Puna, Hawaii (Honolulu, Hilo, Pahoa: appointed, utilities, subdivisions)

[leilaniguy]

Aloha! Brr! chillblaines and frozen pipes, that's what keeps me in Puna Here's a few grocery prices from Malama market, Pahoa this week (not special sale prices); gal. milk-$4.69- whole grain bread $3.99- ribeye $6.99 lb.- boneless chix $3.59 lb. ahi poke $6.99 lb.- porkchops $2.69 lb.- 5lb. potatoes $2.99- 20lb. rice $7.99- 5th Smirnoff vodka $11.99- Budweiser half rack $9.99 - Blackstone wine$7.99- cob corn .99ea. (off season)-generic cigarettes about $3.50, name brands about $6. Groceries are overall cheaper in Hilo. Fruit and veggies are bargains at weekend farmers markets. Propane is about $3 gal. gas $3.29, dishnet $39.95, I don't have cable, but about the same. internet dialup $24.95. My electric averages about $115 mo. with propane range, hot water, dryer. Propane $30. for 2 people. I'm not sure of public water prices, but private community water in "the Beaches" has been about $20 month, flat rate. (The water company wants to double the rate in this area to upgrade the system.) I'm not too sure about prices in Kona or Kau, I just don't go there that often, but probably similar.

[leilaniguy]

Sorry folks, made a mistake in my last post, the price of gasoline at Paul's in Pahoa Hawaii, as of 3/15/07 is $2.97 per gallon, still steep!

[gride]

Originally Posted by leilaniguy

Sorry folks, made a mistake in my last post, the price of gasoline at Paul's in Pahoa Hawaii, as of 3/15/07 is $2.97 per gallon, still steep!

domo arrigato
great info leilaniguy
don' think that gas is too steep though
its same here in huntington beach ca
when we get over there were gonna try to do as much natural (solar etc) energy as we can. that electricity sounds pretty steep!
again thanks for the good info
. . . . . . .. .. gregor and kazue

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by gride

domo arrigato
great info leilaniguy
don' think that gas is too steep though
its same here in huntington beach ca
when we get over there were gonna try to do as much natural (solar etc) energy as we can. that electricity sounds pretty steep!
again thanks for the good info
. . . . . . .. .. gregor and kazue

Just last week, I paid $3.15 per gallon for regular gasoline in Manhattan Beach, CA. Yesterday, I paid $2.95 per gallon for regular gasoline in Hilo, HI. Usually, gasoline is more expensive in Hawai'i; however, for the past few weeks, California had held the dubious honor of having the highest gasoline prices in the United States.

[jessilizzi]

What about Fern Acres? I had it confused with Fern Forest & the realtor I've been in touch with helped clear up this misunderstanding and I've heard it's a pretty decent area.

Also - for anyone with kids in Puna- how much does daycare cost? Is there a lot of daycare available? What about preschools??

[KAINTUCK]

In 1971 & 1972 I served in the Navy at Wahiawa and lived on the North Shore at Kewaena Rd. A Navy buddy and myself paid $480 a month to rent a nice little two bedroom on the pipeline. I would just about trade all my subsequent experience to get those two years repeated. My son & his fiance are graduating college in December and want to come to Oahu for their wedding and honeymoon. Of course I am paying and they love the idea. My wife and I were married at sunset at the then Del Web hotel just after it opened. I am told that the north shore now is so crowded you are bumper to bumper in traffic, over populated and not worth the trip. Sounds like there is trouble in paradise. I didn't expect it the way it was but has it become so overcrowded that I would wish I didn't come back for two weeks. My wife worked at the now closed Kahuku Hospital. What do you think, back to Hawaii, or stick to the Carribbean ?

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by jessilizzi

What about Fern Acres? I had it confused with Fern Forest & the realtor I've been in touch with helped clear up this misunderstanding and I've heard it's a pretty decent area.

Also - for anyone with kids in Puna- how much does daycare cost? Is there a lot of daycare available? What about preschools??

Fern Acres is decent, Fern Forest is not (IMHO). Can't help you with daycare.

[leilaniguy]

Originally Posted by KAINTUCK

In 1971 & 1972 I served in the Navy at Wahiawa and lived on the North Shore at Kewaena Rd. A Navy buddy and myself paid $480 a month to rent a nice little two bedroom on the pipeline. I would just about trade all my subsequent experience to get those two years repeated. My son & his fiance are graduating college in December and want to come to Oahu for their wedding and honeymoon. Of course I am paying and they love the idea. My wife and I were married at sunset at the then Del Web hotel just after it opened. I am told that the north shore now is so crowded you are bumper to bumper in traffic, over populated and not worth the trip. Sounds like there is trouble in paradise. I didn't expect it the way it was but has it become so overcrowded that I would wish I didn't come back for two weeks. My wife worked at the now closed Kahuku Hospital. What do you think, back to Hawaii, or stick to the Carribbean ?

Why not go to one of the out islands? There are many places to go in Hawaii that aren't as crowded and overdeveloped as Oahu. Why not consider Hawaii outside Honolulu; Kauai, Maui, Big Island or Molokai? all are nothing like Oahu/Honolulu, a little glitz on Maui, Kona, otherwise still rural, quiet, old Hawaii.

[Sorcerer68]

duplicate post

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by jncsolis

Sorcerer68, You wrote: "Availability: You'll find yourself missing many things here. Think of all the things you love and then imagine never, ever being able to have most of them. It sounds harsh but you need to do this."

This may seem a silly question but could you give us some examples of what you are talking about here? We have found your post very helpful. You were very thorough and we appreciate your honesty. In fact this whole thread has been a great resource of information.

I miss:
Big rock concerts
hot, live music any night of the week
quality theatre productions
big swap meets
good thrift stores
good antique stores
used book stores
road trips (this one is HUGE)
discount shopping (electronics, furniture, I could go on)
the Auto Spa (they don't exist here, someone could make a fortune...)
Olive Garden
Cheesecake Factory (there's one in Honolulu but none on this island)
GOOD Mexican food (Luquins is ok but...)
Del Taco (fries with green sauce!)
Taco Trucks at 2am
Good Italian food
Carl's Jr
Fine dining (Kaikodo is awfully nice but a real French restaurant...)
mail delivery
trash service
vintage clothes stores
art galleries with things other than palm trees, hula girls and volcanos
good public transportation and decent taxi service
Lotto (I know...it's a bad habit...)
a GOOD, fully stocked "adult" store
Rollerblading from Manhattan Bch Pier to Burnout and back
Old Pasadena in it's entirety
Griffith Park (the planetarium! the view!)
People getting my jokes and cultural references
Being able to pay people to do pretty much anything (money doesn't talk in HI)
Being able to drive a BMW and get it properly serviced (I said PROPERLY)
Louise's Trattoria
Gladstones
Universal Citywalk
Driving over Mulholland
AMUSEMENT PARKS WITH ROLLER COASTERS!!!!
Sir Winston's aboard the Queen Mary
Anything at the Pantages
Loud music at the Whiskey
Discovering a new band at the Mayan
the Catalina Express
My Grandmother
My mother
My sister Jennifer
My nephew Gabriel
My sister Kimberly
My uncle David
My aunt Frances
My cousin Josh
My cousin Sara
My cousin Sophie
My cousin Ceci
My cousin George
My cousin Laura
My cousin Ronni
My cousin Marina
Wendy
Mark
Katie and her husband David and her 2 young children I've never met because I'm here
Many other friends and loved ones I didn't mention...
Windsor Club
AT Center
Walks down Wilshire
Vegan drive-thru
Arlington Group
riding the Red Line
Norton Simon Museum
Getty Museum
Museum of Tolerance
Museum of Natual History
Aviation Museum
Central Market
Buzz Coffee
Priscilla's
Watching for celebs by Warner Brothers
Being able to get a decent Reuben sandwich (or good diner food in general)
Glendale Galleria
Beverly Center
French Market
Good dry cleaners
Melrose Ave and all it's awesome shops
Venice Boardwalk
being able to keep leather and not have it mildew
being able to keep books and not have them mildew
being able to keep my classic movies, only available on VHS and not have them mildew..
Rose Parade
Veteran's Park
Gamble House
Southwest Museum
3rd Street Promenade
Driving around looking for old celeb haunts
Redondo Pier
El Torito
Live Mariachi bands in random places
People giving away free tickets to screenings/concerts
the 70+ restaurants within walking distance of my old house
Getting dressed up and going to the Hollywood Bowl
Premieres!
Getting free tickets to black tie events and actually going
Watching shows being taped
Watching movie shoots and eating their food
Getting a good haircut
Sitting next to LAX late at night watching the 747s take off
Drooling through the window at Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches on PCH, Weho or BH.
Gay bookstores
Gay establishments period
Not worrying about getting muddy
Mimi's Cafe
Things that stay open LATE!
People who stay up late
Pasadena Public Library (it's unbelievably gorgeous)
Jaw-dropping architecture in and around my old neighorhood
Walking my dog through Pasadena City Hall at night
Finding amazing items at Out Of The Closet
Constantly learning new history about different buildings
Endless hotel weekend "getaway" opportunities
The hum and energy of the city
Having everything I want, right there....

These are just a few things I thought of, I didn't edit nor did I try to make my list all-inclusive. Don't worry, I type fast

Jonah suspects I'm more of a Californian than a Hawaiian and he's probably right. I think I'm more of a city boy than anything else. I first came to Hawaii in 1973, left in 1981, although I returned to California several times during that period. I returned in 2003 and now I'm off again. I'll be home in L.A. Wednesday night, to stay. I'm really happy about it.