Working from Hawaii on Eastern Time
How Joe and Kei from New York adjusted their workdays.
The backstory
One of the best parts about the extended time back home was that I got to share it with some of our best friends ✨Joe and Kei✨. They are the kind of friends you spend a minimum of four hours with when you make a date to “hang out.” And the kind of friends that when you say, “hey, wanna escape your New York apartment and try to work from Hawaii for a few weeks?”…they say “tell us when.”
Pause. Not everyone has the privilege of a flexible work situation or stable housing arrangement to leave their home base for a month. There’s also a lot to consider when traveling safely during a pandemic, especially to a state like Hawaii that has its unique healthcare and economic challenges. Please kuleana - be responsible.
While on island, I heard a lot about how mainlanders were moving to Hawaii to work from there until offices call them back - or maybe for good. If you’re thinking about it, here’s Joe and Kei’s experience of trying to stay on New York time from Hawaii.
Joe and Kei’s weekday schedule.
Joe and Kei’s story
Movers & Shakas… NOT
There was a great program called Movers & Shakas that attracted the mainland remote workers to WFH (Work From Home or Work From Hawaii). With thousands of applicants, we got rejected. But we figured, when the program gives you lemons, you still go to Hawaii and make your own Movers & Shakas.
Working in the different time zone
Joe had to work on New York time, so we did not adapt to the time zone in Hawaii. It was rough for a couple days for the body to adjust or not adjust. By the end of the week, we were living a good life!
We had a dark quiet focus working time in the morning. When it was breakfast time in Hawaii, it was already lunch for us. And their lunch was our dinner. But you know what? It was perfectly fine! We got all the lunch specials and happy hours. And the best part was we had more than 6 hours of sunshine AFTER WORK!!!
It had its challenges because it was still during the pandemic, but we were just happy to spend time with Aaron and Eric, and occasional outside hang with friends on the weekends. Nature was right under our nose. Fresh amazing food and drinks, Waiola Shave Ice, malasadas at Leonard’s Bakery…
Joe and I most appreciated the time we spent with Aaron and Eric that was “not eventful.” Just sharing TikToks, making content 🤣, hanging around at the pool. It was almost like it used to be before the pandemic. Here’s to a hopeful future!
