Moms of Single Sailors stationed in Hawaii

[Bran's Mom]

Hi Everyone. My son is on his last leg of A School in Groton to be ET/Com/Radio. Base assigments were made today and it looks like he will be stationed in Hawaii. It will be a couple more weeks before we find out what ship/sub. I have heard a mix of good and bad about this duty station. Any input from those who have family stationed there would be appreciated. Also, he has a car here in Alabama that he is still making payments on. Does the Navy help him get his vehicle there or do we need to start working on getting it sold?

[Joy]

Hi! I am originally from Alabama, but now I live in Pennsylvania. Our son is in the Navy. He has been in Hawaii since February. I will be glad to answer any questions you have. The Navy shipped our son's car. He had to get it to a specific location. His school was in Pensacola so he took his car to New Orleans to be shipped. The Navy will also ship any items that you want moved. Our son had his bicycles and guitars, plus other stuff that the Navy shipped. A company came to our home and packed the stuff up and hauled it away! We got to visit in August and Hawaii is a beautiful beautiful place. Our son is really enjoying it there! :)

[Bran's Mom]

Thanks Joy! Nice to meet you. Brandon is single, and we are not sure yet where he will be housed and what he will be able to have. We moved around the time he went into the Navy and have his belongings packed right now. Also, Christmas is coming up, and we are wondering what we might be able to get him that he will be able to have. Right now he is in Groton, CT at sub A school. His car is still here in Alabama. He has not had any room for any of his personal items there as he shares a room with two roommates. We are wondering if he will need furniture, or if the place he will be housed is furnished. Any info you can give us about the housing for single sailors and what how much room they have would be great. Thanks so much for the help!

[Gloria P.]

Hi Bran's Mom my son is also in Hawaii. He lives in a 2 bedroom apt. He was living by himself since he arrived there in August. He now has a roommate who arrived about a week ago. They have a bed a dresser and desk each. The bathroom and kitchen are shared by both. From what he said its not to small or big just right. This is his barracks so he calls it. Its also 17 stories high, lol. I guess it depends where he's placed. Your son is in Groton so he will be in a submarine for sure. My son is also ET/Com/Radio his boat is the USS Cheyenne you never know he could be on the same boat when he gets assigned. Best to your son.

[Rhonda8881]

My son is on the USS Olympia; he is an ET Nav.

He has been in Hawaii for 2 years now but his boat was in dry dock the first year plus a few months. He really loved the island at the beginning. Going to the beach every week and exploring the island was fun.

He likes it there okay now, but says after a while the island gets sort of small. He has become certified in scuba and has taken great pictures from all over the island. My son is one of those who has to be busy all the time, so the beach and hiking etc. was really good for a while. He has said he would like to go back to visit once he leaves but not to live again. He always tells everyone "when you live in Paradise, it is not the Paradise that you visit".

There are some things that are different there that my son hasn't adapted to, but I think he misses storm chasing the most. That was his favorite pass time before enlisting. He would travel to neighboring states just to track the storms. He has only made somewhat negative comments since he was home to visit last May. I think it just made him homesick. (We live in OK the tornado capital!!!)

He lives in the barracks on the 15th floor (I think). He moved to a new room several months ago. He does not have a room mate. He said the barracks are okay. The only time he doesn't like it is when they have a crew visiting that has to stay there also; then it gets crowded. (The barracks building looks like a luxury hotel from the outside.)

I will be happy to help you in any way I can. It is very exciting for them when they find out where they are going. I wish him well.

P. S. We are going to Hawaii in January and it will be the first visit for all of my family.

[Joy]

Our son lived in the barracks for a while and they were fine. Our son now lives with two other sailors in an awesome townhouse! He definitely lives in paradise. :) The only thing my son doesn't like about Hawaii is that he is not able to fly home for a long weekend. It is just too far. What an exciting adventure for our sailors!

[georganna]

Hi Bran's Mom, It depends on his upbringing. My son is an AF Brat and got stationed in Hawaii around 2 years ago. He was used to moving and setting up home in new countries or states. So it depends if your son has left home much. If he hasn't, it will become an adventure that will be part of his journey while in the Navy. Joe is on a Frigate, the USS Crommelin out to sea and returning soon from his 6 month deployment. He is 24 and bought his first house within a year living there. I was shocked too! Joe joined ROTC during High School and went in when he graduated early. His youngest brother, Johnnie, 22, is in his 2nd week of BC and I just sent off his first letter. He is the son I would of never thought would have gone in the military but the economy was so bad, he joined and will be on subs. Hopefully your son will meet many others that are in the same boat as he is, just arriving and getting used to living in Paradise. I've traveled to Hawaii twice with Cruises and once flew over 30 years ago with the military when I was active. I found it to be a great place to visit but wouldn't want to live there. What some of them say is that its gets old being in paradise and it just becomes an island that can get real small. Hopefully your son has hobbies, will enjoy the beach and hopefully not party too hardy. A lot of young singles get bored and find that an easy pass time. Here is what I do; I leave and trust my boys in God's Care which brings peace to me. I don't hear from them for many months and trust all is well.

[Bran's Mom]

Thanks for the info everyone. With Christmas coming up, we have been trying to decide on presents but didn't know how much they would be able to have if they are stationed in the barracks. He has a few buddies that are going there too and I think they are considering an apt or condo, but that probably won't happen initially. One think he has heard that concerns him is that the locals aren't very friendly to the sailors...anyone found this to be true?

[Rhonda8881]

That seems to be true. But, it is true for any military base, even Groton. The locals don't like the military until they threaten to close the base, then they love all the military because it is their job. But that is not everyone. And there are a lot of military members there. There are other branches of the military in Pearl Harbor also. My son has made friends with members of other branches of the military and a few people who live on the island. He joined a car club and met people that way also.

I think it is the Hawaiian natives that are not as friendly to main-landers. I have a cousin who is Polynesian. She lived on the main land growing up but moved to Hawaii as a grown up because she fit in better. She brought her children to the main land (about 12 yrs ago now). I spoke to her daughter and asked her how she liked it and she said she did not because people treated her like she did not belong here. It is just like here when foreigners move in.

There is a college nearby also, so there are a lot of people from the main land also. He will learn from his fellow sailors where and what to avoid.

[jean]

hi
my son has been there since July of 09 and is enjoying the weather and sights of Pearl Harbor.
Thank goodness for e-mails
He is trying to come home for New Years
He does not have a car but tried to buy one but we said save your money and wait until you go on your first deployment and come back and see about a car.
He goes to the Chapel when he does not have duty and he likes the Chapel for the most part
The food is ok on base but we are from TX and he misses Texas steaks and Texas girls.
Hope this helps and stay with us Navy Moms
hugs and prayers and Thank your sailor for his service.
jean.

[Bran's Mom]

Thanks everyone for the help. So nice to meet all of the Hawaii Mom's. Brandon seems really excited. He has his official orders now. He will graduate on Dec. 18th, leave Groton on the same day and be able to come home for Christmas (He was in boot camp last Christmas and we couldn't even communicate with him). He will report for duty in Hawaii on Jan. 4th and was assigned to the USS La-Jolla. He is ready to get out there and start qualifying for his dolphins.

[jean]

Hi
The quals seem to be much harder than BC
Hope he does well for quals.

hugs to ya'll
jean

[Rhonda8881]

Yes, quals are much harder than BC and Sub School. But, you have to be qualified or "pinned" before you can really contribute. The sailors are hard on the new guys, but only to make them work hard for their quals. It sounds bad but it is a kind of inspiration to keep them motivated and not give up when things get rough.

Going through quals was a good experience for my son (he did not agree with me!). He learned a lot about working together, being part of a team, and that you have to learn to get along with everyone, even though you may not really like someone. On a sub, you have to have everyone else's back and they have yours.