pahala hawaii (Hilo, Kailua, Volcano: apartments, rentals, condos)

[georgiabelle]

I was invited to move to Pahala but the are doesn't look to stable with
the Vog. I have researched that they are considering relocating the
farmers cause it's so bad. I was asked if I wanted to live in an apartment
there, that they have numerous recent vacancies and with my research
it looks like it was the vog that vacated their tenants. I'm here on the
main land and just can't get over there but I thought someone out
there might be able to update me on the conditions. Thank you.

[kani-lehua]

try this link: Current update of the eruption of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i it might be helpful.

[hotzcatz]

Apartments in Pahala? There can't be that many of them but I don't get down that way much so I couldn't tell you how things are going. The vog has been ferocious this year (actually, this is sorta the first year it has been to these levels) and it has been wrecking crops and things. Depending on which way the wind blows or if it doesn't the vog will sometimes get as far as Oahu. Dunno if Kauai gets it much.

The vog may not have been the only reason folks were moving away. Pahala is rather remote and fairly far away from the major employment areas of either Kona or Hilo. The price of gas went up rather alarmingly early this year so folks living far away from their employment had to either quit their jobs or move closer to their jobs. That is, if they still have a job since tourism is way down and folks have been getting laid off and their hours cut back. Being remote is more expensive with high gas prices and although we are beginning to get a bus system, buses aren't all that frequent yet.

So, I'm guessing it is a combination of vog, price of gas and lack of island employment which is having folks move out of Pahala. Either to move closer to their jobs or move to the mainland to look for work.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

First of all, why would you be interested in living in Pahala? It is a very, very small town. I suppose if you were in the medical field it would be good because there is a hospital there that serves the whole south end of the island. I agree with hotzcatz in that I don't know of any apartments there. I would certainly recommend that you visit for a couple of weeks before deciding on moving there.

The vog is worse around Pahala and Wood Valley. It seems to settle in there. You can really notice it when you drive through that area on the highway. Just down the road in Naalehu it isn't as bad because the tradewinds blow it on by.

[Mililani Gal]

I don't think there are apartments in Pahala. Very small town with a small market. There may be apartments in Naalehu which has a larger "super" market. The VOG is killer on Oahu when we get the southerly winds. Pahala is pretty bad, but the last time I visited Grandma and Grandpa in Pahala it was rainy (as usual), and VOG was not an issue. Nice small town feeling, very quiet and peaceful.

[cynmkolohe]

Wood Valley is possibly voggiest place | starbulletin.com | News | /2008/08/08/

This link is to an article I keep on file--anyone considering a move to the area should research carefully the reality of living there right now. Vog comes and goes for us here in east Hawaii--today was one of the worst days I've seen in quite a while. Kau and Kona see much more of an impact.

Other resources:

NPS: Nature & Science» Air Resources Division - Hawai`i Volcanoes NP Current Sulfur Dioxide Conditions

http://satepsanone.nesdis.noaa.gov/p...O2/hawaii.html

[georgiabelle]

Thank you everyone for your info. Very helpful.
Peace,
Georgiabelle

[KonaKat]

The "apartment" is probably a little ohana that someone has built onto/behind/under the main house. There are very few true apartment buildings on the whole island, let alone Pahala. (Most large buildings one might see for instance, in Kailua Kona are actually condos, not apartment buildings. There may be a few more apartment buildings in Hilo.) Definitely check things out in person. And yes, the vog is an issue. Doesn't bother some folks, plays havoc with others. Were you invited because of a certain job or something?

Come in person for a week or two before making any decision.

[hotzcatz]

Before making a decision to move or not, did you ask them why their tenants are moving out? It could be the general economy and lack of jobs that drove their tenants away instead of the vog. We are all just making a conjecture here, none of us really know.

In general, though, if you will need to find a job to be able to live in Pahala, then I don't think moving to Pahala would be a good idea. If you have some sort of income that doesn't depend on finding a job in the area AND you want to live a very quiet rural life, then Pahala might be a good choice.

Are they a property management company? That might explain how they have multiple rentals in an area we can't think of any apartment buildings in, but I'm not closely familiar with Pahala since that is on the other side of the island from me.