Living in BI for a few months (Hilo: vacation home, food)

[gentler]

OP) Found this FAQ, and using a taxi or Uber is allowed:


https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.o...uestions-faqs/



Q: How do I travel to my place of lodging/residence from the airport if I cannot rent a car while I’m under quarantine?

A: You can use Uber/Lyft or a taxicab service for transportation from the airport to your place of lodging or designated quarantine location.

Please refer to the following links for more information about taxicab services available at the airports:

Honolulu, Oahu
Lihue, Kauai
Kahului, Maui
Hawaii Island
Hilo
Kona

[a7bi]

When I read this, my first impression is that OP is intentionally trolling:

I'm already kind of afraid of running into big flying cockroaches, gecko, and any other BI insects inside the house, reading that some people often see them in their homes there.

Practically speaking, it is nearly impossible to not encounter a big flying cockroach (please correct me folks).

I'm curious: if you are concerned with cost, why buying a house versus renting (like you've figured with the rental car vs shipping a car)? What's the math behind that makes it look like an alternative?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by a7bi

Practically speaking, it is nearly impossible to not encounter a big flying cockroach (please correct me folks).

I've never had a cockroach in my home.

I also don't keep windows open and they can't come in via the plumbing.

[gentler]

OP) So far, I've never seen a flying cockroach in my whole life and cannot imagine how to deal with it if I see one inside the house. While I try to avoid chemicals as much as possible, I'd better prepare some besides mosquito nets. Not sure if I can put sprays and traps in a luggage for checking in with the airline security rules.

I had more than one reason and bought the house - Mainly for vacation home for my family but occasionally for my parents, sister and her family, and couple of closest friends (it'd be a different matter if they wanted to go there for vacation, though), staying in my own place, no worry about where to stay each time (same as the vacation home reason?), a long-term investment, etc.

[KohalaTransplant]

Originally Posted by gentler

OP) So far, I've never seen a flying cockroach in my whole life and cannot imagine how to deal with it if I see one inside the house. While I try to avoid chemicals as much as possible, I'd better prepare some besides mosquito nets. Not sure if I can put sprays and traps in a luggage for checking in with the airline security rules.

I had more than one reason and bought the house - Mainly for vacation home for my family but occasionally for my parents, sister and her family, and couple of closest friends (it'd be a different matter if they wanted to go there for vacation, though), staying in my own place, no worry about where to stay each time (same as the vacation home reason?), a long-term investment, etc.

Those are all good reasons to buy a vacation home. But, most people do that in a place they vacation frequently, are familiar with, and know they enjoy going back to over and over again.

It is quite unusual to buy a vacation home in a place that one has never taken a vacation.

I don't know you, but reading your few posts, I don't get the sense that you will enjoy your Hilo vacation very much. I hope I am wrong. Good luck to you.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Is your house on post and pier or slab? Do you have window screens? Has you house sat empty for a while?

I think you are over obsessing about bugs. They are a way of life in the tropics. I can’t imagine packing bug spray in your luggage. Just buy some when you get here.

My house is on a slab. I spray Home Defense around the foundation monthly. Does a pretty good job of keeping the bugs out.

[USDefault]

Going to be a lot more rain, wind, and clouds on the Hilo side. If this is really a BI vacation house, west side would have been a superior bet. Prices start to go down a little south of Kona, and cheaper still at Captain Cook and south of there.

[gentler]

OP) Dreaming of Hawaii - I know I'm worrying too much about bugs but I see it as a big lifestyle change and am going to pack couple of small sprays, a zapper, and repellents so that I could start using them even during my quarantining. Thanks for introducing "Home Defense" as the main stream bug killer, which I'll remember to get from a local store, if necessary later.

KohalaTransplant - As we've never been to Hawaii, any part of Hawaii will be anyhow fresh to us and I thought my family could start off from any part of Hawaii. I have two boys and we're all excited. I think it's more up to us and we'll try to enjoy!

USDefault - It'll be a while until next time, if ever, but thanks for the info about Captain Cook. If I knew, I could have considered the west side as well, as the prices seem not too expensive. I just assumed that the west side would be all too expensive for me to afford. I believe I got a good buy in Hilo for a nice house but am not expecting too much in terms of weather, services, proximity, and activities. My family often enjoys vacation indoor, so thinking that we're in Hawaii and living in a different house could already give us a good laid back vacation feeling.

I noticed today that Southwest had changed my destination from ITO to HNL without letting me know and found that they had cancelled the HNL-ITO flight that I had originally booked. They instead gave me an 11 hour long itinerary to ITO so I'm now rather thinking of flying to KOA (6 hour nonstop), renting a car, and driving for 1.5 hours to reach home, for which I'll need to get a rapid result Covid test anyway also for no quarantining!

[a7bi]

@gentler


Please check the rain atlas of hawaii. Hilo region does get on average 13x more rain than west side (e.g. Kona): 130" and 10", respectively.

I wonder if it does make a difference for you. https://www.to-hawaii.com/big-island/weather.php


UPDATE: Cool, it seems you'd be fine, since your expectations are not dependent on the outdoor weather. However, the saying is that on Hawaii people mostly spend time outside, not indoors.

[gentler]

OP) @a7bi - I know. I knew that Hilo gets the biggest amount of rain in the country. However, it'll also be a new experience to us, especially to my two boys. That being said to justify what I've already done, if I were given another opportunity, I'd consider the west side more seriously. Somewhere I had read that Kona is a popular destination by the rich and I simply ruled it out, as I know I don't belong to that group.