Big Island "Growing Pains" -- Honolulu Star-Advertiser Special Section 4/28/13 (Hilo: real estate, 2013)

[Jonah K]

Today's (4/28/13) Honolulu Star-Advertiser has a 36-page special section that focuses on the "growing pains" of the Big Island. Anyone that's considering moving to the Big Island should read it. Here's a link...
http://www.staradvertiser.com/specia...growing-pains/

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Jonah K

Today's (4/28/13) Honolulu Star-Advertiser has a 36-page special section that focuses on the "growing pains" of the Big Island. Anyone that's considering moving to the Big Island should read it. Here's a link...
Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Yes, it's informative and well worth the read.

It's interesting to me to see how many of the same themes we discuss here on a regular basis are echoed in their coverage.

[hotzcatz]

It wanted me to log in before it got very far. Oh well, I'll go pick up a hard copy instead.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

It wanted me to log in before it got very far.

Yeah, if you aren't a subscriber you can sign up for a 14 day pass for $1.99.

[whtviper1]

perhaps someone can post the cliff notes for non-subscribers

[Die Intellektuelle]

Originally Posted by Jonah K

Today's (4/28/13) Honolulu Star-Advertiser has a 36-page special section that focuses on the "growing pains" of the Big Island. Anyone that's considering moving to the Big Island should read it. Here's a link...
Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

I didn't read the article but like others I need to be a subscriber to read it, plus I probably wouldn't want to read 36-pages anyways but is there something in particular that's making Honolulu or Oahu grow in particular? Military expansion? Retirees? What?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Die Intellektuelle

I didn't read the article but like others I need to be a subscriber to read it, plus I probably wouldn't want to read 36-pages anyways but is there something in particular that's making Honolulu or Oahu grow in particular? Military expansion? Retirees? What?

Oahu/Honolulu is a different island than the Big Island.

Essentially, the Big Island's population is expanding because it's the only island with affordable, but risky, real estate. Most of it is in lava zones and off-the-grid. But, since it's Hawaii, people are moving there nontheless.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by Die Intellektuelle

I didn't read the article but like others I need to be a subscriber to read it, plus I probably wouldn't want to read 36-pages anyways but is there something in particular that's making Honolulu or Oahu grow in particular? Military expansion? Retirees? What?

The 36 pages of articles we're talking about are all in reference to the Big Island, aka Hawai'i County, not about Oahu or Honolulu. Your questions would be better asked on the Oahu forum.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

perhaps someone can post the cliff notes for non-subscribers

Okay, "Growing Pains" special section is divided into three parts. Here are the "Cliff's Notes" (courtesy of the print edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser)...

Part 1 - Heart of Change

Over the last decade, Hawaiʻi County’s population swelled by nearly 25 percent, the highest growth rate in the state. The epicenter of that growth has been the Puna district, where the new neighbors have brought the promise of new industry and development but have also spurred questions about inadequate infrastructure and overdevelopment.

Part 2 - A New Attitude

Kaʻu is the largest district on Hawaiʻi Island. It is also its least populated. But more people have been venturing into Kaʻu to find land bargains in Ocean View, once known as a place rife with drugs and crime. Today about 6,000 people call Ocean View home -- up from less than 1,000 in 1990 -- and the influx of families and retirees has brought a sense of community to a place once known as the "Wild, Wild West."

Part 3 - The Next Generation

Hawaiʻi Island youth face big challenges, from a high unemployment rate to a lack of opportunities. To make ends meet, many migrate to Kona or Hilo or leave the island altogether. Educators and officials acknowledge there is considerable work to do to give youth more choices after graduation, but there is also hope in the future.

Unfortunately, while Honolulu Star-Advertiser non-subscribers can read blurbs about most of the articles within the three parts of the "Growing Pains" special section at the website, they don't get access to the infographics that paint a more detailed picture about the Big Island. In the future, if someone states that "5.3% of the housing units in Kaʻu lack complete plumbing facilities" or that "24% of the adults on the Big Island are 'obese'", they probably got the information from the "Growing Pains" special section.

[OpenD]

Free access to the special section?

FWIW, the paywall seems to have been dropped for this special section, at least temporarily. Earlier in the day (Monday) a friend who is a non-subscriber was able to access the whole shebang, even those nifty infographics Jonah mentioned.

Frankly, it makes sense to me that they would do that, since that means more eyes on the ads, and let's be honest, special sections like this are advertising specials, too.

In any case, I don't know if the free access will last, but it's probably worth a try if you don't have a subscription.