Hawaii.. thrift stores, video games, etc..

[yuppicide]

Anyone here live in Hawaii?! The Big Island even?! I'm moving out there in a year or two. We're going out in April to look at some pre-built houses, some brand new ones we'd get custom built, and some land.

Do you know of any cool video game places I can visit or thrift shops?!
Does Hawaii have any arcades or places I can buy arcade machines?!

My Mom's Husband's Sister is retiring from the United Nations. She gets $200,000 cash tax free for retirement, and $35,000 a year to live on for the rest of her life. She also has a ton of money saved up. We're looking to get a house between $200-$240,000.

You know I'm going to hook it up video game stylee. Here's one of the floorplans we're considering:

http://www.hpm-hawaii.com/MaluhiaFP.htm

It's just over 1800 square feet. Where the living room meets dining room in that L shape. I'm thinking a bar with a MAME cabinet on it with a swivel base, My room would be the "study" which we'd extend out a little. A few video games/pinballs spread throughout the house where I'm allowed, but most probably in the garage with my drum set. My bedroom is where all my classic systems and crap would go.

[Qixmaster]

not sure if anyone here is from hawaii or not.... odd.

anyways, the only gaming info i can give you about hawaii is that i bought my copy of tengen tetris from a seller who lived there... so there has got to be some good stuff.

-Josh

[JohnnyA]

I was on the big island for vacation 2 years ago. I didn't exactly scour the place, especially since I wasn't as big into games as I am now, but I did a little poking around. I think your best bet would be Hilo since it's one of the larger areas. I didn't see much in Kona, where I spent most of my time. The nice thing is that there is a lot of Japanese influence there. When I was in the used book store, they had a large Japanese section, so there may be a larger import selection there as far as video games are concerned as well. Regardless, it's a cool place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there :)

[mosesshirai]

Anyone here live in Hawaii?!

Yup. I live in Honolulu on the island of Oahu. I think I might have gotten a PM from you at one time, sorry I didn't respond. So here is what I do know.

There are at least two Gamestops on the Island of Hawaii(Big Island) one in Hilo and one in Kona. There also is a Costco I believe, and a Walmart. I'm not too sure of local gamestores, and if Blockbuster has put in Gamerush on that island(we just got them here in Honolulu).

Honolulu is home to toysnjoys which has gotten a few posts here at digitpress. They are a solid importer from JPN and carry most everything you can imagine. Check out their website: http://www.toysnjoys.com

I grew up on the Big Island and love it there. But my work is here on Oahu. Oh yeah arcades: Fun Factory is also on the big island I'm just not too sure where. So far I am the only regular poster I see on DP from HI, but I'm sure I saw a couple members on a list somewhere on the site.

Hope this was helpful. If you want more info just PM me. I promise to respond this time :D :D :D

[yuppicide]

Appreciate all the help. Yeah, I PM'd you and you never answered hehehe. Guess I can stop thinking "bastard" now, eh?!

I definately don't want Gamestop or anything like it. I hate those stores! I like the local ones, so I'm gonna do some hunting while I'm out there hopefully. I particularly like classics and hard to find stuff and multicarts with shitloads of different games.

When I go out in April for 2 weeks we're gonna be all over the big island and hopefully we'll put a bid in on a house or get one custom built.

Since Hawaii is pretty close to Japan (like 6 hours maybe?) I hear a lot of them vacation in Honolulu. If I knew someone that speaks Japanese, I'd LOOOVE to take a trip to Japan and import a lot of stuff.

[mauigamer]

My Mom's Husband's Sister is retiring from the United Nations. She gets $200,000 cash tax free for retirement, and $35,000 a year to live on for the rest of her life. She also has a ton of money saved up. We're looking to get a house between $200-$240,000.

You know I'm going to hook it up video game stylee. Here's one of the floorplans we're considering:

http://www.hpm-hawaii.com/MaluhiaFP.htm

It's just over 1800 square feet. Where the living room meets dining room in that L shape. I'm thinking a bar with a MAME cabinet on it with a swivel base, My room would be the "study" which we'd extend out a little. A few video games/pinballs spread throughout the house where I'm allowed, but most probably in the garage with my drum set. My bedroom is where all my classic systems and crap would go.


The big island has no place to buy arcade machines. Aprox shipping of arcade and pinball machines to hawaii would be $400-500 with insurance. The Big Island has two Costco's and Two Walmarts as well as a couple of gamestops. If your looking for rare or out of print games you will have little or NO luck..
Your also not going to buy land and build a house of that size for anywhere near $200thousand unless your buying the cheap land directly underneath the volcano. A house that size (including land) will run you $350-$400thousand dollars. The Big Island has the cheapest housing prices of all the major islands. Oahu, Maui and Kauai are quite a bit more expensive. You should also be aware that 70 percent of all peopel who move to the hawaiian islands don't make it one year and 91 percent don't make it 5. Its the closest thing to moving to a foreign county and still living in the United States. I suggest your Moms, husbands sister do some serious research before moving to the islands.

[mauigamer]

Regardless, it's a cool place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there

Just curious where you live? And why you wouldnt want to live here?

[Lord Contaminous]

Heh I had a friend from Kanehoe that was so fed up with the American Game Industry that he sold his entire American collection and made frequent trips to Japan and went the import way.

That's how I got a free loose DBZ: Hyper Dimension from him.