What small businesses would you like to see in Kau? (Volcano: construction, school)

[Akdoe]

This is just kind of a conversation starter.

What sorts of small businesses do you think would be nice in Kau?

Love the area, have been improving our property there for the past 6 or 7 years. Will be retiring and moving to the next stage in the next 3-4 years. Just dreaming a little...would love to hear some thoughts from the group...

[Grassyknoll]

You can also join some of the Facebook Ocean View groups. This question came up on a few FB posts and there was a pretty healthy response from 5he OV community.
You'll get way more information from OV residents there than you will on this forum. Just not a lot of OV residents on this board.

[Akdoe]

Thanks Grassy Knoll...Good insight. I poked around for Ocean View groups but would really appreciate suggestions as I mostly located pages that aren’t active...
Thanks again

[hotzcatz]

Maybe some of the suggestions could be brought over to here as well? There's other rural parts of Hawaii which may want to use the same sorts of things?

There had been an OP on here asking about zoning for a coffee shop in Volcano, but there's a fairly nice bakery/coffeesnack place in Naalehu, so not sure if Ka'u needs another one?

Geographically, Ka'u is a pretty big place, would folks from one side of Ka'u go to the other side for a business? Although, I'd suppose it would depend on which sort of business.

There's also demographics as to how many people you need to have in an area before it can support a specific type of business. That is, of course, if one assumes the business is there to be profitable, sometimes folks have businesses for other reasons although they do have to make a minimal amount of profit or they don't stay there very long.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Ocean View Community Bulletin Board and Watch Group is very active on FB.

Hard to say what would be needed in 3-4 years. One example: My friend has a coffee truck that she parks on the highway in Naalehu two times a week and is very successful. Maybe she'll get tired of this and be gone in 3-4 years.

It's hard for a "small" business to be successful. We have local farmers and ranchers who provide produce and beef on a small scale; local fishermen who sell their catch locally to restaurants and neighbors; small coffee and mac nuts growers; etc. What is always needed are skilled professions such as appliance repair, locksmith, plumber, electrician, etc. Never enough of them!

Good point about Ka`u being big. It's hard enough for us to go from South Point to Ocean View (about 25 miles) for a grocery store. We certainly wouldn't go to Volcano for a small business.

[Akdoe]

Okay, don't laugh but I am very partial to an indie bookstore...I know everyone is going to immediately think that a small independent book seller cannot compete due to amazon, e-readers etc.

But I still like the idea of offering a nice little bookstore to the community and think it could be pretty sweet...there are lots of retirees in Discovery Harbor that might want to support a small business...and most books can be ordered so a huge inventory isn't necessary. Bookstores can have a great vibe...even kids/teens might enjoy one! Have some cards, gifts...and limited hours.

It is true, people can always order books online and pay less...there has to be the desire to support a local business and the business needs to offer something inviting...like atmosphere...

When I am in Kau I always have the feeling that people would appreciate a few small places to shop...

Realistically though I know there is not an abundance of money to spend in Kau so that is why I am throwing the question out there. To see if anything else comes to mind for people.

My husband and I have had long careers in education...preschool, K-12 and college so maybe there is something there. He also loves outdoor education.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

I think one problem is finding a good storefront at a reasonable price. Just look at the shopping areas in Na`alehu and Ocean View. Stores seem to come and go, although the small shops near the Ocean View market seem to be doing well.

I was just thinking that a good thrift store would be nice, but I really think most businesses need the tourist trade to survive.

An indie book store???? If done well it might make it. Cozy book store and coffee shop/wifi, for example.

[grantw]

I would love to see a franchised type of fast food on Ka'u. We have two grocery stores in Ocean View.
With the traffic to South Point, Volcano and the growing OV community a Wendy's, etc. would do well.

A Domino's or Pizza Hut would be great too!

[Open-D]

Originally Posted by grantw

I would love to see a franchised type of fast food on Ka'u. We have two grocery stores in Ocean View.
With the traffic to South Point, Volcano and the growing OV community a Wendy's, etc. would do well.

A Domino's or Pizza Hut would be great too!

I hereby Second the Wendy's suggestion.

[dobanion]

The plan is to live in Kau area with a friend of mine within a few years. Things we have in the works:


Spray on concrete construction. Thin shell dome buildings, concrete fences, large water tanks.


Aquaponic farming. Prawns and leafy greens.


Food truck with a creole southern flair (my buddy is from Louisiana and is a hell of a cook), using a lot of prawns.


Small scale brewery selling the results through the food truck. Couple beers, a hard cider.


More pie in the sky:
Strawberry guava based distilled spirits