Worried about something I didn't think I would have to (Hilo: credit, loan)

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by Paniolo Cowgirl

Hawaii is a difficult place to live in but it's not because of haoles. It's because it is a set of very isolated islands. And the heat and humidity and cost of living doesn't help either.

Haole is a Hawaiian word. It is a neutral term. I got a question. Does anyone who thinks the word "haole" is a derogatory term also thinks the same of the word "kama'aina"?

As I see it, there's no harm in the Hawaiian's having their own language. It's their land, their culture.

There are no "clubs". Just a bunch of people chillin' out and enjoying the island lifestyle.

I had a quick question about this response. When you say heat and humidity-is this even possibly a problem? I live in AZ where the heat never ends and have lived in Chicago where you could ring your shirt out after being outside for a bit. I cannot imagine it being that bad there. When I have gone to Hawaii, it never seemed so bad. Is it because there isn't always air conditioning inside?

[Paniolo Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by NanawaleJulie

Is it because there isn't always air conditioning inside?

Yes. The HELCO bills can be scary.

[Ozark Nana]

I would think that the humidity has it's good days and bad just like it is here in AZ. When it's the "rainy" season it's always more humid....We have been to Hawaii a couple times each year, during different times of the year etc. It has so much to do with what island your on, what SIDE of the island, what time of year etc....we always were amazed that if it was raining where we were staying we just got into the car and drove a few miles to where it WASN'T raining...the tradewinds also make a big difference in what you FEEL as far as the humidity goes....if you can survive an Arizona monsoon season you should have no trouble in Hawaii!

O.Nana

[Genxor]

Julie,

The humidity is a much larger issue because many homes do not have air conditioning. Most of the time you do not need it, but there are times when you need it and should have it. Your best to open / close / or partially of both , your windows depending on whats happening. An attic fan also helps.
Your better off, imho, to clear your lot a bit more than to be surrounded by the trees etc. It can be amazingly damp, constantly, if you do not. Let the sun in and let the breeze blow through.
Especially in your closets, things can become a bit mildewy, items like leather.
Plus you should get more acclimated to the dampness. When we first arrived, it seemed everything was wet -sheets,clothes etc.etc. But it is not as noticeable now as before.

Coming from Arizona, you perhaps may notice it more. Or maybe not !

Electricity prices are high. Normally , summer on the mainland, would get us an electric bill ( for an all electric house ) of tops $170. (2 of us , in the thick of summer ).
Here, it is a minimum of $100, for the basics- dryer,tv,lights etc. ( the water heater,range are gas).
So if we were still living our mainland style "comforts", I would hate to see the electric bill here.

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by Genxor

Julie,

The humidity is a much larger issue because many homes do not have air conditioning. Most of the time you do not need it, but there are times when you need it and should have it. Your best to open / close / or partially of both , your windows depending on whats happening. An attic fan also helps.
Your better off, imho, to clear your lot a bit more than to be surrounded by the trees etc. It can be amazingly damp, constantly, if you do not. Let the sun in and let the breeze blow through.
Especially in your closets, things can become a bit mildewy, items like leather.
Plus you should get more acclimated to the dampness. When we first arrived, it seemed everything was wet -sheets,clothes etc.etc. But it is not as noticeable now as before.

Coming from Arizona, you perhaps may notice it more. Or maybe not !

Electricity prices are high. Normally , summer on the mainland, would get us an electric bill ( for an all electric house ) of tops $170. (2 of us , in the thick of summer ).
Here, it is a minimum of $100, for the basics- dryer,tv,lights etc. ( the water heater,range are gas).
So if we were still living our mainland style "comforts", I would hate to see the electric bill here.

Thanks for the info. I am sure I will notice the difference. It is very dry here. I just forgot that most people do not have AC. When I have come out there (for some reason it always seems to not be during the summer) my hair was always curly, which it is bone straight here. So, I did forget that. But, I guess I was thinking about the trade winds and being near the ocean as being not so hot that it be unbearable. Mahalo again.

[Paniolo Cowgirl]

Yeah there are some days when it gets pretty bad. 'Specially when you're running around town trying to get chores done. I guess it depends on where you live. In many parts of the islands the locals can get by without air conditioning.

My brother and sister in Hilo have two tv sets and a computer. Electric stove and water heater (on a timer to save $), washing machine. No dishwasher, no dryer, no air conditioner. Their electric bills are about $330/month.

My cousin lives by herself in Hilo. Electric stove washer and water heater. She does not watch tv, no computer, dishwasher, no dryer, no air cond. Her electric bills are $85/month.

[cynmkolohe]

Originally Posted by Paniolo Cowgirl

My brother and sister in Hilo have two tv sets and a computer. Electric stove and water heater (on a timer to save $), washing machine. No dishwasher, no dryer, no air conditioner. Their electric bills are about $330/month.

For the two of us, with one AC used upstairs on the only the hottest of afternoons and a downstairs AC in my SO's recording studio used for hours at a time (plus running the equipment during sessions) we have yet to see a HELCO bill over $305. And that was in a month when we had guests for two weeks. We also use a dishwasher a few times each week and dry our clothes.

We do, however, have on-demand hot water and have a gas bill--we have overnight guests fairly often and I like hot showers, so we average about $200/month for gas. Our example should, I think, be out of the ordinary. We both work primarily from home (my office is less than 10 minutes away, so I'm here as much as there) and we host guests regularly.

As for the heat and humidity...I am from the South. Nothing I have experienced here matches the summers there. On the hottest days, I use a small fan to circulate air in the bathroom after showers and only very, very rarely do we use an upstairs AC. Ceiling fans are usually all we need.

If Puna weather doesn't suit, there are areas just below/near Volcano that may be more to your liking!

[GirlinAZ]

Originally Posted by Paniolo Cowgirl

Yeah there are some days when it gets pretty bad. 'Specially when you're running around town trying to get chores done. I guess it depends on where you live. In many parts of the islands the locals can get by without air conditioning.

My brother and sister in Hilo have two tv sets and a computer. Electric stove and water heater (on a timer to save $), washing machine. No dishwasher, no dryer, no air conditioner. Their electric bills are about $330/month.

My cousin lives by herself in Hilo. Electric stove washer and water heater. She does not watch tv, no computer, dishwasher, no dryer, no air cond. Her electric bills are $85/month.

I am going to try to stay off grid. I want to use solar. I hope that I will be able to do so. (depends on amount of my loan I suppose) I am kinda a princess about laundry. I am not about to wash my clothes against a rock, so I want to live as Green as I can. Mahalo for the info.

[Jungjohann]

You can easily go off the grid now, the newest thing in Green housing is a roofing system that is made of photovoltaic cells. Get the roofing system, a series of batteries, and a convertor, no electrical bill! Throw in solar water heater, which should be mandatory here in Hawaii on new housing, and your ono to hele. There's a homeowner up in Maui Meadows who sells surplus electricity back to Maui Electric, they send him a check! It does get pretty hot and muggy when the tradewinds turn off, but come wintertime, when the wind blows off the crater, you'll be thankful you brought jacket.

Aloha and okolemaluna

[Jimbo's]

NanawaleJulie, I think going green is a great way to live. As far as the heat and humidity I am sure it can be bad from time to time. I live in Yuma , AZ and I can tell you about heat. I think for the first year you will be fine until you get climatized to the weather then you will notice it more and more.

For example I moved from Phoenix to Flagstaff were the summer hits 120º and in Flagstaff I think the high was about 87º and the locals were saying how hot it was but after going through the first winter there the summer did seem hot at 87º to me the next year.

Now as far as living off the grid, this is a good thing. I have a house in Ashfork that is off the grid with wind and solar with a generator backup and I run everything just like I do when hooked up to the power comany. The initial cost is worth it as I have no electric bills each month and checking with Hawaii they do have a net metering system in place that they will credit/buy for the excess power you generate. Let me know if you have any questions I can help with on that.