The Puna District Subdivisons (Hilo, Nanawale Estates: houses, landscaping, neighborhood)

[cynmkolohe]

Originally Posted by indigoblues

Which I might add, I find interesting that it's not on a required disclosure form such as, the helicopter fly overs and the wonderful bologna disclosure about Couqui frogs (Our new and wonderful Evening Aloha Frog). ...

I was considering the same question after this thread came up. There is likely some legal reasoning behind it--I'm not sure how some things end up included and some don't. (Each local brokerage uses a slightly different form for disclosure about Hawaii Island--some are much more detailed than others.)

My favorite piece of "additional information" to include when appropriate is the brochure about albizia: "The Tree that Ate Puna".

[hotzcatz]

Originally Posted by dpmp

Hi,I also am thinking about buying a lot in the Big Island, probably Hawaiian Beaches. The selection is strictly location (near the water) since I have never been there. Can anyone shed some light regarding livability, security, weather, and of course volcanic VOG? Thanks in advance.

Note: just because it is called "Hawaiian Beaches" doesn't mean there is a beach there. There may not be any ocean access at all if the cliffs are high enough. I live within a quarter mile of the ocean out on the Hamakua coast, but the last 300 feet is straight down. To actually touch the water, I have to go seven miles away and that's for a rocky very limited access.

Do not buy property when you haven't seen it. Don't even think about buying property when you've never visited the island! This is not the mainland, it will never be the mainland. What you know about villages and towns on the mainland does not hold true for Hawaii. People buying land and expecting it to be like the mainland or worse yet, trying to change it to be like the mainland is a huge problem around here.

[indigoblues]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

I was considering the same question after this thread came up. There is likely some legal reasoning behind it--I'm not sure how some things end up included and some don't. (Each local brokerage uses a slightly different form for disclosure about Hawaii Island--some are much more detailed than others.)

My favorite piece of "additional information" to include when appropriate is the brochure about albizia: "The Tree that Ate Puna".

Cyn,
One must ask themselves... why all the hoopla about these things? I would have to say the greatest invasive threat to the Island is the human race. It's all politically oriented bull anyhow, simply trying to raise funding for the wannabe scientists that are crying the sky is falling, Pele is far from finished forming the Island. Everything either flew in or drifted ashore, so how does one truly draw the line and where did nature declair a cutoff date on the evolution of the island? I've never recieved such notices when purchasing property elswhere in the U.S.
Here's a very important note for a perspective buyer or current property owner...
The inflated tax values this year? We filed both an appeal and a complaint... curiously the complaint form was removed from the counties wesite, imagine that, they left everyone the $15 fee oreinted appeal form only.
I'm glad we copied the complaint form before they removed it. RP Form 19-97(C) (Rev 03/2007). If we don't see a correction, we'll be taking the county to court.

[indigoblues]

Originally Posted by dpmp

Hi,I also am thinking about buying a lot in the Big Island, probably Hawaiian Beaches. The selection is strictly location (near the water) since I have never been there. Can anyone shed some light regarding livability, security, weather, and of course volcanic VOG? Thanks in advance.

DPMP,

I'm assuming that you have not been to Hawaii (Big Island)? You stated... "The selection is strictly location (near the water) since I have never been there".
You should be aware that Hawaii (BI) is not like the mainland, typically one does not simply buy some land, move over here and start a new job and work like they do on the mainland. There are few to no jobs on this Island. You're either a maveric/intrepid homesteader type, a rancher, very lucky at getting a job, can work remotely, wealthy, retired or you're on public assistance of some sort. If you're not any of the above then you have to be willing to change your lifestyle and become a Maveric/Homesteader live off your land, barter and work an odd job now and then to pay for the basics, taxes, toothpaste, deodorant, T.P. etc.
My G.F. has the luxury of xcellent $ part time work that takes her around the world within the nuclear field for a total of perhaps 2 months out of the year broken up in spring and fall. I get by with making high end domestic products that are sold on-line. We're considering other things such as Orchid farming etc but have yet to find something we can settle with here regarding income.
So... you've really got to consider how you're going to make it financially over here if you're not willing to live off your land and barter etc. Even if you get lucky and happen to find a job, it can be lost at anytime. I've known several folks who have went back to the mainland defeated by Hawaii, it takes real grit to live over here if you're working class like most folks are. You've really got to be willing to possibly sacrifice and change what you value and do a 180 in lifestyle.
All that said... the rewards for the compromise far outwiegh anything you may give up. One of my favorite little stupid things to do at one time, grab breakfast over at Jack in the Box in Hilo drive to the Zoo and eat breakfast in the parking lot while watching the Peacocks etc... it's all those little things that make it a very special place to live.

[dpmp]

Indigoblues,

I have been to Hawaii on vacations 4, 5 times; I used to have a timeshare which allowed me to visit Oahu, Maui, and Big Island (Kona). Both I and my wife had decided that we have seen enough HI to not need the timeshare anymore, and we sold it.

I have a job in mainland (OK) but I don't plan to "work" once I have a home in HI. :-)... well, maybe I'll find something to do, but that's another story.

I've never been to Puna "residential" neighborhoods, drove past it on my way to Hilo for sightseeing but didn't stop to explore Puna.

My plan for now is to own a patch land in a decent and peaceful neighborhood, build a decent house for vacation (for now), need to be self-sustainable in someway (solar for electricity and heat, water) and... internet access (the one thing I need to be plugged in). I have 10 more years to reach early retirement age and I will be off to Hawaii. :-)

1. Which neighborhood do you recommend as the most desirable? I'm Asian, so "up on the hill" near the volcano would be rather cold.
2. Is my plan feasible for Puna?
3. I've read some other thread about VOG, which area in windward side is least affected and which season is the most impact?

4. And lava tubes... Gee, are there that many in Puna?

Some of the information I'm looking for has been answered here, but the opinions are rather subjective. I guess to really have a feel for it, perhaps I really need another long trip to browse the area.

[hotzcatz]

Another long trip to browse the area is a very good decision. There are so many variables in each area it is hard to describe them all. One person will love an area and the next person will not be thrilled with it at all.

"Decent" is such a variable term, one doesn't know exactly how to determine what criteria is necessary for "decent". My New York City niece requires grocery delivery in her list of "decent" living conditions. She was appalled that we had to go out to the grocery store to get things, let alone drive thirty miles to get there. My auntie requires daily trips to the grocery store so where I live doesn't fit her criteria, either, even though she liked the house and all. My dad doesn't care, he thinks this current house is just jolly but he liked when I lived in the jungle in Puna, too, so his criteria of "decent" is much wider than my aunt & niece's.

[cynmkolohe]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

he thinks this current house is just jolly but he liked when I lived in the jungle in Puna, too

Can't give you any more rep points, but that deserves a +1

[surfagoody]

I've been reading this post and was a little concerned when potential new inhabitants of the hawaiian isle where posting there concerns over potential MJ growing on their property or next door. "This is hawaii not the mainland" You will not last here if you concern your self with the goings on of those around you. You will find things here that will offend, like drugs, heavy drinking, **** fighting or even children play fighting "doesn't look like play fighting" but my point is whatever you dreamt up in your mind about the way its going to be, should be reconsidered if your concerned about such things. You must be open to fact that you may and will encounter aloha in these very people you might despise. That is what makes hawaii special. We don't spend our time preaching or devising moral truths for everyone to abide by. You no badda me I no badda you. eh?

This probably doesn't represent what I'm thinking very well but maybe someone could elaborate for me if they catch my meaning.

[Heiwos]

Well if your land/house could be confiscated if a neighbor planted some MJ on your property, like it certainly can on the mainland, then it would be my neighbor badda'ing me, eh? Good to know that it's not as big a deal in Hawaii.

[indigoblues]

Originally Posted by dpmp

Indigoblues,

I have been to Hawaii on vacations 4, 5 times; I used to have a timeshare which allowed me to visit Oahu, Maui, and Big Island (Kona). Both I and my wife had decided that we have seen enough HI to not need the timeshare anymore, and we sold it.

I have a job in mainland (OK) but I don't plan to "work" once I have a home in HI. :-)... well, maybe I'll find something to do, but that's another story.

I've never been to Puna "residential" neighborhoods, drove past it on my way to Hilo for sightseeing but didn't stop to explore Puna.

My plan for now is to own a patch land in a decent and peaceful neighborhood, build a decent house for vacation (for now), need to be self-sustainable in someway (solar for electricity and heat, water) and... internet access (the one thing I need to be plugged in). I have 10 more years to reach early retirement age and I will be off to Hawaii. :-)

1. Which neighborhood do you recommend as the most desirable? I'm Asian, so "up on the hill" near the volcano would be rather cold.
2. Is my plan feasible for Puna?
3. I've read some other thread about VOG, which area in windward side is least affected and which season is the most impact?

4. And lava tubes... Gee, are there that many in Puna?

Some of the information I'm looking for has been answered here, but the opinions are rather subjective. I guess to really have a feel for it, perhaps I really need another long trip to browse the area.

DPMP,

Congratulations, doing the retirement thing is perfect in Puna. I've got other land around the island that's not worth zip at this time thanks to the VOG; so… I can say lower Puna is still good without doubt. Being plugged in for internet is not really feasible anywhere to my knowledge. Perhaps in town Hilo or Kona, but there are no cable companies that I'm aware of. Huges offers satellite internet for $59 a mo. with 256kbps uplink and 1.5mbps download or you can pay more if you need faster than that, that's comparable to average broadband cable IMO.

As per where to go live... that depends on what you really value most, I was from Seattle and also Orange County (45 years of it) and hate the city and the all the horse pucky that goes along with it... If you're very serious about independent living (low impact living/off grid) and really want to stay away from the VOG. You've a couple decent choices, unless you're after larger parcels and I don't recommend them as they are way too much work... for the smaller 1 acre parcels I'd recommend looking down along the lower south east section of Leilani Estates. IMO.. Leilani Estates is great but we wanted a larger parcel for our house and more privacy with zero road noise, we’re thinking about picking up a parcel in Leilani for the kids or whatever though, excellent prices there too, about $20k per acre.

If you want "Old Hawaii" and I mean “Old Hawaii”, I'd say right where I'm at down in Waa Waa, Waa Waa offers nicely maintained dirt roads, no CC&Rs, 10 approximate acres of shared private beach about 1 mile long and the majority of parcel sizes are 3.44 acres each. Short walk to the rugged beach, and the most awesome jungle walk through the Mango Grove Forest on Government Beach road or ride a bike/drive a convertible.
I'd stay away from the ocean properties as some contain ancient burial sites and that could put a damper on site excavation and building placement. I'd stay up high, mauka (mountain side of) of Government Beach Road at about 120' elevation or greater (tsunami safety elevation). Daily Walks are awesome in this area and it's very private, you can get wireless internet from Coconut wireless or a faster connect from Huges Satellite. There are no municipal services available in this development, must use photo voltaic, water catchment, septic etc, go off-grid all the way, that's Waa Waa.
Waa Waa is about as far East as you can get within any subdivisions and therefore provides the best location on the island to stay out of the VOG.
It's located in a lava zone 2.
You'll find there are several other retired or about to be retired persons in Waa Waa and several very high end hidden homes in the development, there are only around 180 some lots as I recall.
IMO, there's no better development anywhere within the Hawaiian Islands, not if you want Old Hawaii. It’s a hidden Gem for those who know what to really look for.
Parcels were on average selling for $120k in 96-97 and a couple just recently sold for $81k and $86K since Dec 98. The beach front lots are not worth the asking prices IMO $200k+ and I wouldn't buy one even if they were $20k unless I wanted to make a private garden park as I'm not partial to tsunamis.
Hope that helps...
Here's a map of Waa Waa, it consists of Sidelak Rd., Pakaka Rd. and Governement Beach Rd. Lot dimensions are mostly 150X1000 feet.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=PaHOA&state=HI&address=Pakaka+Road.

Also check out Hawaii Information and do a search by map of vacant land for the current lots for sale.
http://hawaiiinformation.com/REsearch/
Leilani Estates is just about due south as a Crow fly’s from Waa Waa.