Headed to Pearl!

[North Star]

Just received my orders, and I'll be headed to Pearl Harbor and the USS Columbus in a few months for my first boat.  Anyone have recommendations on where to live.  I've talked to two people so far and they've both said to live up near the Marine base - Kaneohe or Kailua.  Also, anyone that's out there now heard anything about the boat and it's command?  Thanks for any help or advice.

[withroaj]

Kaneohe and Kailua are both beautiful places to live, but so is everywhere else on the island (though you should avoid the western shore if you aren't local).  The traffic between Pearl and K-Bay/Kailua can be brutal; I'm talking an hour and a half to go less than ten miles.  I lived in Aiea when I was out there, and it could sometimes take 45 minutes to get the three miles from my house to the Sub Base.  I'd strongly recommend going to your boat, meeting the folks and moving in with some established people.  That will probably find you a good money making deal, and you'll most likely have a reasonable commute.

Remember that you have to be E-5 or E-4 with over four years in the Navy to recieve BAH.  If you're not E-5 yet, give it time and you'll make it off the test.  Wait until you go to sea a few times before you decide you want two more years in the Navy.

Make sure you take advantage of what MWR offers there.  You can learn to surf (lessons were seven bucks when I was there) and snorkel equipment rentals are either free or dirt cheap (I checked out snorkeling stuff enough that I got to keep it).  Some of the SCUBA schools there offer great military discounts (and I still kick myself for not getting certified).  If you like to go out and drink, hit up Arnold's in Waikiki.  It's the only place in the Waikiki area that actually has cheap beer.  Remember not to drink and drive, though.

Good luck and have fun!!

EDIT:  I take it you're a JO, so disregard the E5/E4 thing.  I'd still recommend checking into the BOQ(if you're not married) until you get to know the fellers on the boat.  Make money, save drive time.  You win!

[North Star]

Thanks for the info WithROAJ, alot of people told me that H-3 isn't bad for traffic so I guess I'll have to do more research and see.  Definitely a good idea to check into the BOQ for a while and see if anyone on board needs a roommate - should help me get a place that works out great.  Thanks!

[93-383]

DO NOT live in Ewa Beach traffic is murder
DO NOT live in Waianae you will get murdered

[Beam]

As for living arrangements, don't live in any place that starts with "W" is a good rule of thumb-Waianie Waiminalo will get you mugged or worse, and Waikiki is a traffic nightmare and expensive to boot. Though I've lived leeward (south) side my whole 4 years here in both Aiea and Honolulu, I know plenty of guys who in the Kailua area on the windward side and love it since H-3 traffic is non-existent, and the area is much less tourist infested.

Hope that helps.
Good luck! Get Hot!
Cheers,
Beam

PS Which prototype did you go to?

[93-383]

In quire with Housing when you get here Forrest City is renting some of the old units at NCTAMS and Halava to single sailors for around 1600 per month (dirt cheap for here)

[North Star]

I went to S8G.  Thanks for the info, I'm starting to look around.

As for living arrangements, don't live in any place that starts with "W" is a good rule of thumb-Waianie Waiminalo will get you mugged or worse, and Waikiki is a traffic nightmare and expensive to boot. Though I've lived leeward (south) side my whole 4 years here in both Aiea and Honolulu, I know plenty of guys who in the Kailua area on the windward side and love it since H-3 traffic is non-existent, and the area is much less tourist infested.

Hope that helps.
Good luck! Get Hot!
Cheers,
Beam

PS Which prototype did you go to?