The Move

Red Rock, Las Vegas, NV.

It was back in December of 2012 when I made the move to Las Vegas. Honestly, I had no idea how I was going to pull it off, but I did. Now, almost 13 years later, I am still a Vegas resident. Can you believe my friends were placing bets that I’d be back in Hawai‘i within three months? Well, I lasted just a little bit longer than that—LOL.

At the start of 2012, I made up my mind that I was going to relocate to the mainland, and Las Vegas was my choice, primarily because I still wanted the Island vibe, and what better place than one that everyone calls Las Vegas, the 9th Island. Once I made that decision, there was no turning back. At the time, I was working in sales for one of the largest electrical companies in Hawaii. My job had me traveling across all the islands in just a week. It was exciting, but also exhausting. I’d fly out early in the morning and return to Honolulu late in the afternoon—day in and day out. On top of that, I was also a partner in event organizing. Holding a full-time job, organizing events, raising kids, paying bills—yeah, I had a lot on my plate. Eventually, I got burned out, and that’s when I told myself, it’s time to go. I circled December on my calendar, and that was my targeted date to make the move.

Of course, there was a ton of preparation before I could relocate. I had a house to sell, years of “treasures” to let go of, and I had to make arrangements for my kids to stay with family until I got settled in Las Vegas. Then I’d bring them over once everything was in place. The logistics were overwhelming—shipping my car, handling medical and banking details, making travel plans, and taking care of all the legal stuff that had to be tied up before leaving. And let’s not forget the hardest part—figuring out the right moment to tell my friends and family that I was moving to the mainland, on my own, as a single parent. That part was tough.

My going-away party

By the time November rolled around, things got real—I was officially moving to Las Vegas! I didn’t know where I’d be staying, I didn’t have a job lined up, and honestly, I had no clue what my future was going to look like. But one thing was certain: I was determined to leave. My friends threw me a farewell party at Ward Center nightclub, and everyone came out to wish me well. I was emotional but also so excited for the next chapter. Of course, my friends couldn’t resist betting that I’d be back in Hawai‘i within three months—LOL. Well, they weren’t completely wrong… it ended up being seven months. But that’s a story I’ll save for another blog.

Mount Charleston, Las Vegas, NV.

When I finally made the move in December, I landed in Las Vegas and checked into a motel for about a week or two before heading out to Long Beach to pick up my car. At one point, I even spent the night sleeping in the parking lot at Town Square because I literally had nowhere else to go. Looking back, I think it was more about pride—I didn’t want to stay with anyone, and I wanted to prove I could figure it out on my own. That pride didn’t get me very far. Eventually, I humbled myself and reached out to my aunt and uncle. They welcomed me with open arms, and I’ll forever be thankful for them. They gave me a place to stay while I started this new chapter of my life.

Once I got settled in, it was time to hit the ground running and look for work. For about a month, my routine was the same: wake up, eat the breakfast my uncle cooked, and jump on my laptop to search for jobs until lunchtime. I submitted a lot of applications, but for nearly two months, not a single call back. With my savings running out, panic started to set in. Lesson learned: I highly recommend NOT making a move like this without securing a job first. I thought my background in sales and marketing would be enough to land something quickly… I thought wrong.

Casino Host

After a long search, I finally landed a position at one of the local casinos as a Special Events Host. Not long after, I was promoted to Casino Host. It was a good gig—I was able to move out, rent my own place, and finally start living that mainland life. I took road trips, visited family in L.A., and got to experience places I had never seen before.

And remember that three-month betting pool my friends had on me? Well, I beat their expectations by lasting an extra four months. But then… things took a turn.

See you on my next blog!