Tiki gardens house? (Ainaloa: rent, violent crime, neighborhoods)

[Islandbound4]

Aloha, we’re looking to purchase in either Tiki Gardens or Ainaloa. Is Tiki Gardens safe? My husband and I have just relocated to the BI and are exploring all neighborhoods. Mahalo!

[terracore]

Tiki Gardens and Ainaloa are virtually indistinguishable from one another and most people here just refer to the area as "Ainaloa".

Living in the next subdivision over, I would pass on that neighborhood. The population density is high for Puna which concentrates the number of crimes committed. The tiny lots means that your neighbors are going to be extremely close to you, so you'll be able to hear their Friday night arguments even if you close up all your doors and windows. Even if they are a few blocks away. I don't even live in that subdivision and on a quiet night I can hear people who do if I go about 1/2 way to the back of our property. Small sound travels large over the lava.

You mentioned that you have already relocated here, so you can drive through the neighborhood and make your own determinations. The neighborhood does have good qualities like nice roads, a USPS area to get mail, and a community center.

The further you go up the hill, the more sparse the housing gets. There are good and bad qualities to go along with that.

[hotzcatz]

Can you rent in Tiki Gardens and see if you like it? Petty theft is pretty rampant in many areas of Puna so it's probably not safe from theft. Usually, though, they are property crimes and not violent crimes, but there's now a bit of that showing up in various place now, too. Is there an active Community Watch group? That will usually keep crime down.

[Islandbound4]

Good idea, thank you!