Prospect of work on the Puna Side... (Hilo, Pahoa: rentals, homes)

[dchanmer]

Aloha! Great information and experience here, Mahalo!
My wife and I are planning a move to the Big Island in the next couple of years. We have an unimproved lot in HPP where we plan on building a small dwelling, and are in the planning stages. I am a carpenter and maintenance professional as well as a licensed contractor for the last 30 years in CA. I have been downsizing my business here to where I am just doing small jobs on my own as well as maintenance jobs for local B&B's and property managers and I am as busy as I want to be. I am not interested in contracting or doing large jobs on the Big Island and imagine there are plenty of good builders around to do as much work there as there is. I am curious if there is a niche for a guy like me locally, doing small jobs, recognizing that it takes some time and hustle to get to know people and establish some relationships in the community. But I am good at what I do, easy going and personable and I think I can get a toehold. What you t'ink?

[KaraBenNemsi]

You plan to move to Puna for the same reason other folks have gone there: To live cheap and do things by themselves whenever possible. You may get to do some work here and there, but to get paid properly and on time will be a struggle.

The real work is on the Kona side where people have second homes and vacation rentals, meaning they have jobs, money and little time to fix things.

[dchanmer]

Mahalo, Kara, yes that is pretty much what I am envisioning.

[dchanmer]

It occurs to me I might do just as well working at Home depot....

[terracore]

There are very few jobs in Puna. Literally a handful. Most people drive into Hilo for work.

[dchanmer]

I assumed that also...as it is now I drive from Big Sur to Santa Cruz at times. Gotta go where the work is.

[hotzcatz]

If you're planning on working in Hilo, might be worthwhile to consider living in Hilo. If your lot is unimproved, it could either be kept for something later or sold for about what you paid for it, perhaps.

Even though you now have a commute to work, that doesn't mean commuting is something you'd want to continue if you can get around it. Before you have much invested in an area or friends to move away from, it might be worthwhile to look into living where the work will be.

I'm really surprised a second road into HPP hasn't been built yet. Having pretty much the entire Puna area go through that big bypass around Kea'au and then only having one road into the area just doesn't seem safe, IMHO. Not to mention that bit of lava slowly working it's way toward the one and only road into Pahoa. But, maybe it will work for you and you won't mind the one road.

Although they have fixed up the Kea'au - Pahoa road a lot in the past couple of decades. It used to be very small, narrow, full of potholes and you had to drive through Pahoa to get to the other side. The Pahoa bypass was a good idea. But the whole area all feeds through the Kea'au - Pahoa road and that's not big enough for the amount of cars on it now.

[dchanmer]

My idea is to wait until social security kicks in, work a little to supplement our income and enjoy Puna...if there was lots of local work I'd run right over but there's time to get some plans ready, maybe get the septic in....start the Hale in a couple of years and get to know the area better. No rush!

[dchanmer]

And if we decide to come sooner, rent in Hilo for a while and work on the HPP place as time and money allow.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Originally Posted by dchanmer

My idea is to wait until social security kicks in, work a little to supplement our income and enjoy Puna...if there was lots of local work I'd run right over but there's time to get some plans ready, maybe get the septic in....start the Hale in a couple of years and get to know the area better. No rush!

Excellent plan We had a seven year plan when we moved, because that's how long my husband had to work to be eligible for full pension. Really glad we did!