Opportunity to work in the Hawaiian Islands. Help of the Russian-speaking community. The island doesn't let the bad guys in

Everything in my life came together like a puzzle. My childhood dream of moving to the United States for permanent residence has come true. At 38, I was able to move to the US and later to Hawaii. This year will be 11 years since I emigrated, and 5 years since I received American citizenship.

How I went to live in America: the beginning of the journey

The last government project to provide asylum in the US to the persecuted Protestants and Baptists of the USSR was coming to an end. By this time, my grandmother, my uncle and his family were living in the States, and my father and stepmother were applying for a visa.

The likelihood of obtaining a visa was minimal. For example, the father was refused again, because the embassy took his marriage as fictitious (the wife was 18 years younger).

I had problems with work and housing in my homeland. However, at the interview everything went like clockwork and I answered all the questions.

After some time, I was informed that I can draw up documents. Joy knew no bounds, but funds, of course, were not enough. I borrowed $700 from my grandmother (she received a decent pension in the States by our standards) and started preparing for the move. Uncle from across the ocean led the process.

When the day of departure came, my older brother accompanied me to Borispol. We knew that this might be the last time we saw each other.

The plane flew through Munich and 12 hours of flight and landing in the USA flew by unnoticed.

My uncle met me in Washington. He had a great car, we quickly drove to California, Sacramento, where my relatives lived. But most importantly, a large Russian-speaking dynasty of immigrants from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine settled there.

I counted on their help, because in Sacramento, where I was going to live, I did not have my own housing. And the settlers were offered only budget places in hotels or social housing.

My family met me at the airport and helped me settle in Sacramento.

Life in America: from the airport to work

At first, my uncle took me in. On my second day in Sacramento, I found a job. Unskilled, related to construction, but work - $ 10 per hour (there are simply no other downward rates in America).

Life took its course. Soon I entered into a civil marriage and moved to Marina (that was the name of my civil wife, a parishioner of the church and a widow with many children).

It is very easy to find a job in places where the Russian-speaking population is concentrated. Entire construction teams and companies work there. If you are not a quitter and not a lazy person, it is easy to get a job there, and most importantly, to get a decent salary.

Each Protestant family (I talked in most cases with parishioners of the local church) had 2-3 cars, and in Ukraine such models cost from 30 thousand dollars. Here - no more than 3 thousand dollars. There was something to strive for.

About a month after my arrival, I saw a decent Mercedes on the side of the road, with the inscription "Sale" on the windshield and the price - $ 300. I had accumulated such an amount and I became the owner of the car that I had dreamed of all my life.

Already on the second day of my life in the USA, I got a job and received $ 10 an hour.

Obtaining American Citizenship

So 5 years have passed. Every Wednesday and Sunday I went to church services, and one day the pastor offered me a conversation.

Then he invited me to participate in several programs to teach English and "US history". Without decent progress in these areas, it would be more difficult to pass the exam and become an American citizen.

Of course, I enthusiastically set to work. Along the way, I completed all the necessary formalities, submitted documents to obtain citizenship.

In addition to knowing English and the history of the country, I worked and had housing (according to the laws, a common-law husband was considered to have housing if he lived with his wife in the same house for more than a year).

All this was taken into account admission committee and examiners. I received coveted citizenship.

After studying in English and the history of the United States I received American citizenship.

Help from the Russian-speaking community

However, not everything was so smooth in my life in America.

Once there was a misfortune. Marina had adult children. One winter, during the Christmas holidays, in one of local cafes there was a showdown between the two companies of young people. As a result of a quarrel, there was a fight, and then a shootout. An eighteen-year-old boy was shot dead.

Marina was very upset by the death of her son. Once, after long prayers, she came to me and said: “It was God who punished me for living with you in a civil marriage. I decided that it was impossible to pray for such a sin. But I'll try to save my soul. We should split up".

It was a huge blow, for a long time I could not come to my senses, find solace. For two years I wandered around shelters, friends, social organizations providing temporary housing. All this time I went to church every day.

Sacramento - Big city. But the diaspora is quite compact. Many people live for 10-20 years in the States. By that time I had already lived for more than 6 years. I was not left alone with the misfortune. Someone supervised my stay here all the time.

One day, after another sermon, the pastor met with me again. We talked for a long time, I felt that I had an incentive to live again. I made a call to America for my daughter and a year later she came to Sacramento.

In the same year, I met my fate - Paradise, we signed and got married. They all began to live together - me, my daughter and Raechka.

Not everything went smoothly at first, but I found the strength to endure adversity, invited my daughter to my place, met a wonderful woman.

A little time passed and my father died in my homeland, in Ukraine. My brother sent me a part of my inheritance six months later - 5500 dollars.

By chance, in the same church, I met a realtor who sells land, including in Hawaii (this is the 50th state of the USA).

We have already vacationed in Hawaii 2 times as a family, and I perfectly understood what kind of place it was and how good it was there. We talked, he said, it was possible to find a plot there at such a price.

We started making a deal right after we flew to Hawaii, to the area of ​​that part of the island where inexpensive plots were being sold. I chose a place that I really liked. It is on a mountain and the blue ocean is clearly visible from it.

I immediately imagined my house "with a view of the sea." “Yes, this is what I need!” I thought.

Your home in America

Why did I want my house? For several reasons.

• First, I really want my brother to come to live with me.
• Secondly, big house in Hawaii is an opportunity to rent rooms to tourists.
• Thirdly, the house can always be well and profitably sold.
• Fourthly, living in Hawaii is a reality, not a fairy tale, although all this is very similar to a fairy tale.

“How can I do all this?” I thought. It turned out that America is a country where every dream comes true.

At sales in Sacramento, I began to buy building materials. Sold my cars and bought a lot more.

Life in Hawaii is a fairy tale turned into reality.

Once a realtor told me that in the house he was selling, the buyer did not want to have a built-in kitchen and bathroom, and also changed the double-glazed windows. He gave all this for free, for the fact that I carried out the dismantling.

Little by little, in the yard of our house, another house began to grow in the form of building materials. I realized that I could go to the islands, to my land, which I had already bought by that time.

Moving to a fairy tale

Raya could not fly with me, she worked at the post office. By that time, her daughter had settled in New York, she studied at the university.

I flew to Hawaii alone. Work was also found instantly on the island. While I was getting used to it, a container arrived (shipping all the building materials cost $300). Boiled work.

And here we found friends and helpers, just like in Sacramento, because our Church worked successfully here too. Today the house is 85% complete. There is a generator solar panels, for water I go to the "mainland" in the village.

I have 3 cars again - all Mercedes. I'm still not used to the fact that it's always summer and hot here. I'm not a Haitian yet, but I'm trying to be.

Raya will arrive soon, in Sacramento last year there was a wave of layoffs and she, as a person of pre-retirement age, was among the first to be fired. Now she has nothing to hold on to.

If you decide to live permanently in Hawaii, then most likely you have a lot of questions in your head that you would like to receive answers to before moving. Since we ourselves live in Hawaii and know a lot about life here, we will try to answer the most common questions.

Which island should I move to?

You should look for the answer to this question yourself, we can only help you useful information and advice. First, it is desirable (if you can afford it) that you first just come to rest in Hawaii. After exploring the island on your own, it will be much easier for you to decide where it is more pleasant and comfortable for you to be. life for everyone islands goes in different ways, just as prices, wages and job availability vary.

If you decide to settle on Oahu, then you should remember that this is the most inhabited island. We recommend that you arrange accommodation in advance so that this issue does not bother you when you arrive, and you can explore the surroundings calmly from the very beginning. Best time for moving - from January to May and from September to November. During these months, there are fewer tourists on the island, and, therefore, it will be easier for you to book a plane ticket, rent a car and find accommodation for the first time. Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are home to less people, and life here may seem like a paradise for those who do not like big cities.

What to bring?

Personal items: We recommend that you bring as little personal items as possible. In Hawaii, you can find apartments with all the necessary amenities: that is, you do not need to bring kitchen utensils, cutlery, furniture, and the like. Take only things and clothes that are dear to you. You will need a T-shirt, shorts, a light jacket and jeans. If you need more clothes, then on the islands you can always buy it at an affordable price.

Be sure to check that you have taken all the necessary personal documents, as well as the necessary papers, medical records, prescriptions for medicines, etc. For complete safety, place all documents in hand luggage, which will be constantly with you during the move.

If you do have a lot of things that you would like to grab, then you can ask friends to send some of your things by mail: in this regard, the USPS (United States Postal Service) is available, convenient and reliable. It usually takes 3-4 weeks for shipping from the US mainland to Hawaii.

You can transport a car from the mainland to the islands on the ship of the Matson Navigation company. The cost of transportation is about $ 1000 for a passenger car. Rates may be higher if the car is larger than the standard 6.6(length)x2.5(width)x2.10(height) or if you want to move your motorhome.

Please be aware that rates and conditions of carriage are subject to change. Visit the company website (http://www.matson.com) for the latest information.

Plants can be transported to Hawaii only after inspection. If you would like to bring plants with you, please contact the USDA at: Animal and Plant Health Insurance Service, Terminal Box 57, Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 for more information on this subject.

Hawaii has very strict restrictions on the importation of pets. If you would like to take your pet with you, please contact the Animal Guarantee Section at least 4 months before your intended move-in date, who will provide you with necessary information and instructions. You can learn more about this at: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa

Housing

The cost of renting on the islands is much higher than on the continental United States. Depending on the area, a studio apartment on Oahu can cost you $700 - $1,200 per month, while renting a one-bedroom apartment or house starts at $1,500 per month. The most expensive area on Oahu is Waikiki, where a studio apartment will set you back $1,600 monthly. And keep in mind that rents are constantly going up.

Despite the fact that 90% of all food items are shipped to Hawaii, you can find groceries for quite a few affordable prices at Costco, Wal Mart and Sam's Club stores. In some supermarkets, you can also stumble upon products at discount prices. A good decision in Hawaii would be to buy exactly those products that are sold at discount prices, and not those that you most often prefer.If you prefer to eat in a cafe, then this can cost you a lot: breakfast $4-7, lunch $5-10 and dinner $12-30.

The cost of real estate in Hawaii is also higher than in the rest of the US.

Life in the Waikiki area

The Waikiki area is fairly well known among tourists and most of the buildings in the area are hotels. The location is quite convenient: not far from Waikiki is the actual Waikiki beach and Diamond Head mountain, and if you also like to hang out, you will definitely like Waikiki. The Waikiki area has it all: nightclubs, restaurants, exhibitions, bars and much more. The only drawback is the lack of food stores: there is only one here, which is also very expensive. You can also find products in ABC stores, but here the prices are not lower. But these shops are very easy to find, since there are several of them in the area.

Transport

Oahu is the only island, where there is public transport. The bus is quite comfortable and affordable way drive around the island. There are also routes that go to any part of the island of Oahu. For further information on ticket prices, timetables and routes, please visit www.thebus.org.

Please be aware that there is no public transportation on Maui, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island.

Taxis are available on all islands of Hawaii.

Traffic jams are one of Oahu's problems. Rush hour is from 6 am to 8 am and from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Lack of parking is unfortunately also one of Oahu's problems. If you work downtown or in the Waikiki area and your company does not have a parking space, we strongly advise you to rent a place at once for a month with a subsequent monthly renewal.

I really liked Hawaii, yes and no, I think, a person who wouldn’t fit Hawaii directly. A paradise place - everyone knows :) Pleasant weather, beautiful ocean, incredible nature, surfing - what else is needed for happiness? And since I have been asked more than once to tell my opinion about Hawaii, and compare it with Bali, I will talk about those things that I personally liked in Hawaii the most - especially compared to Bali.

But now you need a disclaimer. These notes are my point of view on Hawaii, and more specifically on one Hawaiian island of Oahu and the main surf area there - on the North Shore, and this is not the point of view of a typical tourist. I will not tell you what five attractions or beaches I liked there. Since I live in Bali and you will not surprise me with a tropical picture of an island in the ocean, I will rather talk about general impression from the place - as if I lived there. But reading, of course, will be interesting for those who are going to Hawaii as a tourist.

1 Hawaii is a very green island

This is the first thing that caught my eye as soon as we moved out of the airport on the North Shore. It feels like Hawaii is much greener than Bali, or rather North Shore is much greener than Changu or Bukit! And everything seems to be the same - the ocean, beaches, tropical vegetation - yes, Bali has it all, but in Hawaii everything seems to scream to you, hey, look how green and natural and beautiful we are.

I remember how I shared this feeling on Instagram and everyone immediately asked, oh well, is it really greener than Bali ?! Feelings - yes.

For those who come to Bali for a short time and really explore the island - with volcanoes, waterfalls, lakes, jungles and rice fields, for those, I would say that in terms of nature and the surrounding pictures, Bali is more beautiful and more diverse than Oahu. But when you live in Bali, you don’t travel inland, but move mainly in the southern part of Bali, inhabited by expats, and there is not enough greenery or too much development, and this loses the feeling of nature.

Things are different on the North Shore. If you compare the North Shore with Bukit, then my dear Bukit loses a lot in places. The North Shore is many times greener and more picturesque and more spacious in terms of nature. Perhaps five years ago, Bukite could still be compared with him, but now no longer. The story is the same with Canggu: in terms of the scale of development, now he is also losing to the North Shore. The North Shore is more spacious and somehow easier to breathe there. In the south of Bali, the feeling of closeness to nature has become somehow strongly missed? And in Hawaii there is so much greenery and untouchedness so far. Where in Bali they would have already stuck another M-market or put up a sidewalk with warungs, in Hawaii there are still untouched nature. (But in terms of tourism, Bali is by nature in no way inferior to Hawaii, and in some ways even more interesting.)

IN general nature in Hawaii conquered my heart, although it seemed to me that after Bali nothing would surprise me anymore!

2 Civilization, hooray!

There are pros and cons to Hawaii being part of America. Of the pluses, this is that despite all the relaxation of the island-aloha-life, there is some kind of order in everything. About five or seven years ago, I associated this order with boredom (everything is too sleek!) And I always preferred this carelessness and trashiness of third world countries (hence my passion for places like Dahab or Bali).

But after a long life in Southeast Asia, this constant negligence starts to get tired. (Or does age take its toll, gygy?) I want order. I want to go by car and be sure that other participants traffic They won't act like it's the last day of their lives. I would like to know that if it says “fine for inappropriate garbage”, then no one really will throw a piece of paper past the trash can. I want everything to be clean and tidy. Well, and so on. Therefore, staying in Hawaii was like a balm for my soul, tired of the Asian mess and chaos :)

But of course, any rules have their drawbacks. And American insanity. For example, when there are so many rules that they interfere with life. (A couple of these disturbing American rules: in Los Angeles, you can’t take a dog to the beach, even on a leash; in San Francisco, you can’t take a dog into the woods.) In Hawaii, for example, it is very difficult to find housing where pets are allowed. Therefore, to be honest, I still don’t understand, my delight in the order that Oahu aroused in me - is this a temporary effect after Bali? And if you stay here longer, will you want to go back to the mess and permissiveness South-East Asia, because it is much closer to us Russians than the American order?

Or this moment. In the same Bali, all those who are somehow trying to earn money without a work visa ( foreigners must open a legal entity and get an expensive work visa), are terribly afraid that they will be covered by the Immigration office and will have to pay a bribe so as not to be deported. But in Bali, at least the size of this bribe is clear. In Hawaii, of course, no bribe will work. You can’t just go here and teach students how to surf, for this you need to obtain all sorts of permits and licenses for the right to teach, plus have the right to work in the USA. It is more difficult to be an illegal immigrant in Hawaii, the island is small :)

Well, one of the main disadvantages of civilization is the price. horse prices. We Balinese expats constantly complain among ourselves about “how Bali is no longer the same and everything is expensive”, but for now, in Bali, you can find ways to live cheaply. It is cheap to rent a scooter and find an option with relatively inexpensive accommodation. Well, food - if there are no special claims to food - then you can eat cheaply in local eateries. Nothing is cheap in Hawaii. The cheapest accommodation we found during our stay was a room in a large guest house, for $80 per day (!). Food: On the North Shore, almost everyone eats in food trucks, which is $10-14 for a serving of food. Well, of course, you can’t rent a scooter for $50 a month. These are prices for tourists, but living in Hawaii is also very expensive, rooms closer to the surf spots cost from $900 per month. Rooms! With a budget of $ 1500-2000 per month there is nothing special to do there :-/ (And in Bali it is quite possible to live on this money)

So from the point of view of both tourism and life, Bali is much cheaper, and for the same money as in Hawaii, in Bali you can feel like a king.

3 Peace and quiet

Another thing that pleasantly struck me on the northern coast of Hawaii is the peace and quiet. Although for some reason I imagined the Hawaiian surf mecca North Shore as something similar to our crazy Kuta, but North Shore turned out to be absolutely opposite, it doesn’t even look like Bukit! (Bukit compared to North Shore is a mega move :)

There is absolutely nothing going on here besides surfing. In the evenings, everything here dies out. No funky nightclubs like Legian, no crazy Sunday parties like Single Fin. North Shore - the very silence and tranquility after sunset. Here everything is ruled by surf mode: go to bed early, get up at dawn, daytime sleep, and then ride again in the afternoon or at sunset, that's all life. There is nowhere to go especially in the evening, and there are only a couple of restaurants, for dinner everyone just stocks up on food in Foodland or in one of the food trucks. It's rather boring for tourists, there is absolutely nothing to do on the North Shore, especially when there are no waves or it's raining. (All the action is only in the city, in Honolulu and in Waikiki, if you are a tourist, then it is better to settle there).

In general, North Shore is a dacha. Everyone who lives in Canggu and Bukit seems boring, the North Shore will not like it all the more. But it was precisely this “dachaness” that I liked there (after all, it definitely takes age, ahaha). No traffic jams for you (more precisely, there are traffic jams only when you swell and drive past the Pipeline). And also no crowds of tourists, no motobikes buzzing around and people scurrying about. Quiet and quiet life, cook food at home, surf and go about your business (for example, you grow tomatoes in the garden). Almost a hermitage, but still there are people. And there is surfing, but what else is needed for happiness? Perfect. If I lived there.

But at some point, even we got bored on the North Shore to visit, when there weren’t really four waves for a day.

4 weather

After hot Bali, the island of Oahu seemed like a real paradise to me! Everything seems to be the same as in Bali, but the weather is so pleasant and not as stuffy and humid as in Bali. Rather like Bali in July-August. When it's cool and the breezes blow. When in the evening you can wear jeans and sneakers and not mate in them. And in the morning on the way to the spot, I want to wear a sweatshirt. True, you also have to ride at dawn in a short summer wetsuit. But if this is a payment for a pleasant air temperature, then more cold water I am ready to endure. I like the fact that globally there is summer all the time, but you can alternate light summer clothes with a warmer one - pants, sweaters, closed shoes, etc.!

There are also rains here, like in Bali, but some of them are more soulful, plus almost all of them are with a rainbow. Hawaii is called the Rainbow State in America (rainbow state) and this is not just a figurative expression, you see a rainbow there almost every day. And one day I saw a rainbow 7 times in a row! Probably, when you live in Hawaii for a long time, you don’t attach any importance to this, but when you were there for a short time, like us, you rejoice at every rainbow like a child, even if it’s the 20th rainbow during your stay :)

And a separate bonus that only those living in Bali will understand: there is no such humidity in the air, which means there is no mold in the rooms! It's just a holiday.

5 Eco-approach

Well, and most importantly, what absolutely won my heart in Hawaii (and what tourists probably don’t care about so much) is a responsible approach to environment. I love seeing Hawaii so green, so clean place, where a lot of shouting that they care about the environment. There are no plastic bags in stores; the packaging of many drinks is made of glass (which means it gets recycled); when ordering takeaway, recycled paper packaging; there is a waste separation and an organic waste composting system. And everywhere is clean! There is no rubbish lying around!

Bali lacks all this: (But there is a feeling that the Bali / Indonesian authorities are not too worried that the island will soon turn into a garbage dump. Hawaii used to be dirtier (at least that's what Noi, who spent part of his childhood there) says), but for last years A lot has changed and continues to change for the better. This is great!

I literally imagine myself as a Hawaiian in a small house with a large garden: separate garbage, continue my compost epic, grow food in my own garden, and do everything in order to keep the island green for as long as possible.

Therefore, it is especially nice to see that the North Shore no longer has such a wild development as in Bali (especially those meaningless concrete boxes like in Bukit!). Almost all the houses on the North shore are wooden, fit into surrounding nature. No one is trying to cut down all the trees to put up another stupid villa or build a hundred-hundredth mini-market like in Bali. In general, in this sense, the advantages of civilization and developed country on the face.

6 Surfing

For a very long time I dreamed of at least one glimpse of the surf world of Hawaii. Surf these legendary waves for at least one day! And so I finally got here. And when I caught my first wave in Hawaii, the first thing I thought was how good it is that I was in Hawaii now, and not before.

Surfing in Hawaii is cool when you have an advanced (or at least very thorough) level of surfing. Because when you swim up to the lineup, you find yourself surrounded by people who are good or very good surfers – much better than you, for the most part. So you have to understand what you are doing on this lineup and how to catch a wave here. It is not customary to drop or violate the rules of priority or safety (this is not Bali :). And the waves are not very simple. Part of the days we basically couldn't surf, because everywhere, even on the simplest spots, there were too many waves in terms of size - this is normal for the North Shore in winter. Well, is it better not to remember about the number of people at popular spots? In general, after Hawaii, Uluwatu will never seem to me like a spot where there are a lot of people or where it is difficult to catch a wave :)

For anyone new to surfing or surfing recently, there isn't much to do on the North Shore. There are few chances to ride, and knowing the love of Russian surfers for violating the priority rules (“oh, I didn’t see you, sorry” or “okay, I didn’t bother you much”, etc.), I think showdowns with hot local guys are inevitable. Everything here is very strict!

And I've always been told how rougher, harder and more powerful the waves are in Hawaii, even compared to Bali. And it is true. In a week, there were three incidents on only one Piplane, when people almost died. One was barely pumped out and he was lucky that he did not have time to drown; the second had a serious concussion, and the third broke his hip bone in two places and for several months in a wheelchair. And all three are professional surfers, some of the best in the world, and not random passers-by? Is three such cases in a week a serious indicator?

In general, Hawaii has never perfect place for the life of an expat surfer: there are many people on lineups, difficult waves and dear life. But you should definitely come and take a look at all this. There's something special about coming to a ripple spot and seeing Bethany Hamilton coming out of the water. Or standing at a pedestrian crossing to see Jack Johnson passing by on a bicycle.

If I could guess where I would like to be born, it would definitely be Hawaii. I like this relaxed approach to life, when absolutely everything is saturated with aloha surf culture!

Maldives or Hawaii- where to go on vacation, which country to choose for paradise vacation in the tropics? It is not so easy to do this, but my article will help you understand such different popular beach resorts. I succeeded several times as well, so now I can tell you how these islands are similar, what is their difference and what you need to know when planning a vacation. How much to fly to Hawaii and the Maldives, how much such a trip will cost and who is suitable for a holiday on bounty islands or volcanic tropical islands. I will also help you understand how best to choose an island and a hotel in all the variety of proposals. Well, for now, let's take a virtual trip to such remote and exotic places as the Maldives and Hawaii.

To begin with, both the Maldives and Hawaii can be called dream places, where you should definitely visit at least once in your life. One way or another, we are all familiar with these tropical ones. Pictures from the Maldives, which many have seen in magazines or advertisements, do not lie. This is exactly the classic image of paradise on earth:, turquoise sea ​​water, white pleasant sand, a palm tree bent over the beach, in a word - a bounty!

The beaches in the Maldives are the best in the world!

And mysterious Hawaii you could see more than once in the TV series "Lost" ( Lost). After all, they were the location for filming many episodes and scenes. This lush tropical vegetation, mountains, volcanoes and, of course, a great variety of beaches suitable for swimming and sunbathing, as well as for surfing and other water sports, simply could not leave you indifferent.

If you have already decided exactly what you want to go to Hawaii, and you need to choose an island and a beach, then I advise you to read my article on how to combine with a lot of practical information.

It is important to know:

• A beach holiday will not disappoint you if you choose Hawaii (for example, a 5* hotel The Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach) or a luxury resort Four Seasons in the Maldives. It is beautiful in both resorts. And the decisive influence on your choice will be what you like to do in your free time from sunbathing.

So, let's start comparing the Maldives and Hawaii!

1. What are these countries and features of recreation in them

• Many tourists do not realize until they start choosing a place to stay that Maldives- it's independent Island state, consisting of a huge number of islands: inhabited local residents with islands completely turned into resort hotels, as well as uninhabited islands. In total, the state includes about 1200 islands, grouped into atolls. Read more.
• Hawaii is a large archipelago, consisting of seven major islands and some smaller ones. All of them belong to the USA and are a separate state. Americans prefer to relax in Hawaii in a rich way, so they plan a trip there on vacation at least a year in advance. Tourists from all over the world also come to Hawaii to enjoy their unique natural beauty and charm. It is considered very prestigious to visit there, and therefore the best Hawaiian hotels in high season are no cheaper than .

2. Do I need a visa

• To visit the Maldives, citizens of almost all countries of the world do not need a visa at all. Upon arrival, they put a stamp allowing you to rest in the country for no more than 30 days. It is quite possible to extend your vacation for some more time. How to do this, read in, which considers in detail all visa situations when visiting the Maldives.
• To visit Hawaii, you need Valid Visa USA. In America by tourist visa you can stay up to 6 months, but this is fraught with subsequent questions at the border at the next entry and when obtaining new visas. In any case, no matter how long your vacation is, an ordinary American visa is enough for you, which is better to do in advance a few months before your trip to America.

3. Location and where is on the map

• The Maldives are close to the equator Indian Ocean close to India and Sri Lanka. Read more.
• Hawaii is located in the northern part Pacific Ocean at west coast USA.

3. How long to fly and how to get there

• There are direct Aeroflot flights from Moscow to the Maldives. lasts 9 hours. You can also fly with transfers, which will also be approximately 12-15 hours, taking into account the time for a transfer in Arab countries, Sri Lanka or Europe. Main airport The Maldives is located on a separate island of Hulule, 2 kilometers from the capital Male.
• There are no direct flights from Russia to Hawaii. From the European part of the country it is easier to fly through big cities USA - New York, Atlanta, Chikako, Seattle, Los Angeles and others. And from the east of Russia, you can fly to Hawaii via Korea. Most of aircraft flies to the island of Oahu and the city of Honolulu. However, there are direct flights from the USA and to other islands - Maui, Big Island. Read more about the flight, which lasts 12 hours. From Los Angeles or any other US city in the west, it takes about 6 hours to fly to Honolulu.

Male is the capital of the Republic of Maldives

4. When to go

• during the winter months: December to April. It's Christmas time and New Year holidays, Valentine's Day and gender holidays on February 23 and March 8. At other times, the southwest wet monsoon reigns here. Read the detailed article:
• And it is best to go to Hawaii in the summer - from June to September. Keep in mind that in America this is the time of mass vacations, so look for cheap flights in advance on the website Aviasales.

5. Features of culture

• The Maldives is a Muslim country in which all tourists are allowed to relax as they are used to only on the territory of resorts. Being outside of them is a must. For example, vacationers on inexpensive island villages (for example, on) are extremely upset by the dry law in the Maldives. However, this does not apply to tourists in resorts, because there you can walk in a bikini.
• The Hawaiian Islands, although part of the United States, are proud of their local Polynesian culture. Hula dances, the gentle ukulele giant singer Israel and his unforgettable voice, the ancient belief in the volcano goddess Pele - all this is not forgotten and intertwined with modernity. Watching evening shows and dancing is extremely interesting. and if you like outdoor activities, then do not forget that to travel around the island it is better to immediately rent a car at the airport, having previously booked on the website rentalcars.

Developed infrastructure of Hawaii

6. Prices

• Which is more expensive - Hawaii or the Maldives? The answer depends on the choice of island. The Maldives has great islands with very low prices, where the average the cost of one day of rest for two is about 200-300 dollars(For example, Kurumba And baros). distant islands like a hotel Four Seasons they are much more expensive, but the comfort and service there are simply prohibitive-cosmic. The total cost of a holiday in the Maldives consists of the price of air tickets, hotel accommodation, meals in restaurants, excursions, additional services like massages and spas, as well as transfers to the hotel. Prices for boat, seaplane or flight domestic airlines differ greatly. To simplify, I will say that a week budget holiday in the Maldives with a flight will cost about $1500-2000 , and for a week and a half in the resort "" you will have to pay at least $3500 . luxury worth $5000-10000 .
• In Hawaii, things are different. A fairly expensive flight to Honolulu or other islands and serious prices for decent hotels will definitely say that a luxury vacation in Hawaii will be a little more expensive, because prices for a double room start from $250-300 per day if booked in advance (look for an example of good 5-star hotels Halekulani or The Royal Hawaiian on the island of Oahu). Like an average hotel Hilton Garden Inn can also be found for $150 but don't expect luxury service there. Therefore, if we talk about inexpensive way to relax in Hawaii, you will have to sacrifice the quality of services and the comfort of living.

7. What money to take with you and how much

• The official currency of the Maldives is rufiyaa. However, in the Maldives, as in Cambodia, two currencies are in use: local rufiyaas, as well as U.S. dollars. Tourists for all services can easily pay in dollars, both in cash and bank card. In the capital, you can pay with dollars everywhere, and get change for local currency at the normal rate. Almost no one pays in cash, and the general bill is usually issued at the end of the holiday, which is easier to pay with your credit card. Therefore, on a trip to the Maldives, in addition to money for card account, take a minimum of cash to pay for souvenirs and any small expenses, a few hundred US dollars will be enough. Read more about money and prices in the Maldives.
• You must bring cash to Hawaii U.S. dollars for petty expenses and bank card(preferably dollar). You can pay with cash in cafes and restaurants, but in taxis they accept payment only with a card. Hotels don't like to accept big cash either, so credit card you will definitely come in handy, including for renting a car. Read about features and prices, as well as how to pay a tip.

8. Things to do while on vacation

There is another very important difference between giants. beach tourism Maldives and Hawaii.

• People go to the Maldives mainly for two reasons: to relax on the beach, along the coast or go diving. The small size of the island-hotel and the relaxed atmosphere plunge you into a sweet slumber, and you just want to relax in the Maldives. And sometimes have fun, try yourself in different aquatic activities sports, go boating, ride desert island to the picnic, . It's still relaxing. And only experienced divers really strain in the Maldives. But deserves it! Read more.
• And in Hawaii, you can not only fully explore the island you fly to, but if you wish, you can also fly to neighboring islands! Although tourists usually do not have enough time for this. I really wanted to go to Maui, but I didn’t even have time to see all the most interesting things that it offers. Here you can do trekking dormant volcano, see waterfalls, you can rent a car and ride around the island in search of great beaches, ride a wave on a surf. And also visit military museums (Pearl Harbor),. Night life is also very saturated - clubs and concerts. In general, Hawaii is more suitable for lovers active rest which can be successfully combined with a visit to the beaches.

9. Shopping

• There is no special shopping in the Maldives, you can only talk about relaxation.
• Shopping in Hawaii is just great! I bought here clothes of world brands, excellent souvenirs for gifts and local sweets.

10. Attractions

• We can say that the best attractions in the Maldives are the paradise islands themselves! This is exactly what everyone comes here for. There is no such atmosphere anywhere else in the world.
• But in Hawaii there are a lot of attractions - both natural, cultural and man-made.

Bonus

• If you go to the Maldives, you can also see the monuments ancient culture and tea plantations where the famous

March 14, 2015. This is how it began short period little-known life of the Russian community in the Hawaiian Islands. The history of Russians in Hawaii was researched by. March 1, 2016. Thoughts to settle on paradise island, having arranged their leisure time on the ocean with a diet of fruits and fresh fish, they probably visit.

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