PCSing to Hawaii (Family)

2014-02-15T09:22:45-05:00

I have two daughters one in Elementary and the other starting her Junior year. Any tips would help.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 24 at 2013 2:50 PM

2013-10-24T14:50:25-04:00

MSG M, great to hear you're going to be out at Schofield. I was there for awhile. We actually did a nice blog post on this exact topic. I'm including the link below. I'll also respond again with my additional thoughts, and some questions for you.http://bit.ly/1a3dJau

RallyPoint Blog

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2013 2:54 PM

2013-10-24T14:54:45-04:00

Thanks a lot Sir, I appreciate it. I'll check out that link now.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 24 at 2013 3:00 PM

2013-10-24T15:00:53-04:00

MSG M, we have ~900 RallyPoint members who are currently stationed at Schofield. I'll include the link below. You should really connect with a bunch of people there, and ask them about schools for your daughters, where they live, and how they like it.Here are my personal thoughts. I lived in Waialua on the North Shore. Great way to get away from it all and have peace and quiet. It can be a real paradise if you approach it with the right mindset. It's calm and rural, and right by the ocean. Not too much tourism, especially compared to Honolulu. Commute to and from Schofield is really easy -- and you enter post using the fastest, least congested gate (the other gates can get crazy backed up). However, I do not believe the schools up on the North Shore are very good for your daughters. This is something you should probably ask people at Schofield (via the link below).I also lived in Mililani Tech Park, which is right by Schofield and Wheeler Army Airfield. The homes there are newer but more cookie cutter. There's a nice golf course there, it's pretty quiet, and it's close to work. It doesn't really have an island feel, though -- and living there can feel like living in any Army-like housing development area, except for Hawaii's nice weather.I never lived in Honolulu, which would be many people's recommendation. That's where you have a downtown, lots to do including the beach stuff, and lots of shopping, etc. That would be approx your longest commute and traffic can be very bad between there and Schofield. You literally sit and crawl your way on highway H1.Anyway, I imagine your daughters' schooling is a top priority, so again I would really connect with some RallyPoint members who are there now, send them some messages about it, and try to get everything set.If I can be helpful with this issue, please don't hesitate to email me at [login to see] and I am also happy to take a quick phone call if you have questions (just email me and we can set it up).V/R,Aaronhttps://http://www.rallypoint.com/duty_stations/70-schofield-barracks-hi

Schofield Barracks, HI | RallyPoint

Join members of Schofield Barracks, HI on RallyPoint, home of 25th ID, 8th TSC, 500th MI BDE, 2nd BCT, 3rd BCT

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2013 1:34 PM

2013-10-25T13:34:33-04:00

MSG Davis,We just left HI this past summer. We lived on Fort Shafter. That's a bit of a commute to Schofield though considering traffic. Lots of people we knew that lived off post were in the Ewa Beach area because the cost of housing was low. You might check out Waikele - we knew a few people that lived there and it's just a few miles down Kunia Road from Schofield barracks. I'd bet that road gets really busy though, so check out traffic patterns before deciding.The other thing you mentioned was school aged kids. Check out Great Schools dot com. We usually check that out prior to moving and found it very useful.The other thing to note is that most of the base housing on Schofield, Aliamanu Military Reservation, and Fort Shafter are only a few years old (although Schofield does have some historic housing also). If you can get in on post, it's way more convenient.Good luck in HI. I know you'll enjoy it!

Response by CPT Benjamin Faw made Oct 25 at 2013 2:00 PM

2013-10-25T14:00:02-04:00

I am not sure on the school systems (I was single when stationed there). However, I found the North Shore to be a great place. I lived in Waialua which offered a reasonable cost, a short 20 minute drive to post, and a lot of neat outdoors adventures right on your doorstep. I hope this helps!

Response by LTC Mel Magsino made Oct 29 at 2013 5:28 PM

2013-10-29T17:28:12-04:00

MSG M,
I was stationed at Fort Shafter while the wife was stationed at Schofield...just retired a couple of months ago and stayed in Hawaii. We live in Ewa Beach (Ocean Pointe) and there are a few schools (intermediate, elementary and even high school) within "walking distance" (a couple within Ocean Pointe) so if transportation is a concern, location will not be an issue. The houses in the area are newer and were built from 2005 or later and I have seen quite a few rentals (both townhomes and single family houses). When my wife commuted from Ocean Pointe to Schofield, it didn't take her that long to get there, although sometimes it takes her longer to get from the Lyman or Foote gate to her work.
I have no kids at home so I can't vouch for the quality of schools (as I've heard Hawaii has lousy public schools), but use the link that MAJ Frobe provided and that should provide you the info you need.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 29 at 2013 6:27 PM

2013-10-29T18:27:47-04:00

MSG M, I'm circling back to you to make sure that all your questions here have been sufficiently answered. If not, please let us know so that we can re-engage and help you as much as possible. Again, I would strongly advise you to connect with some of the people who are assigned to Schofield right now, via the link below. Those service members may be your best resource, to include inside info on the best units.

https://www.rallypoint.com/duty_stations/70-schofield-barracks-hi

Schofield Barracks, HI | RallyPoint

Join members of Schofield Barracks, HI on RallyPoint, home of 25th ID, 8th TSC, 500th MI BDE, 2nd BCT, 3rd BCT

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2013 7:58 PM

2013-10-29T19:58:35-04:00

My vote, Ewa Beach or Mililani.

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 24 at 2013 9:42 PM

2013-12-24T21:42:09-05:00

MSG,

You can also check the installation website from Google which will also have links to local housing areas and sometimes have listings for local realtors, some sites have it some don't just a thought.

Good luck and stay safe.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2014 10:53 AM

2014-02-15T10:53:38-05:00

Do not take them there, Hawaii education system is the worst Ive seen in my life. They will problay be one of the few gifted and talented kids but they will be in comparison to the hawaiian kids. Take a look online and see where hawaii ranks nationally with education.

I was stationed there for almost 5 years two of whicih I was deployed but I wouldnt bring my kids over to live. I think taking your kids to hawaii will hurt them. The schools usually had an early release on Wednesdays and they were out of school every other Friday.

I hope you well. Which unit are you going too, I was in 130th 65th En Bn, 95th En Co.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 15 at 2014 10:55 AM

2014-02-15T10:55:54-05:00

1SG,

It is a beautiful area, enjoy as much family time as possible, be prepared for high prices as the cost of living for the area is quite high, you don't get as much for your buck as you do in CONUS and in Europe.

Your girls will love the schools there, although if it was me I would be a gnat on the wall for my Junior student as she is the fresh meat for all the raging hormonal boys that are the locals that will be very distractive with the exotic beach surroundings and extensive activities. My wife had to keep reeling me in when they were living there back in the 90s while I was deployed, during my visits on leave I had a habit of cleaning my guns whenever any boys came around to talk to my then 16 year old daughter.

But I digress, it is a great assignment for the family, depending on your assignment, I have had many friends over the years say they hated it because they never had time to enjoy it for them and spend time with the families, although that was also in the heart of OEF/OIF, but it may be better now with one down and the other ending soon.

Good luck and enjoy.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 20 at 2014 7:14 PM

2014-03-20T19:14:10-04:00

I know a few folks who just got back from Hawaii but aren't on RP. I'll talk to them at work tomorrow.

Response by TSgt Christopher D. made May 6 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-05-06T14:45:44-04:00

1SG Private RallyPoint Member Aloha to you and yours. I saw this was posted a year ago, but wanted to reach out. I worked out of NSA-H; that little hole in the ground down Kunia Road going towards Ewa Beach and know Schofield fairly well.

Hawaii is, as I'm sure you're aware now, whatever you make it out to be. There is always something to do, the weather is incredible, the availability of so many ethnic foods and cultural experiences was incredible. I wish I could move back!

I hope you and your family are enjoying it as much as I did!

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Jul 5 at 2016 4:38 AM

2016-07-05T04:38:58-04:00

1SG. I was stationed there many years ago. School have probably improved but we're not that bad. I would live on base for I found any travel a pain. Unless more road were build traffic was bad. Enjoy Hawaii