How much has changed - Big Island... (Honolulu, Hilo: hotel, houses)

[Aulani]

Greetings! I have been using the City Data forum to research where I will go next to get out of the New England cold. For curiosity sake, I checked this one out.
As a former resident, I'd LOVE to hear an update of the Kona area. When I moved there in 1989 (left for Alaska in '94), I went to work on the Ritz Carlton & then, later, the Hapuna Prince hotel & Waikaloa Village with Hawaiian Dredging (as an apprentice carpenter). During layoff, I worked at the waffle bar of the Rusty Harpoon Restuarant on Alii Dr.
Is Richard K still coaching the Kai E Hitu team (I still have the paddle that Papa K made for me, the medals I earned & the newpaper clips with the weekly standings)?
Does the smell of huli-huli chicken cooking on a Saturday morning in the grocery store parking lot as a fundraiser still drift across the town?
Does Parker Ranch still host an Easter egg hunt/Polo match & a summer concert weekend?
Is the Big Island still the most incredible place on this earth in which to live, filled with the warmest, most wonderful people?
I cannot tell you how much I miss the place, but for being a grandma now, I would do whatever I had to in order to return, but being so far away from my grandsons would be tough.
To all you locals - this former (sp?) "tita" (so nicknamed by my fellow carpenters) & now mainlander, sends you a heartfelt greeting of genuine ALOHA - NUI LOA. I'll be thinking of you as I shovel some more Maine snow!
I realize this post may be "against the rules" of your forum, as they seem to be more stringent than others I've been reading, so I will apologize now if I have broken protocol.

[cynmkolohe]

Hi Aulani,

I'm not too familiar with what Kona was like in the early 90's, but I would guess you would find "some things have changed, some things have stayed the same".

There are a lot more people and development on the Big Island now...but some of the things you mention (like huli-huli chicken!) are still easy to find.

Much aloha to you!

[Friend-in-Hawaii]

New hawaiian homestead comming up in Kona side. 2nd phase i think...my son is gonna have a pick there sometime within 2 yrs.

[HiloHappy]

I am relocating to Hilo area and am nervous about going. I keep thinking there won't be any place to cheap shop, and that I will be in a vast wilderness (although that doesn't sound bad, really!) I love stores like Ross and Marshalls, and those dollar stores; are there any in the area? Also, do you get good TV reception? Sorry if I sound like a boob, but I am just wanting to know what it will be like.

[cynmkolohe]

Ross is in the shopping center with Wal-Mart and Office Max...

We have digital cable at my house, with DVR (translation=too many channels to choose from...and lots of friendly arguments when I realize I have 6 CSI shows waiting for me to catch up on!)

Hilo has pretty much whatever you will need, though sometimes a limited selection for shopping for clothes if you are used to mainland-style malls. Our Prince Kuhio mall has Sears, American Eagle, Macy's and a few other smaller stores...but I do sometimes miss Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. I save those splurges for a trip to Honolulu!

[hawaiigirl87]

Howzit Aulani,

Oh, the hey days of the late 80's-early 90's! I worked at the old Hyatt and Hawaiian Dredging were old buddies of mine! Not that I can remember names now, years later! I moved in 2001 after Sept 11 (crazy timing) and have visited almost every year. My most recent visit to the Big Isle was July last year. Things have drastically changed. Lots of traffic (no still no planning with infrastructure!!) going in and out of Kona, prices for homes are sky high and even a plate lunch price has doubled since I left -- almost $9! Miss my home so much, but just no opportunities to advance for young couples. When we left in 2001, houses were in the $189k range. Now for the same house it's in the $350-400k range. So we'll save up our pennies now and someday move home to retire!

I didn't see any hulihuli when I was there! Oh well.

[kani-lehua]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

Ross is in the shopping center with Wal-Mart and Office Max...

We have digital cable at my house, with DVR (translation=too many channels to choose from...and lots of friendly arguments when I realize I have 6 CSI shows waiting for me to catch up on!)

Hilo has pretty much whatever you will need, though sometimes a limited selection for shopping for clothes if you are used to mainland-style malls. Our Prince Kuhio mall has Sears, American Eagle, Macy's and a few other smaller stores...but I do sometimes miss Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. I save those splurges for a trip to Honolulu!

come on over in march, cyn. nordstrom's will be opening on 3/7/08 along with several others. also, i mentioned in another thread that formaggio finally opened up in kailua. apparently, the C&C wanted them to widen the road!!!! well, they didn't and now they're open. apparently, they have live music,too. formaggio808.com

[cynmkolohe]

I saw the Nordstrom info in the paper here!!! Maybe for my birthday in the summer--I'll start dropping hints now!