Discovery Harbour Subdivision, Kau, Big Island - what you should know before moving there (neighborhood, living)

[IslandGirl87]

Aloha!
Mahalo for the wealth of information you've so generously shared! I just read all of the posts in this thread and must say I really enjoyed it. I've been waiting many years to relocate to Hawaii (1987! ) and DH is one of the BI locations I'm curious about, so this thread was fantastic for me. It sounds like you have a wonderful community.
Debi

Hawaii ~ The place my heart calls home ♥

[chihuahuasrus]

Thank for the Candid information. We plan to visit in January and really check the area out, but a truthful analysis from a local in much appreciated and very helpful...I knew it was too good to be true. Actually the only REAL drawback to what you said was the lack of any nice beaches. How close is the closest Decent Beach?

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

What do you consider "decent"? The closest swimmable beach is Ho'okena, which is about 45 minutes away. It is a very nice grey sand beach in a bay, so swimming is pretty safe. There is a pod of dolphins who live in the bay, and they've been known to come close to swimmers. You can get to the black sand beach at Punalu'u within 15 minutes, but the water is cold and there can be strong currents.

[chihuahuasrus]

Decent, means swimming sun bathing, snorkeling. I love the idea of swimming with/near the Dolphins. Thanks for the reply, I will check out the beaches online. At least that gives me some direction.

[HonaunauLove]

I just jump off the rocks pretty much anywhere that doesn't have surge happening to go swim. But the kind of beaches I think you're looking for are from Ho'okena and north from there. Beaches get nicer as you travel north up the coast. Some easier to get to more than others. The best spots require hiking in.

[KaraBenNemsi]

There's Honomalino Beach, much closer than Ho'okena. Sandy, not many people there. Of course Green Sands at South Point, but wave action can be unpredictable. Pohue Beach (access through Ranchos, but gate is always closed so it's quite a hike).

Closest fishing, swim, kayak, & snorkel is probably Ka'alu'alu Bay and the Kalolo tidepools close by (just drive through Discovery down that bumpy Waihohino road to the bay).

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

There's Honomalino Beach, much closer than Ho'okena. Sandy, not many people there. Of course Green Sands at South Point, but wave action can be unpredictable. Pohue Beach (access through Ranchos, but gate is always closed so it's quite a hike).

Closest fishing, swim, kayak, & snorkel is probably Ka'alu'alu Bay and the Kalolo tidepools close by (just drive through Discovery down that bumpy Waihohino road to the bay).

All of which require either four-wheel drive or a long hike (or both). That's why I didn't mention them.

To get to Honomolino, you need to know not only where to park, but also where to start your walk through the water to get to the trail. It is a 20 minute walk, so you have to schlep all your stuff.

To get to Green Sand Beach, you either drive a four wheel drive over very rough road, or you walk two miles. And when you get there, it is not a swimmable beach. BTW I heard that the road has been recently closed to vehicles.

To get to Pohue, you need to know where to park. Then it's a two to three mile walk across the lava. Beautiful secluded beach, but is not what the OP had in mind.

To get to Ka'alu'alu Bay, it's about an hour drive in a four-wheel drive or ATV over a VERY rough "road". I have no idea what the "Waihohino" road is and I live in DH.

[smarino]

"Hawaii ~ The place my heart calls home ♥


But, is it the place your wallet or purse calls affordable? I see these sort of posts regularly, and always wonder how these folks end up? OK, I sorta know how they end up (I ended up living in a goat shed once because I didn't bring enough money, which worked out better than you would have thought actually, but not that great)

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

To get to Honomolino, you need to know not only where to park, but also where to start your walk through the water to get to the trail. It is a 20 minute walk, so you have to schlep all your stuff..

I don't remember walking through water to access the trail. Just park in the Park, right?

[Grassyknoll]

Originally Posted by Blind Cleric

I don't remember walking through water to access the trail. Just park in the Park, right?

At high tide the first part of the trail can be submerged. Not that much, but you will get your feet wet.