It was always a dream of mine to be a homeowner. Realistically, I could not have fulfilled that dream staying in Hawaii.
My parents worked hard but never became homeowners. When we visited our family in 2018 over the Christmas holidays, we decided the best move was to leave Hawaii, which I love, and move to Washington state for bigger and better opportunities.
In June 2020 our dream of being homeowners came true. We own a home in Vancouver, Washington, and we are doing so much better.
I miss Hawaii, but the cost of living there is crazy. I worked at a good-paying job and I was still having a tough time.
Johnette Fagaale
Vancouver, Washington
Former resident of Waialua, Oahu