HONOLULU (KHON2) — Working from home has transformed the way businesses operate and the way employees get their jobs done.
KHON2 spoke to some local digital nomads to learn more about their work.
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A digital nomad typically moves from place to place while working virtually for a company based elsewhere. Hawaii poses unique geographic challenges to this model, especially if the company is based on the east coast.
A Kailua resident with a New York City consulting job faces these challenges on a daily basis.
“Generally I wake up around 5 most days, sometimes if there is an early call it can be 4am, summers are harder due to east coast time difference and six hours, winter is a bit easier”, said Alexey Loganchuk, a strategy consultant at a New York private equity firm.
However, starting early means ending early, which is perfect when kids are getting home from school.
“And there’s this natural gap that opens up for family time,” Loganchuk said, “something that’s just, I mean, it’s priceless!
He added that having his daughter at school ties him to the islands.
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“So I’m not entirely nomadic, but I think I’m benefiting from the same macro trends in terms of the flexibility of just not having to be in the office all the time and being able to work remotely,” Loganchuk said.
Those who have lived in Hawaii for a while also find advantages; Andy Kauffman, 50, from Kaneohe, started working for a technology consulting firm in San Francisco during the pandemic.
“I consider myself a nomad because while I live here and have lived here and will live here for the rest of my life, I don’t have to work in Hawaii,” Kauffman said.
Technically, my money comes from the west coast, but I live here. We buy gas here. We buy all of our groceries here. You know, we’re going to eat here.”
Andy Kauffman, San Francisco service desk engineer/Kaneohe resident
Kauffman said wages for IT workers in San Francisco are typically higher than on the islands, but local economies are seeing the benefit.
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“We want to support the economy of Hawaii as much as we can because this is our home,” Kauffman said.
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