end. Also a number of stops coming and going from Japan.

FNW · Guru

I had plans to go to college in Hawaii. My BFF, who was going to be my roommate, ran off and got married. So I didn't go. I always regretted that decision. Until I visited Hawaii. I didn't care for the humidity and the affect it has on my hair. But there were areas that were pretty.

A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Well. If you're going to be a teacher and you have to grade papers, might as well do it in paradise.

weltschmerz · Guru

No International Film Festivals?
No International Jazz Festivals?
No bands from Mali or Zimbabwe playing live music?

Nope. not for me.

Lindley · Guru

Oh I can so live on the big Island. Everything I need is right there.

TOTALLY GEEKED!

Hawaii Wants to Pay You $60,000 to Move to Paradise