Planning Your Move

Aloha! E komo mai—you are welcome here! May your tour of duty here be a rewarding, enjoyable experience. The key to a successful move to Hawaii is obtaining the correct information beforehand. Reading this publication and taking the time to familiarize yourself with all the services and facilities available to you will better prepare you for your move to Hawaii.

Before you arrive, you should have your orders with you. What do you do now?

Sponsors
The key to a successful transition is your sponsor. Commands are required to provide you with a sponsor in order to ease your transition during your move.

Your sponsor at your new duty station can assist you in many ways, such as helping arrange your Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), providing transportation from the airport to temporary quarters, helping making pet quarantine arrangements, showing you around the base and giving you general information about the community and on-base facilities well in advance of your move.

Your sponsor has probably lived here for awhile and can assist you in finding the best places to live, schools, education, recreation and very important information if you are bringing a pet, which can be very costly if you do not follow procedures carefully. For more information on these subjects, see the other sections in this book.

Ensure you contact your sponsor as soon as possible before leaving for Hawaii. If you haven't heard from your sponsor or don't have one, contact your unit.

Hawaii's Installation Personnel Administration
Building 1043
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Telephone (808) 257-8566

Marine Air Group 24
Building 301
Telephone: (During working hours)
(808) 257-2012/3222/3241
DSN 457-2012
(After working hours) (808) 257-1416
DSN 457-1416

Combat Logistics Battalion 3, S-1
Building 1086
Telephone:
(During working hours) (808) 257-0829
(After working hours) (808) 257-0829

3rd Radio Battalion
Building 4034
Telephone:
(During working hours) (808) 257-1799
DSN 457-1799
(After working hours) (808) 257-2949
DSN 457-2949

3rd Marine Regiment
Building 1033
Telephone:
(During working hours) (808) 257-2017
(After working hours) (808) 257-2778

Marine Forces Pacific,
Headquarters & Service Battalion
Building 1
Telephone:
(During working hours) (808) 477-8371
(After working hours) (808) 477-6377

Temporary Lodging Allowance
Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) is for military personnel arriving on Permanent Change of Station orders pending availability of government quarters or completion of arrangement for other permanent living accommodations when government quarters are not available. TLA is not paid in advance. Instead, it is paid after filing a completed claim with receipts and endorsements. TLA reimbursement claims are forwarded to the Finance Office at the conclusion of each 10-day increment; reimbursements are then electronically deposited within 72 to 96 hours. Arrival TLA can be authorized for a maximum of 60 days.

To be eligible for TLA, several conditions must be met. First, service members must have their orders endorsed with the reporting time and date as soon as possible after arriving on island. No reimbursement will be made for any days of temporary lodging prior to the report date endorsed on your orders. The first day of reporting-in will be a NON-TLA day for the member. The cost of lodging incurred for the first day will be at the member's expense until their travel claim is settled and they are in a 'Per Diem Status.' A supplemental claim will then be submitted to the Finance Office for reimbursement of the first day's expenses. Next, to be eligible for TLA, a sponsor or member must first check with the Temporary Lodging Facility (808) 254-2806 and the Base Housing Office (808) 257-1257 to see if government quarters are available. If government quarters are available, they must be used. If government quarters are not available, service members must obtain a non-availability statement. Bona fide and geographical bachelors must check into the BEQ/BOQ to obtain room assignment. If there is no permanent room available, they may be issued a non-availability statement authorizing TLA assistance.

Before securing reservations at an off-base hotel, the member or sponsor must ensure that the hotel is TLA approved. Unless the Housing Office (for married personnel) or the BEQ/BOQ (for bona fide and geographical bachelor) establishes an occupancy date for quarters immediately upon applying for government quarters, the service member must initiate an 'aggressive housing search.' To fulfill this requirement, a service member must visit a minimum of five to ten places in their price range and that meets their needs, per ten-day increment. TLA will be terminated for failure to aggressively seek a suitable place to live.

Also, to be eligible for TLA, a service member must be on a 36-month tour or have a CMC waiver. Plus, only command-sponsored dependents may receive arrival TLA. Personnel arriving in Hawaii under PCS orders accompanied by dependents or who anticipate the arrival of dependents within 60 days, must register with the Housing Office and apply for government housing within five days of reporting in to be eligible for TLA. Members whose dependents will not arrive in Hawaii for more than 60 days after the reporting date must apply for government housing not later than 60 days prior to the anticipated arrival date of the dependents.

Temporary Lodging
The Lodge, MCBH Kanehoe Bay's Temporary Lodging Facility provides all the comforts of home. Each of the 102 studio units includes a kitchenette, television, telephone, central air conditioning and two King or Queen full-sized beds. Daily maid service and a Laundromat are also available. Whether you're relocating or just visiting, you'll enjoy the TLC you get at the TLF. For more information, call (808) 254-2806 or fax (808) 257-2716.  read more...

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