Hidden costs of living on the BI? Yes, yet another get me out of the mainland type post. Sorry!!

[Due]

Originally Posted by OpenD

The Fish and the Hog Market Cafe - never tried this place, but they list three "classic barbecue" items... on Highway 19 in Waimaea. Here's that part of the menu:

I'm not holding my breath, but somebody should try it and report back!

Other than that, a couple of food trucks get mixed reports. Nothing you can count on.

Thanks for the info: we will try it in a few weeks and report back.

[h2f42]

if you are very careful you can get by on $2500.00 a month on the east side. More as you go west. Unless you want mainland style housing, then the price goes up

[pjgroff1]

Originally Posted by OpenD

Yeah, Salt Grass is a small chain of Longhorn style steak houses.



Yeah, Salt Lick has a real following, due to its longevity out there in Driftwood. Dave Letterman mentions them all the time. Funny thing is that the BBQ wars have heated up in Central Texas the last couple of years, and Salt Lick is no longer even on most experts' Top Five lists. Franklin BBQ, La Barbeque, and John Mueller Meat Co, plus the aforementioned Snow's, and Stiles-Switch have all kicked Salt Lick to the curb. Of course even runner-ups in Central Texas are better than the best everywhere else.

And expertise of the pit master, and the right pit. But without the right wood he can't get the job done. Fortunately there's FedEx.

Pit Master would be first and foremost, second is wood, but that really depends on what part of texas you want to emulate. Checked Texas Monthly 2013 top 50 list(unranked) and dang Salt Lick didn't make the cut this year

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by h2f42

if you are very careful you can get by on $2500.00 a month on the east side. More as you go west. Unless you want mainland style housing, then the price goes up

I know several people who manage on half that much... retirees, disabled. It's not easy, but the number of ohana dwellings in the district makes it possible. It all depends on what you find acceptable. How about a $300/mo cabin, off the grid?

[pjgroff1]

Originally Posted by OpenD

I know several people who manage on half that much... retirees, disabled. It's not easy, but the number of ohana dwellings in the district makes it possible. It all depends on what you find acceptable. How about a $300/mo cabin, off the grid?

A suggestion that could help every one, those who live in Hawai'i and those of us who don't. Elaborate more, as in this case I had to find this site to figure out what the heck you are talking about, and the pitfalls of what you are talking about. I hope the Admin allows this URL as it is specific and in depth to what an Ohana dwelling is and how it the name came about and the pitfalls.


OURchitecture (All Kinds Drafting Service): The Legacy of Ohana Dwelling Units in Honolulu

[OpenD]

The "in Honolulu" phrase in that title is important, because both law and practice are different on Oahu than they are in Hawai'i County.

The word Ohana means "extended family" in Hawaiian, and the original use of the term meant a secondary housing unit, attached or separate, that expanded the capacity of the original house. The distinction was that the ohana did not contain a kitchen, because the assumption was that family eats together. And the official position on the Big Island was that with no kitchen the ohana unit could not be rented. So R1 (Residential Single Family) zoned lots in Hawai'i County can have a second dwelling unit, even a detached house, so long as it has no kitchen.

In practice the distinction comes down to a stove, which is why illegal ohana rentals, which are extremely common on the Big Island, typically have a sink, a refrigerator, and a microwave or possibly a hot plate, but no stove. They also do not have a separate electric meter, so they are either rented with utilities included or a flat rate for utilities.

[hotzcatz]

Also on our island - as distinct and separate from Honolulu - are the sheer number of totally illegal buildings. In an "off the grid" rental, folks may be renting a completely substandard building. Honolulu has a lot less illegal structures.

A $300 a month "off the grid" cabin on this island translates to a structure that was most likely built without a permit which means it won't be built to many of the common building standards many folks take for granted. It will not have grid powered electricity which is what "off the grid" means. It will also most likely be down a gravel road or a 4WD rock road. There probably won't be mail service, no trash service, no sewer. That means either a cesspool or septic although most folks pay no attention to where the water goes after it goes down the drain. There is also not likely to be County water, but you'd rely on rainwater catchment system. Most likely a rental like this would require at least half an hour's drive to get to any sort of services/shops, etc.