In Hawaii, the term “aloha” means more than just hello. It is used to express love and caring for another, but it is also a way of life with being respectful to others and the island’s environment. Some locations make it easier to balance work and play. Maybe you always dreamed of the island life, however, if you work in the defense industry, that life doesn’t just have to be a dream.
Top 5 Reasons to LIve Your Cleared Life in Hawaii
With contractor and civilian jobs in the IT and national security fields, Hawaii offers the ability to live the dream life in your off hours and the cleared life in your work hours.
1. Work – Life Balance
Balancing work and life can be pretty easy when the environment is so inviting and relaxing. Take an Island Hopper flight no more than 45 minutes to another Hawaiian island on a weekend and ‘stay-cation’ and explore an entirely different island vibe. All the islands are different and exciting in their own way when it comes to landscapes, beaches, food, and the people! There is something for everybody. Check out local markets on the weekend or try a coconut fresh from a vendor at a fruit stand. Enjoy visiting a macadamia farm and trying local coffees and desserts from Oahu’s many bakeries. From luaus to beaches to kayaking, there is a lot of activity to enjoy. You can even get certified in scuba diving or go on any level of hike. The options are many and the islands natural beauty abounds.
2. Great Weather
Hawaii boasts of sunshine and summer weather nearly year round. Shorts and “slippers” (local word for flip flops) are worn year round! Daily average temperatures range from 82-86°. Sunsets are breathtaking every day – even from the freeway on the way home! As a bonus, you may spot full rainbows at least once, if not a few times a day.
3. Key Sites and History
Enjoy the resort life on weekends being able to visit world class hotels in beautiful Waikiki with incredible views of Oahu’s Diamond Head crater, Hawaii’s first military reservation. Of course, as COVID-19 conditions improve, you can then jump over to visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the other memorials and ships available. The Battleship Missouri Museum also has an exhibit with artifacts and information about the atomic bombings of August 1945. Of course, you can’t be in Hawaii without visiting the Dole Pineapple plantation, which is only a 10 minute drive from the Schofield army Barracks. Your drives to and from places will take you alongside the scenic North Shore in Oahu. If you have time, you can check out the Kualoa ranch and spend some time using the ziplines, living your best ATV life, or galloping along on a horse. You can even see where they filmed Jurassic Park!
4. Serious COVID-19 Response.
COVID-19 is being taken very seriously in Hawaii due to the remote location, close-knit community, and older population. The island has a very strict travel quarantine in place for visitors and residents that travel to mainland. Right now, there are very few tourists on the island, and air traffic is reduced. Just like other states, schools are mostly practicing distance learning, and masks are required in public places. Only essential business are open at this time. Because employers have taken measures to increase space between employees and hold virtual meetings, there is very little traffic. Many cleared jobs have been considered essential, and those that work on bases have been working with safety measures in place, such as temperature checks, hand sanitizer, and masks.
5. Defense Industry Jobs
Job pay for cleared individuals in Hawaii allows for more comfortable living and helps offset the higher cost of living. While housing costs are high, with a little budget planning and working close to home, the Hawaiian cleared industry provides well for the level of enjoyment that the island offers. There are many contractor and civilian jobs at the many military bases that are on Oahu, with positions open for analysts, IT, cybersecurity, and physical security. Many high profile contractors like BAE Systems, Raytheon, and Booz Allen have locations in Hawaii. You can even work for the NSA in Hawaii! Although tourism contributes to the Hawaiian economy, military and defense funding continues to boost the state’s economy.
Amentum’s resource manager, Maria Morrone shares, “With easy access to sun, surf, and over five military bases on the island, Oahu is a great place to work and live! Amentum not only has great opportunities for cleared professionals, Amentum has opportunities which can sponsor spouses and dependents over 18 for TS/SCI w/ Poly full time entry-level security-focused cleared work. Details on these opportunities can be found at www.globalaccesscontrol.com.”
Say Goodby to the CONUS Life and Aloha to the Island Life
With the Hawaiian life, you can work on one island, and then see another island on your day off. Options for fun and serious work are to be had when you switch things up a little bit and start the OCONUS life. So if beaches and summer are your jam, there is a way to bring what you love a little more into your life – all while serving the U.S. in national security fields.
