Your Name (if you would like it to appear):

  Regan McDonald

Base Name:

  Wheeler Army Air Field/Schofield Barracks

Base Location:

  Oahu, Hawaii

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present)

  July 2007 - Present

What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy?

  Housing on Schofield is really nice.  Depending on where you are assigned, you may be in brand new housing.  The Wheeler housing is historical, but well-maintained.  The wait list is 2-3 weeks.  The housing office is nice, but you kind-of need to keep on top of them.  It doesn’t hurt to stop by once a week to check on your status.  www.armyhawaiifamilyhousing.com

 Off post, stay in the Mililani area or live on post.  Traffic is so bad, that being 10 minutes away can actually take an hour to get to and from post.  There is an affordable housing area that used to be a military base in Ewa Beach (pronounced Evva) but with traffic it can easily be 45 min. from post.  Waianae and Waimanalo are tough areas, and so is Wahiawa (housing-wise only).

 No matter where you live, you will have little critters.  It’s a way of life on an Island since there is no winter to kill the bugs.  There are geckos (which eat ants and are not a real nuisance), roaches and centipedes.  The centipedes are huge and leave enormous welts on your skin.  Avoid them and wet areas where they live.  By keeping my food in Tupperware and keeping my kitchen clean, I don’t have any problems with bugs at all.

Rate the PX & Commissary.

  Both are new and really nice!  The NEX in Pearl Harbor is amazing and their commissary is awesome!  Produce here is AWFUL so plan on looking around for a really good farmers market.

Activities on base?

  TONS!  The Oktoberfest at Hale Koa (in September) is a must see!  You have to buy your tickets well in advance, but it’s worth the $10!  The spouses club on Schofield is very active and the monthly lunch is really fun.  www.huionawahine.com There are near-monthly events on post for one reason or another.  You just have to step out and attend!  Everyone is very friendly.

Active Spouses Club?

  www.huiohawahine.com  The club is really fun and a has a great turnout at the monthly luncheon.  On average, there are over 100 women in attendance each month!

Things to do in area?

  So much!  The key with Hawaii is to space out your sightseeing so that you always have something new to do.  There is amazing shopping here and obviously the beach!  Be careful of the surf though.  Soldiers are injured often from surfing and people die from hitting the rocks or coral while surfing.  If you want to surf and you are not a pro, DO NOT surf North Shore!  Try out the calmer waves in Waikiki until you get the hang of things. 

School System?

  No kids, but I hear it’s a little lacking.

Any colleges in area?

  University of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University and Brigham Young University…  I think there are others.

Jobs? (on post and off)

  I had no problem finding a job.  The pay is good too.  I went around to a couple retail places and had several interviews right away.  Don’t bother applying before you get here though.  They won’t call you if you have an out of state address/phone number.  Guess they get a lot of people fishing!  J

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?

  The people here are so nice.  You will hear other things, but as in any other city you are treated the way you treat others.  You will hear that people call us Haoles (HOW-lees), but that just means “white” in Hawaiian.  I really enjoy the people here.  The Hawaiians are giving people and they know how to cook!  J 

Least favorite aspect?

  It’s hard to find restaurants here.  It sounds trivial, but if you like to eat out, it’s hard to find “comfort food”.  There is a Ruby Tuesdays and Chilis and Outback, but everything else is foreign.  Sometimes you just want something familiar.  Also, it is very expensive here.  The first time you try a grocery other than the commissary, you will be floored at the prices.  Half-gallons of ice cream were over $7 and milk was $8 a gallon!  But on post, the commissary prices are comparable to the states.

Local websites? (base, chamber, newspaper, schools, etc.)

  www.mwrarmyhawaii.com and the others listed in above.

Any other tips?

 You may hear negative things about Wahiawa (WAH-hee-wah), but there are some great places to eat there and for the most part it’s just fine.  I wouldn’t walk around there are night, but if you use common sense, you are fine.  Try Maui Mike’s for great chicken, and Koa Pancake House has GREAT cheap breakfasts!!  They are AWESOME!

 Beware of the tent people.  There are people groups that live in tents on the beach.  They often have pit-bulls and other guard dogs to keep their area safe from theft.  They live there full-time and though they are not dangerous, they want to be left alone and it’s best to do just that.  They believe it is their sovereign right to live on the land and do not like tourists or people they perceive to be tourists who damage the beach.

 Get out there are have some fun!  Meet people and don’t be afraid to try new things!  Though Hawaii is a part of the U.S., it is very different and is a great chance to experience culture!  Take advantage of the MWR and the great pricing.  Enjoy every moment!