We Moved to California From Hawaii There Was a Difference!
In 2012, hubby, Pat, and I, made the oceanic jump from Southern California to the beautiful Hamakua Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. We brought along one 29-year old horse, one goat, one 40-foot Matson container, and 2 vehicles! We left behind a 3,000 sq ft custom-built home that refused to sell, and moved into a 450 not-so-square-foot vintage yurt. We were still digging out from the 2008 bank and real estate collapse, so our credit scores were a disaster, with no money in the bank. When we made the exodus, we handed the keys of our home to our poor Realtor® and said, “Good luck getting it sold!” Our beautiful home had already been on the market for three years, and was now offered at one third of the original asking price. Four months later, after basically insisting that we short sale it, we had twelve offers in less than 24 hours, and soon it was sold! That still left our credit scores and bank account in the same sad position. But, we were more than content ,and felt we were exactly where we were supposed to be!
Getting down to business… Makai taking her nap!
Fast forward 14 years…We were still on the Hamakua Coast, but in our own home on nine acres. Age does a funny thing to people. Now, marching up and down the gentle slopes seemed less like much needed exercise, and more like a pain in the okole. The weather was less forgiving, more rain and less sunshine. Money was going out like poop through a goose as we continued to do regular home maintenance plus clean up after the relentless storms, even a hurricane the likes of which no one living had ever experienced! As the song so aptly said, “The thrill is gone!” (At least for me.)
It is now January 2026 and while standing during worship at church, I get the download – “Time to move back to California.” Up to that exact moment, I hadn’t felt the call or the need to make this move. I sit down, pull out a notepad and start taking notes. By the end of church, I knew what I/we were going to do. We were going to sell our beloved home, pack up our animals and what we can’t live without, and move back to Big Bear, CA. I was super excited because we now had two of our four kids married, and seven grands we hardly ever enjoyed! Pat would be closer to medical services he needed for his back, and I would continue my real estate in Hawaii, and maybe the following year in CA! I could see it all…except what would actually be required to make that second oceanic jump, and with 15 more years under our tightly cinched belts! And that was a good thing because I don’t know how I would have handled it if I saw the end from the beginning.
So, here is what I learned. This won’t be a comprehensive list, but I will hit the highlights. And you are invited to call me for more details. I will say that the August 2026 move back to CA was an eye opener, giving me a first-hand perspective as to what my seller clients will need to understand, coordinate, and actually experience during their own oceanic jumps. In one simple word…COMPASSION! More compassion from me, more compassion between those making the move and their families and friends. A lot more compassion!
Time
Everything takes longer when moving off island! Everyone, whether living in Hawaii or somewhere else, seems to understand the term, Hawaii Time. I never really liked it because I felt that a more laid back lifestyle, one where you weren’t jumping through all those hoops, was actually desirable. And it was a great way to live, until we decided to move. Examples of the cons of Hawaii Time:
- Getting your moving supplies can be a challenge because on island sources are often out of what you need, and ordering from Amazon, while usually a dependable source, can leave you without your wardrobe and other much needed boxes.
- Setting up Matson or Pasha for cars and household goods – You have to have a date, not an idea of when you want to move. Then, if you do have to make a change, you could be a month or more out.
Weather
I was originally going to say that weather can be a real concern depending on what district of the island you live in. But, since the beginning of 2026, we as locals have experienced the reality that it doesn’t matter where you live…weather can be a serious challenge.
When the clouds blast open, and the rain falls for months and months, the concept of packing a 21’ or 40’ container, and in our case, two 21’ containers, during storms, comes with its own set of challenges. Your beloved goods are going to be stuffed into these containers, and you won’t lay eyes on them for around three weeks. If furniture and boxes go in wet, I can guarantee you they will come out set, with mold and mildew both inside and outside the boxes, and all over your furniture! Plus that lovely odor.
When we moved from Big Bear, the weather was not an issue. Our things did not go in wet. And, we were very careful to load in such a way that items didn’t shift while in transit. But, this was not the case moving from Paauilo! The containers had to be loaded while it rained, and Pat wasn’t physically able to direct how everything was positioned and tied down so that shifting wasn’t an issue. (I did my best and so did he in guiding the load out crew!)
It was a shock for me to see the back doors of the containers opened, and water droplets hanging off the inside ceilings of the two containers. It was more of a shock when I discovered that almost all of my antique furniture now had to go to the refinisher for repairs! (I know, I know…I should have left everything behind! But, I have collected special pieces all my life, and I wasn’t going to do that.) The wood furniture had to be wiped down with bleach. Many of the clothing, bedding, etc. had to be washed. And some things just had to be pitched out! “It is what it is”, as my lifelong girlfriend often says.
Weather was not an issue when we moved from Big Bear. We were 15 years younger, the skies were crystal clear, and everything went in tight as a drum because Pat was able to oversee the process. When we opened the doors of the 40’ container all furniture and belongs were just as they had been when loaded 3,500 miles away. (I later discovered one broken butter dish and one lampshade. That was it!)
Weather can also play a huge part in actually getting your containers up to your home. As a Realtor® I know that thousands of folks live off grid – no public utilities. And I have represented many sellers with off grid properties similar to ours. This is the case because they/we live mauka, up the mountain, and usually a mile or more from the highway.
Living off grid is a great existence. It’s a more sustainably-focused lifestyle, often providing more peace and privacy. The trade-off can be in the form of navigating dirt and grave roads rather than county paved and maintained roads. And this, we discovered, created a massive challenge in getting our containers from the paved road, up our gravel road, through our 12’ gate, and through our scenic meandering single lane driveway through the orchard and to the house.
OMG! Everything was so water saturated that the 18-wheeler couldn’t navigate the process. At the very last moment, we had to find someone with an excavator who would come the next morning and literally pull the truck/trailer, not once but twice, up to the house. Then, seven days later, that same truck returned to cautiously take the containers back down the messy driveway and to the shipyard.
When all was said and done, our beautiful driveway was a disaster! All the gravel at the bottom was gone, replaced by skid marks of mud, and ohia limbs that were either ripped from their trunks or sawed off and thrown to the side. It was painful to see. But, the mission was accomplished, and our worldly possessions were on their way to CA.
Four of eleven reasons we moved back to the mainland
Help
They say that good help is hard to find. Truthfully, I don’t think it matters where you live. Finding people who actually show up clear headed and on time, then work with you side-by-side to do the heavy lifting, with a zip in their step and a smile on their face, is a blessing! If you don’t have family ready, willing and able, start the hiring process way ahead of move day(s).
When we prepared to leave Hawaii we were fortunate to have our hanai son, Kyler, and his buddies tackle the loading. They never complained, and shared that they only work for people they like. Of course, we made sure we fed them each day. And it was during these much-needed breaks, that talking story helped to break up the wet reality of our situation. I recommend doing the same thing whether coming to, or leaving Hawaii. Organization and kindness needs to be part of the planning and execution process, no matter where we live. Agreed?
Much was true when we packed our belongings, animals and vehicles for shipping to Hawaii. We started early, reached out to guys from church and those we knew in town, worked as a team, fed them, and then celebrated when the container doors finally closed!
I arrived in Big Bear about two weeks prior to Pat’s arrival, which included about 10 days prior to our escrows closing on both sides of the pond. I stayed at a nearby Air BnB so I could shuttle myself to and from the new house to meet with contractors, collect boxes that had been delivered to our pastor’s home, and try to hire the move-in help we would need. As I was driving by the Big Bear Convention Center on a Tuesday morning, I noticed they were having a Farmer’s Market. I thought of the wonderful fruit I could grab, so I did a u-turn and pulled into the parking lot. The first booth I saw was Believer’s Chapel, a church Pat and I had been involved with 25 years ago. There was Pastor Eric looking just like he did when we left 15 years ago. We chatted, getting caught up on our lives and ministries, then I asked if he knew of dependable guys that could help us move. Within a few minutes we had our crew of four on board. What a relief that was! Networking is so important not only when moving, but throughout life.
PS – They all showed up just as planned, and Vince has been hired to help with move-in tasks and yard assistance. Another blessing.
Transporting the Animals
Smoke & Girdie
I had my first taste of sending livestock across the sea when we moved to the Big Island. Initially, the thought of putting my elderly horse on a plane sent me into the ozone layer! I couldn’t imagine doing it. But, as I investigated the process I came to understand that livestock do it all the time, and the animals fare quite well.
We planned to bring my elderly horse, Smoke and three Nubian goats, plus one feline. What we ended up bringing was Smoke, the horse, and Gerdie, the Nubian. Why? IT IS EXPENSIVE TO FLY ANIMALS!!! (Plus, I heard that the Big Island has over 500,000 cats! Did they/we really need one more?)
The livestock require a Titter’s Test. This must be started four months in advance of your flight date or they will be quarantined. A dog is the most difficult to get into Hawaii, not a horse or a rhinoceros. Of course, no snakes! A cat and dog must also have their rabies shot. And everyone must be chipped. Honestly, if felt like the vet moved in, both in CA and Hawaii, they came and went so often. And I felt like I needed to hand over my credit card!
Just prior to leaving CA, Smoke and Girdie had to be sprayed with a special disinfectant and vet checked ten days prior to exit. Then, vet checked within ten days after they arrived in Hawaii to certify they were fine. Thankfully, everyone made it safe and sound.
Palmer, Lele & Scotty
Our experience was remarkably more challenging and expensive leaving the island with one horse, not the same one, two Nubian goats, not the same original one, one dog and one cat! Fifteen years ago, livestock flew between the Hawaii islands. So, Smoke and Girdie were trailered to LAX cargo, flown to Honolulu, rolled off the plane to be inspected, rolled back on the plane, then flown to Kailua-Kona where they were trailer-pulled in their three-animal compartment down a long unused runway in the heat of the day to be collected by their owners. Then loaded onto another trailer and sent their merry way. The process was not the same on the flight from the Big Island to Big Bear…
It was another shock when I discovered that livestock are no longer flown inter-island. Now, they must be trailered to Kawaihae Harbor, rolled onto a barge and then shipped overnight to Honolulu. Then, because the barge and flight schedules don’t tend to match, the horse and goats had to be trailered to and kept for two nights at an off-sight ranch, then trailered back to the airport, loaded onto a cargo flight to LAX, then kept minimally overnight because I didn’t want to receive them in Big Bear at 3:00 am the following day! Really??? This is what it will take??? I felt like I was having another out-of-body experience, and all while depending on people I had never met taking care of my beloved larger than life pets, at a cost of about $14,000! (The travel with one horse and one goat from CA to HI was a mere $3,800.)
Palmer, Lele and Scotty settle in.
Palmer, Lele and Scotty ended up staying at the Los Angeles ranch owned by Latigo Livestock Transport, the company responsible for the door-to-door service, for five nights while a detached three-car garage was transformed into my barn. We won’t discuss the cost of that project! But, when they finally arrived at our property, and were unloaded from the trailer, I simply could not believe they were still alive and healthy! They looked around as if to say, “Where the _ _ _ _ are we???” I looked like a new mother who had spent 48 hours intrenched in the birthing process, only this birth took about ten days!
PS – I highly recommend Latigo Livestock Transport. They are/were very personable, responsive, and able to coordinate every leg of that crazy journey. This is what they do, and they do it well! Just don’t faint when you get the Amount Due invoice.
What About Wally & Makai?
As previously mentioned, dogs are the hardest to get into, and it turns out, out of Hawaii. Wally is a poi dog, a Heinz 57 version in mainland terms, mostly Lab with a bit of Pit on the side. He is a great dog, weighing in at about 65 lbs. Wally never left our Hawaii property, except on the rare occasion he had to go to the vet. He slept on our lanai and had never gazed upon a crate. Unfortunately, to get him to CA required that he spend hours in a crate. He is such a good dog we just couldn’t leave him behind. It was almost impossible to get the 48” crate the county insisted he be in. He had to be able to stand and turn around or it was a no go. After a number of attempts, the crate finally arrived at our gate. It was quite large.
I started Wally’s crate training months in advance. It didn’t go well. I got as far as putting his daily food inside the back of the crate so he had to cautiously step in, grab it, then back out at warp speed. This went on for months. Medication was the answer! So we had it on hand when the time came. Kyler helped get Pat, Wally, and four pieces of luggage to the Kailua-Kona airport. As he was trying to check in, he was informed that the crate was too big! I will give the Reader’s Digest version of what happened over the next few hours. Pat’s luggage made the flight but he and Wally didn’t. They all went home. The next day, they swung by the vet’s office, switched out the new and expensive crate for a smaller, very used version, and poor Wally was stuffed into the crate where he stayed for about eight hours. At the San Diego airport, he was wheeled out, Pat got his luggage out of the designated storage locker, we hefted the crate, with dog, into the back of our rental, opened the door so Wally could finally get out, no potty bread due to unsafe conditions, and headed out on a three-hour drive to Big Bear. Home sweet home! Wally survived but has yet to get into a vehicle of any size or description! And it is safe to say he will never fly the friendly skies again.
My indoor female orange tabby, Makai, (Hawaiian translation is seaward), got to fly with me First Class! That was a first for both of us. I felt a bit guilty that Pat didn’t get to enjoy the experience, but after using my points there weren’t enough left for him. Am I a bad wifey? She had to have a chip inserted, I felt really bad about that too! But I found a very cool small animal carrier with removable wheels. This allowed me to roll her quickly and efficiently through the airports. The only snag came when they insisted she be removed from her “comfort zone” so the carrier could be inspected. We were ushered into the family bathroom for the inspection. She did fine. Meds for her as well.
The amazing thing about flying First Class is not only the leg room, but sitting in an aisle with only two seats and space on the floor between those seats for the storage of one slightly medicated kitty. Oh, and the free flowing champagne, tasty meal, and leather seats. I passed out soon after take off!
In hindsight, is there anything I would have done differently? Yes!!! My horse, Palmer, should have started on electrolytes about three days prior to take off, during the time he wasn’t with me, and about three days after arriving in Big Bear. The stress of the travel depleted him of salts and minerals. It took me a day to realize he was struggling. But a quick trip to the feed store solved the problem, and in two days he was doing just fine.
You have probably heard the saying that if you decide to build a home it will take twice as long and cost twice as much. I know this to be true…we built a wonderful home on one acre in Big Bear. But, in truth, when moving from Hawaii to the mainland, it will most likely cost you three times as much, and take an equal amount of time and energy! But, hang in there…if you have to leave paradise you will make it, one step at a time.
Home Sweet Home
