I want to move to Hawai'i. What shall I do? (Hilo: rent, hotel)

[Phanos9999]

Listen,

You seem like an ok guy so I will give you some advice. Don't be surprised if no one responds to this post. You are coming off wrong and I believe you don't know it. On the hawaii board many people on here are well informed but will not take you seriously if you don't post with many facts. Please read some of the threads on here for a while. Then repost a question....

[Phanos9999]

Also, since you are coming from the northwest you will spend about 3500 on just a palette to get to hawaii, and I had to reason with my agent to get that price. 2500 is not very doable and look to spend about 1,000 for your dog if you don't have it's blood work and rabid shots up to date

[leilaniguy]

Come over and rent for a few months before you make a final decision. you can get a cheap rental in Puna, then decide if you want to stay here, or move elsewhere on the island. This will give you time to decide if you like the rural island lifestyle and to learn about things- like pineapple doesn't grow on trees...

[Jeepers Creepers]

I suggest that those moving, have a good LONG term care insurance policy for those often coming , as older folks, sometime younger too. NO different than the mainland as to need. With no family in Hawaii, even with, you need a means to be taken care of even at your home versus a facility. Costs are high for that everywhere and Hawaii even more. No one can predict a stroke, or other condition and then what? EWA has lower cost housing to qualify for then, but, no guarantee. You still need care! This is not medical insurance, it is LONG TERM CARE. Educate yourself and be prepared. If you have savings, it will vanish quick. Cannot work with a stroke/heart condition and then what? Read up and be ready, it is no surprise that we all age. You can't grow veggies flat on your back. Or surf or anything else. Hawaii is Hawaii, not Fantasy island.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Jeepers Creepers

I suggest that those moving, have a good LONG term care insurance policy for those often coming , as older folks, sometime younger too. NO different than the mainland as to need. With no family in Hawaii, even with, you need a means to be taken care of even at your home versus a facility. Costs are high for that everywhere and Hawaii even more. No one can predict a stroke, or other condition and then what? EWA has lower cost housing to qualify for then, but, no guarantee. You still need care! This is not medical insurance, it is LONG TERM CARE. Educate yourself and be prepared. If you have savings, it will vanish quick. Cannot work with a stroke/heart condition and then what? Read up and be ready, it is no surprise that we all age. You can't grow veggies flat on your back. Or surf or anything else. Hawaii is Hawaii, not Fantasy island.

Huh???? what does this have to do with the topic in this thread?

[hotzcatz]

Well, the Puna area has a lot of folks trying to be sustainable and grow food. Up on the Hamakua coast, they are more trying to grow food as a commercial endeavor although in a sustainable manner as well. Over around the Volcano area are also a bunch of folks trying different routes to sustainability. Here's a forum for the Volcano folks: Sensible Simplicity Forum: Discussing Sustainability

Perhaps you could try WWOOFing for a few weeks or months to get an idea of what the different areas are on the island. Having some sort of income from off your homestead is almost a necessity since you gotta pay the tax man with something other than those pineapples growing on trees. (Must be an interesting new type of pineapple.)

Otherwise, there are already a lot of folks doing what you are thinking of on this island. There are quite a few folks who are trying to be self sufficient however most of them have found out you need a whole community to get close to being self sufficient.

[I<3Hawaii]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

It sounds like the B.I. would be where you can find (sort of) what you are looking for. At least as far as cheap land and the ability to throw up a cheap place to live off the grid. But you have to be really careful about what you're getting with the "cheap" land.

Please spend some time reading other threads on this forum. There have been recent discussions from people looking to do the same thing as you, with some very informative answers from people who live on the B.I. Being sustainable takes a lot of work, and is not easy just because it's Hawaii.

I do! Thank you. I read all I can. I would appreciate any specific advice, or if you could point me to some helpful links or particular articles. Thank you!

[I<3Hawaii]

Originally Posted by leilaniguy

Come over and rent for a few months before you make a final decision. you can get a cheap rental in Puna, then decide if you want to stay here, or move elsewhere on the island. This will give you time to decide if you like the rural island lifestyle and to learn about things- like pineapple doesn't grow on trees...

That pineapple thing killed me! lol
I so WISH!

[I<3Hawaii]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Well, the Puna area has a lot of folks trying to be sustainable and grow food. Up on the Hamakua coast, they are more trying to grow food as a commercial endeavor although in a sustainable manner as well. Over around the Volcano area are also a bunch of folks trying different routes to sustainability. Here's a forum for the Volcano folks: Sensible Simplicity Forum: Discussing Sustainability

Perhaps you could try WWOOFing for a few weeks or months to get an idea of what the different areas are on the island. Having some sort of income from off your homestead is almost a necessity since you gotta pay the tax man with something other than those pineapples growing on trees. (Must be an interesting new type of pineapple.)

Otherwise, there are already a lot of folks doing what you are thinking of on this island. There are quite a few folks who are trying to be self sufficient however most of them have found out you need a whole community to get close to being self sufficient.

Awesome post! Thank you.

WWOOFing? Is that like house sitting? I am VERY interested, and have already started inquiring about it. I have a friend who has a brother that lives in Ocean View and they have some friends in Puna, so... we'll see!

I want a pineapple tree! Yes indeed! Imagine my shock to learn how much fruit a pineapple bush does not produce! I could also buy a small rental property here to keep the cash flow coming. I have options. I just want as much information as possible so that I can limit my search when I actually do come visit. Maybe as soon as March, but I am ready to go now! BRRRR!

How are those people doing being self-sufficient? I (think I) love the idea of a commune; each unit working towards a common goal.

Thank you for your post.

[I<3Hawaii]

Also, how about watch catchment (Problems, etc) and solar power (at night?!? The batteries work well enough? Cost effective?) work out there for people?

Thank you for the information.