In my own experience, I looked at moving to the LA area. To get an equivalent size condo/apartment in a nice area like I'm in now would easily be double the cost in LA as what I pay in Maui. There was absolutely no way I could've done it. Not to mention gas is higher in California. Those cost of living comparisons don't take into account what area your in. There's a lot of places in LA that you want to avoid at all cost, there's none where I live, and those are in those comparisons.

There's also another great thing about Hawaii, everything is so outdoors oriented here that I'm not having to pay for entertainment.

Living in HI is great, no doubt. And living in Maui is cheaper than Oahu. I've lived in more beautiful places, but never in more expensive. But everything has a price, island paradise is no exception. I am glad it is working out for you. I always dreamed of returning and sailing a boat to Kaluapapa leper colony and take the residents out for a sailing trip, several times over. I doubt I will have the money to do so in a timely enough manner, but I would have loved to do it. It has always hurt my heart how those people were exiled, and for essentially no reason.

Peace, Brah!

Current Island Air pilot here. First year pay is 37.7 after the 3% increase in December. 70 min for reserve and 85 for line holders. Hope this helps.

Thanks for sharing. Seems like someone really needs to update the Island Air info here on APC.

Spam... Love it!! Never cared much for it, until HI. I remember seeing CASES of it in the carts of shoppers at Sam's. Learned to like it with eggs, rice, and Aloha Shoyu sauce.

so what are the inside rumors of what the new owners are planning?

Technically the contract says it's a 70 hour guarantee, even for line holders. However, right underneath that part, it says that lines will be built to around 85 hours. I remember flying with the former MEC chair and he explained it to me, it was a concession but not really. It used to be an 80 hour guarantee for line holders.

The usual "expansion" sort of sweetness. Also something about adding an additional ATR.