Captain Cook or Waikoloa to raise a family? (Hilo, Waimea: middle-class, sale)

[mommyofmanykids]

Which would you choose and why?

[CyberCity]

IMHO, that is just too wide a comparison. They are on the same island, but very different.

Also, by Waikoloa, do you mean the condos or fancy homes in the Waikoloa Resort area, or, the condos or homes in the more middle-class Waikoloa Village? They are completely separate places.

[mommyofmanykids]

Could you describe your impression of both? Or suggest another community within 20-40 minutes of Kona in either direction where families are? Just trying to narrow down some potential communities before I start calling realtors & schools & owners of vacation rentals and planning scouting/fact finding tours. Would like to be as informed as possible in advance so I don't waste time on areas that I know won't be a potentially good fit. Looking for middle class ($300K housing) and nice/accessible beaches.

[mommyofmanykids]

Just wanting some pros/cons to research about specific communities. I've looked at a lot of statistical information, but it hasn't provided much guidance

[CyberCity]

I think that at this point, you'll do best by connecting with a knowledgeable realtor(s). Someone who lives in the area can be super helpful, because they will know the nuances of neighborhoods, etc. So, you might consider having a realtor based in Kona for that area, and a realtor based in Waikoloa for that area, etc. Some realtors don't like it (they want the sale and commission), but it is your money, not their's, so you are in control of how you shop.

Of importance would be discussion about:
1) Elem school choices
2) Middle school choices
3) High school choices (one level of the 3 levels might be fine locally, while another level bad)
4) Association fees, and what is covered
5) Youth activities that interest your family
6) Safety of the neighborhood
7) Will the property hold its value (check the neighborhood, this is where an association can be very helpful in holding values)
8) Do you have a medical condition in the family where you need to be super close to a facility?
9) Will you have need to drive a lot at night (Big Island roads are dark!)?
10) How "close" to the beach do you need (walking? driving? our limited bus system won't work well for that)?

Good luck.

[Futuremauian]

I've visited the Big Island twice in the last few years, and four times altogether. From my observations, I think I would prefer to live in Keahou. It has a more tropical feel than Kona or Waikoloa. The drive from Waikoloa is at relatively low speed, on two-lane highway, and seems long & boring. Wouldn't want to commute that stretch daily.
On my third visit, we stayed at Waikoloa Colony Villas for 12 days (including 4th of July), in a condo, owned by friends from home. Waikoloa Beach Resort is very nice, but it's an artificial oasis in the middle of a desert, and hosts mostly vacationers. Waikoloa Village is on a hillside above the beach resort (maybe 10-15 miles), a long way from the ocean. I didn't notice anything that would make me want to live there. Costco is between the airport and Kona. Big box stores/supermarkets are in Kona. Last time I was there, July 2011, we stayed at the Sheraton in Keahou, and enjoyed that area much more. It was also the first time I've been in Hilo with sunny, beautiful weather. Captain Cook was surprisingly foggy at night, at higher elevation.
Of course, with children, you are probably interested in the location with the best schools, and the least amount of VOG.
Best of luck! Please check in after you decide. I would like to hear which choice you make, and why.

[mommyofmanykids]

Helpful as always, CyberCity, thank you.

[mommyofmanykids]

Future Mauian:

Thank you! I love the tropical look - whole reason I'm moving there, really, aside from the weather - so I'm interested in Keahou. What else can you tell me about your observations of Keahou?

Another friend (who has lived on the BI) also recently told me there was nothing about Waikoloa that really impressed her and that it was definitely too windy for her taste. I'd still like to check it out for myself, regardless. Folks on this forum thought it would be the best area for my allergies and for less vog....

Thanks for the tip about the fog in Capt. Cook and the higher elevation. I get cold very easily (even in the 60's/low 70's) so I'm not really looking for high elevation if I can help it. Although some of my family members get hot easily too, so maybe that would be a suitable compromise. I really want to eat meals on a lanai and look out at a view. Have a glass of wine on a lanai with my hubby after the kids go to bed. So evening fog doesn't sound that great. Don't want to pay for a view that I can't enjoy. I think I read somewhere on these boards that the houses in Capt. Cook are on top of each other too and that you can hear your neighbors and their dogs barking, etc. I don't like the sounds of that either. An area that has other kids would be good though, so that mine can walk over to a friend's house once in awhile safely....so much to consider it's overwhleming It will be challenging to find the right place!

[terracore]

Originally Posted by mommyofmanykids

Which would you choose and why?

Waikoloa reminds me of cabo san lucas in Mexico. Pipe some water to the desert and hope palm trees grow. If you want to see what it looks like, go outside on a clear night when the moon if full and gaze up at it. The moon and Waikoloa have the exact same surface.

Captain Cook actually looks like Hawaii. In fact it is the only place on the West side of the island other than Hawi that isn't barren. No matter where you are on the west side you'll be dealing with vog almost every day. I think the air quality is better in Los Angeles.

The first time I ever went to the BI I made the mistake of staying in a condo on the west side and I felt like I had been swindled. It wasn't until I got to Waimea that I thought... Oh... this IS Hawaii. And the further east I went the better it got.

[mommyofmanykids]

Thanks TerraCore, that is helpful.