“Seize the chance to live and work in Heaven,” the ad claims. Difficult to do more enticing, especially in these times of confinement. The paradise, in this case, is Hawaii, known for its beaches, its surf and its dream climate. The state offers a free plane ticket to Oahu, the island on which the capital Honolulu is located, to anyone telecommuting in the United States. The aim is to attract people who can work from anywhere and compensate for the huge drop in tourism, on which the local economy is very dependent.
Businessmen and state officials are behind this program dubbed Movers & Shakas, an untranslatable pun on Movers and Shakers (an expression which means “the figureheads” and “Shaka”, a popular welcome sign to Hawaii). “We wanted to reduce a little the gap created by the drop in the number of visitors per week,” explains Jason Higa, the boss of FCH Enterprises. “While a lot of people can work remotely, we think this program will attract a lot of former Hawaiians as well as people looking for a safe and welcoming environment. The press release also emphasizes that the state currently has the lowest rate of Covid infections in the country.
In its first phase, Movers & Shakas will select 50 profiles from the more than 800 applications that have already been sent. Requirements: be 18 years old, work from home, and agree, between two sunbaths, to give a few hours of your time to help local NGOs and SMEs, according to your skills. In exchange, in addition to the plane ticket, the lucky ones will receive preferential rates on rentals, restaurants, attractions… and contacts with the business community. Not to sleep late. There is a 5-hour time difference with the east coast, for example, which means you have to get up early if your business is based in New York.
The program seems especially to target natives of the State who had to “emigrate” for lack of jobs on the island. This does not prevent criticism on social networks. “So, aren’t we recruiting the talents that are already there?” We rather contribute to colonialism, ”protests a Hawaiian on Twitter. “It’s abject and socially irresponsible, there are so many local talents here”, ignites another. They are also worried about the possibility of a surge in rents following the arrival of its newcomers when Hawaii already suffers from a serious shortage of affordable housing. What complicates the reception of new arrivals? For those who regret their choice, the program requires spending only 30 consecutive days on the island.
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