Puna, Hawaii (Hilo, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Volcano: college, subdivision, taxes)

[wendyfish]

I'm an ER/UC Rn relocating to the Puna district end of May 07, any words of advise for local Pahoa clinic or should I work part time in Hilo?

[leilaniguy]

Aloha Wendyfish. I don't think you would need part time work in Hilo. Pahoa clinic is always very busy. Glad to know you are coming, you're needed!

[FranSchaefle]

Aloha - just returned a little less than 2 weeks ago from our visit to "confirm" the relocation. Having lived in Hawaii a couple of times (nearly 30 years ago) on Kona side, and my husband having only visited 3 times in the past 5 years to Oahu and Maui... (but couldn't hardly get him on the bus to return...)
I will be accepting a special education teaching position on the Hilo side, and we purchased a comfortable 30 year old home in Hawaiian Beaches/Park subdivision on about 1/3 an acre. No catchment has water, access to cable internet, only a few lots in from the main drag (kahakai) and many undeveloped lots surrounding the property. Great assistance from local Puna realtor (lives in the area). Visited farmer's market while there - excellent prices on local fresh veggies and fruits - what costs more in the grocery store than on the mainland is made up for in the selection and great prices at the farmer's market, and the little stands in Keaau. Enjoyed dining in Pahoa - Mexican, Thai and Italian - all really good food. Enjoyed fabulous ambience and food in Hilo at Kaikodo's (as nice as many of the very nice restaurants we visit in the Chicago suburbs- but in Chicago we don't get the fantastic shashimi). Also visited the fairly new grocery store in Pahoa, the natural food store, the local internet cafe w/ great smoothies, and the Subway sub shop. Enjoyed the visit to the hot ponds, and marveled at the few that were brave enough to attempt surfing along the rocky shoreline. Saw sea turtles in the surf, and even saw the back and spouting of one last migrating whale.
Enjoyed much of the quiet shushing of the evenings (stayed at a great B and B, contact me if you want more info)... where we could look out the window at black lava being pounded throughout the day and night w/ the aqua blue of the surf some 10-15 ft below... right out the bedroom window.
Have a few details to work out here to get some of the basic home belongings and plan to be there by the end of June - ready to start teaching in July. Aloha! Fran

[wendyfish]

Mahalo Lelaniguy!

[nasu]

Thank you so much for great information Sorcerer68, Leilaniguy, and several other posters who provided positive and negative aspects of living in Puna Area. Although I've lived on "rock" for 7 years (Okinawa) in my early 20's, I now feel that I can not live in Puna area for many of the reasons Sorcerer68 gave.

Hawaii was one of the places we were considering for our retirement location, but after reading these posts I know now that I will not be happy living there. Yes, each to it's own. Back to drawing board again looking for a place to call our home......it may end up being exactly where we are now in Bay Area, CA.

Thank you all and very best to all of you here!

[leilaniguy]

Aloha nasu, I'm sorry Puna isn't for you, but it's that way for many, it's pretty much a jump back in time. Eveyone out there reading should understand that. This is a very rural area and even more so primitive when compared with most of the rest of the USA. This is smalltown, and not smalltown America, smalltown Polynesia, very different than anywhere else. Just by happenchance is this American territory.

[Maud Gonne]

The wonderful list of Things I Miss by Sorcerer68 was music to my ears! Like Leilaniguy, I will not miss even one item on that list. Actually I already live in a wee town in Oregon and don't miss big city stuff at all, having "done" NYC etc. I am Puna-bound and so eager that "desperate" is closer to the truth. Looking for that perfect cabin with some land and fruit trees, but only have $125,000. Have been looking in OrchidLand mainly. Have not given serious consideration to HPP because of its overwhelming size & surburbia ambiance, plus its lava zone. But I'd love to hear from any HPPers out there. I need to expand my search. I have been to Big Island twice, this will be my third trip.

[rbonplaza]

My partner and I purchased two side-by-side lots in Orchidland in 2005 and are building what we expect to be our retirement house in 2009. We have had great luck with the entire process. We were warned about trying to accomplish this from the mainland, but almost everything has gone smoothly. We found a great contractor, a great expiditer for the permits and met some really good new friends. We are building a bamboo house (check out Bambooliving.com) and expect to be able to be off-grid. Lot's more to learn, but we're both excited about joining the East Hawaii community. I will happily share more info regarding Bamboo Technologies and our contractor if anyone would like to ask.

[orphanmoth]

Hello Fran,

I hope you keep everyone posted on how your move turns out. I'm impressed with your leap of faith in moving, accepting a job with HDOE, buying a house etc all in one go. I'm a speech therapist and am considering a similar move. I just keep hearing awful things about working in the Hawaii schools. I think it boils down to one question, "Will I be allowed to be of some use to the children I serve without dying in the process." I guess what I'd like to hear is that someone who made the type of move you are making and is working in the public schools is happy with their job. Or at the very least, not so unhappy that they are quitting.

Best
Laura
Berkeley

Originally Posted by FranSchaefle

Aloha - just returned a little less than 2 weeks ago from our visit to "confirm" the relocation. Having lived in Hawaii a couple of times (nearly 30 years ago) on Kona side, and my husband having only visited 3 times in the past 5 years to Oahu and Maui... (but couldn't hardly get him on the bus to return...)
I will be accepting a special education teaching position on the Hilo side, and we purchased a comfortable 30 year old home in Hawaiian Beaches/Park subdivision on about 1/3 an acre. No catchment has water, access to cable internet, only a few lots in from the main drag (kahakai) and many undeveloped lots surrounding the property. Great assistance from local Puna realtor (lives in the area). Visited farmer's market while there - excellent prices on local fresh veggies and fruits - what costs more in the grocery store than on the mainland is made up for in the selection and great prices at the farmer's market, and the little stands in Keaau. Enjoyed dining in Pahoa - Mexican, Thai and Italian - all really good food. Enjoyed fabulous ambience and food in Hilo at Kaikodo's (as nice as many of the very nice restaurants we visit in the Chicago suburbs- but in Chicago we don't get the fantastic shashimi). Also visited the fairly new grocery store in Pahoa, the natural food store, the local internet cafe w/ great smoothies, and the Subway sub shop. Enjoyed the visit to the hot ponds, and marveled at the few that were brave enough to attempt surfing along the rocky shoreline. Saw sea turtles in the surf, and even saw the back and spouting of one last migrating whale.
Enjoyed much of the quiet shushing of the evenings (stayed at a great B and B, contact me if you want more info)... where we could look out the window at black lava being pounded throughout the day and night w/ the aqua blue of the surf some 10-15 ft below... right out the bedroom window.
Have a few details to work out here to get some of the basic home belongings and plan to be there by the end of June - ready to start teaching in July. Aloha! Fran

[leilaniguy]

Originally Posted by Maud Gonne

The wonderful list of Things I Miss by Sorcerer68 was music to my ears! Like Leilaniguy, I will not miss even one item on that list. Actually I already live in a wee town in Oregon and don't miss big city stuff at all, having "done" NYC etc. I am Puna-bound and so eager that "desperate" is closer to the truth. Looking for that perfect cabin with some land and fruit trees, but only have $125,000. Have been looking in OrchidLand mainly. Have not given serious consideration to HPP because of its overwhelming size & surburbia ambiance, plus its lava zone. But I'd love to hear from any HPPers out there. I need to expand my search. I have been to Big Island twice, this will be my third trip.

Aloha Maud, Maybe that's a key to living in Puna. I'm from a small town in Oregon too, (J'ville) only visited big cities a few dozen times, hated "the vibe", seemed frantic to me. Also, being from the PNW, I'm used to isolation, no electric, gray skies, rain, floods, 'quakes, fires, volcanoes, even seen tsunami damage, so Puna isn't such a stretch. BTW, HPP and Orchidland are in the same lava zone, (3), as is much of Puna. I owned 2 lots in HPP and built a house there once, some parts have a very rural feel, cabins, country. You might also check out Hawaiian Acres and Fern Acres.