Puna/hilo Friends: This Is For Those Who Live In/will Be Moving To This Area (Kailua: how much, house)

[GirlinAZ]

Aloha!
I have noticed a comradory (sp?) between some of us on the Puna, HI thread and I thought it might be nice to take that a bit further and make it into its own thread.

If you live in the Puna/Hilo area or will be or used to be, this is for you. Please introduce yourself, your situation and if you would like to keep in touch through this forum with updates about yourself and the area we love.

I live in the Phoenix area of AZ, will be moving to the Puna area in the next several years and CANNOT WAIT! For me, living so far away right now, my thoughts are that it would be nice to make friends, know what is going on in the area (as there is literally zero news coverage about ANY part of Hawaii in our news coverage here), and to share ideas. If you have any suggestions as well, go for it!

Mahalo, Julie

P.S. Oh, if you look towards the latter pages of the Puna, HI thread you will see some of the communications we have had so far.

[GirlinAZ]

Well, NO one has said hi yet, so I will start. I have a piece of Puna waiting to build in the next few years. I live in AZ right now and boy do I wish I was there instead. The weather here in the summer is the WORST!!!! It is over 110 for the next couple of months off and on for the most part. (It will be over 100 at 10 pm).
Also, I really can't remember the last time I saw rain, and boy do I miss it. Now that I think about it, we also have no ocean here which, when I put it all together, no wonder why I cannot wait to be in Hawaii.
So, any similar stories? Do not be shy! Say hi!

[leilaniguy]

Well, I've been here since Sept.1999, seems like I was alone here then. The stats say about thousand people come every year now, sure seems that way. I would hope all that come here understand what kind of place this is, not for everyone, a hard life for some, bugs, high prices, different lifestyles, customs, a foreign scene altogether. This is the polar opposite of AZ, humid, rainy, moldy, couldn't escape the green if you had to. I love it. I thought Az had a "West Coast?'- just kidding.

[cynmkolohe]

Aloha from Hilo...

I live in town, but have many connections to Puna through friends, work and a 'family' property in Orchidland.

Very much enjoy the stories and information that is shared through these posts!

Here's a question for those of you who have a 'green thumb'...(not a strength of mine, I must confess...)

I have one hapua fern growing beautifully in my front lawn and would like to have more...I have a friend who owns Volcano property and has given me the green light to take what I want from her lot, but I'm unsure of the best way to successfully transplant. Any advice?

[cynmkolohe]

Make that hapu'u:

How to plant a native Hawaiian garden - hapuu (broken link)

Hawaiian Plants - Hapu'u Fern

This is what I found on a quick search... Still would appreciate input from anyone who has had success keeping theirs green and growing...

We've spent much of the last two years remodeling an old plantation house and have just one bathroom left to finish before beginning the landscaping/exterior, so I'm brushing up on my gardening. What plants do those of you who live in Hilo/Puna recommend as easy-to-care-for favorites?

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

I have one hapua fern growing beautifully in my front lawn and would like to have more...I have a friend who owns Volcano property and has given me the green light to take what I want from her lot, but I'm unsure of the best way to successfully transplant. Any advice?

I brought two or three back from the Big Island to Oahu (Kailua) a few years back, and they died. I think that their ability to thrive is more dependent on the care and water after they are planted than on how you transplant them. If you have one that is thriving now, I would think that you should be able to have others do well, as long as the water and sun conditions are the same.

The literature (and evidence all over the Big Island) says that they re-grow just fine when a big one falls down and breaks into pieces.

Got to be the location more than the treatment.

Hank

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by HankDfrmSD

Got to be the location more than the treatment.

I agree. My Puna "gardening regimen" consists of hitting the invasive species with a weedwacker, a spritz of Round-Up, and sometimes, a chainsaw. I've got Hapu'u ferns, 'Ohia trees, and other native plants all over the place and I didn't plant a single one of them.

In terms of keeping all of the native flora "green and growing", I simply leave it alone. Because of the amount of rainfall I get, I don't have to worry about watering any plants or trees. As for fertilizer, the birds and other forest animals seem to do a pretty good job.

[leilaniguy]

By coincidence I happen to live on Hapu'u St. I'm lucky enough to have several on my lot. They're very thirsty and don't like a lot of sun. We recently had a short drought, only 10 days, and all my Hapu'u have burnt fronds. Occasionally one will fall over, I just cut it off at the bend and replant it. I agree that gardening here is more "whacking back" than anything else.

[cynmkolohe]

Sadly, vines had overtaken my lawn at the point I moved in. We lost a few hapu'u that were basically rotted away and full of weeds...but there is one survivor and I'm hopeful that we will be able to add several soon. I'm also nursing along a baby ohia that a friend gave me a few weeks ago--and looking forward to spending more time outside now that there is an end in sight for the renovations!

Thanks to all for the information--I'm going to keep a close eye on how much water the ferns are getting...water must be the key to having them thrive in town since they have little protection from the sun. Lucky you all who live Puna and have ohias, hapu'u and so much more on your properties already!

[GirlinAZ]

I laugh when you say a 10 day "drought". I have lived in the Phoenix area forever and I do not think we have ever had 10 days of rain in a row in the entire 20+ years. I cannot get anything to live here (much less grow). Quite a big difference it will be for me to move-for sure! Anyway, if I could ask you guys, what is Hilo like? Mind comparing it to say any other big town a mainlander would think of? I know that the population is pretty small (compared to a large city here), but it also is the 2nd largest city in the islands, so....tell me about it. Thanks, Julie