What’s it like being stationed in Hawaii?

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 22:43:27 -0400

I’m currently serving in Fort Carson and thinking about my next DS. Wife and I wanna see the world and I’m wondering what it’s like in Hawaii. I know the stereotypical unit toxicity bs so Idc about that. I’m talking about the base, the housing situation (on and off post), the activities available, that sorta stuff.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2022 11:05 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 23:05:19 -0400

Contact one of these three gentlemen... they are very knowledgeable in Military related questions/issues.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2022 11:12 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 23:12:17 -0400

Hawaii is pretty expensive but there is a lot to do and see. The community is also very pro military. Like any duty station it is what you make of it.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 18 at 2022 11:25 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 23:25:27 -0400

She gonna loves her some Hawaii! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67__Rr4x8Dw

Ke Kai O Kahiki - Moku O Keawe 2010

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 19 at 2022 1:11 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 01:11:51 -0400

Great for the first couple of months. Boring as hell after that.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jun 19 at 2022 2:14 AM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 02:14:14 -0400

Hawaii was my third best assignment behind Germany and Bliss in terms of off duty things to do. If you are adventurous, you can never get bored there. I made almost 400 skydives, started flying lessons, went to two other islands, and off to Asia three times. There was great housing there for enlisted and I recommend it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 19 at 2022 9:40 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 09:40:56 -0400

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member Some Humor from My Time in Hawaii, Andy Bumatai! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLGiNPqpd8c&t=313s

Andy Bumatai - Showtime 1988

1988 Showtime special with Andy Bumatai

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 20 at 2022 12:14 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 00:14:07 -0400

My first duty assignment as a enlisted soldier was in Hawaii, and my last enlisted assignment was at Fort Carson. I thoroughly enjoyed Hawaii as a station but I've always been a outdoors person and I enjoyed learning to surf, but I think the biggest reason I enjoyed Hawaii so much was I single at the time ;). I did a 90 day ADOS fill for the 25th G2 back in 2018, this time around I brought my wife. While my wife and I enjoyed our time their I was happy to be back in Colorado afterwards. (Currently where I live.)

Expect it to rain at least once a day, but the rain is usually a nice drizzle compared to what we get at Fort Carson. The housing market is on the expensive side, so if your wanting something nicer your probably going to need to spend your whole BAH plus a little extra. On base housing is older but improvement over the years have brought up a more modern feel to what you should expect, but if you are living off post expect to get on the post a hour prior to your formations. Unlike Fort Carson there is no real easy ways to get on the base, traffic stacks quickly at the 2 main entrances and you'll be sitting in traffic for a while before you can get on the base.

Hawaii has a pretty rich culture, while it is the US you feel like your in a different country which is a good thing. There is a small populace of native Hawaiians that do not like the military but they usually keep to themselves but if they are provoked it can be ugly.

A lot of soldiers that get stationed there do develop "island fever" due to basically doing everything on Hawaii in the first couple of weeks and getting super bored, so try to pace yourself. I learned how to open water swim and surf the 6 years I was stationed there, and there is a lot of opportunities to do outdoor stuff. If you are in more for the night scene, Waikiki never sleeps and there is always something going on. MWR has "their" own beach for the military on the marine base if your looking for a more secluded area to hang out at and not worried about getting your stuff stolen if you dip in the water.

Traffic was bad in 2002 when I got stationed there, in 2018 it was MUCH worse. Unless your driving at odd times (11pm-4pm) expect to sit on some sort of traffic at all times.

I hope that answers your questions, if you have anything more to ask please hit me up in pms.

Response by Andrea Willis made Jun 20 at 2022 5:33 AM

Andrea Willis — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 05:33:20 -0400

What is back acne?

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 20 at 2022 1:12 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 13:12:31 -0400

Hawaii is Heaven on earth.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2022 8:29 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:29:02 -0400

As an 88N I love working on Fort Shafter alongside the other NCO's I work with especially because I'm from Hawaii. This base is a lot smaller than our other Army base Schofield, but still a good assignment to get. As far as housing I stay in the Honolulu area and it's only maybe a 5-10 min drive to work for me. Fort Shafter is close to downtown Waikiki so there's many activities like surfing the strip also hikes all over the island, Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), Kualoa ranch where Jurassic park was filmed. There's so many activities you could do and even just look up online as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2022 9:29 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:29:24 -0400

There is not such a thing as PFC (p) lol

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2022 9:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:35:54 -0400

Hawaii is one of the best places to be stationed at, there are so many hiking places, historical places, diverse food and culture, Samoan, Filipino, Korean, Japanese and native Hawaiians. It is expensive but you get COLA, since you are lower enlisted you probably will get base housing, LMR housing area is pretty decent...North shore is amazing! And best of all, it never gets cold!!

Response by SGT Ivan Igitol made Sep 1 at 2022 8:37 PM

SGT Ivan Igitol — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 20:37:14 -0400

On and Off Post depends how you make of it. Off post, there's a lot of activities to do there like hiking, sky diving, zip lining, swimming, site seeing and surfing to name a few. Never a dull moment if you're an active individual.
On post life is pretty silent depending where you're at, except in the morning during PT. There are on-post activities for personnel, family and children.
Weather is awesome though and I'm sure you and you're family will like it. Its all on you on how you take living in the tropics.
Hooah "TROPIC LIGHTNING"