good faimily beach around pahoa (Hilo: how much, neighborhood, buying)

[tim patin]

My family and I will be staying in Hilo for three days at the end of March 2007. We are looking for good beaches or warm tide pools in the Pahoa area or any other good sites for families. We will also be in the Kona for four days. Thanks in advance for your help

[leilaniguy]

For hotponds, try the Kapoho Vacationland area or the Kapoho Beachlots, if you know someone staying in that gated, private neighborhood, great, clean hotponds there. Avoid the Ahalanui hotpond park, as it has lately become a victim of it's own popularity and overuse, (bacterium).

[tim patin]

thanks leilaniguy for reply, we have a vacant lot in tiki gardens and have only seen it once, and had little time to explore. this time at end of march we will have 3 days, what is the fastest way driving from kona, north or south? what about beaches and tide pools around tiki gardens? ( bringing the kids) the one you reccommended: you have to know some one? we are going to stay in hilo for the 3 days what about traffic going and coming? any time of day the best? in you opinon, is it worth it to sell vacant lot and build or buy on west side of island? looking to spend $200k-$250K we visited last year and really like up north around hawi. what would you prefer? right now for past 20 years lived in so. cal. los angeles area and everything i read about the hilo side kinda scares us about the rain and now the centepides? i don't mind the rain at night. but how much in the day? on line weather channel says it's raining in keeau every day. ready to retire kids will be gone and get away from this rat race in about 5 years. by then enough money to kick back and relax maybe get job at golf course. thanks for all your help just trying to figure out my avenues.

[Jonah K]

Originally Posted by tim patin

what is the fastest way driving from kona, north or south?

Usually, it's the northern route via Saddle Road.

Originally Posted by tim patin

what about beaches and tide pools around tiki gardens? ( bringing the kids) the one you reccommended: you have to know some one? we are going to stay in hilo for the 3 days what about traffic going and coming? any time of day the best? in you opinon, is it worth it to sell vacant lot and build or buy on west side of island? looking to spend $200k-$250K we visited last year and really like up north around hawi. what would you prefer? right now for past 20 years lived in so. cal. los angeles area and everything i read about the hilo side kinda scares us about the rain and now the centepides? i don't mind the rain at night. but how much in the day? on line weather channel says it's raining in keeau every day. ready to retire kids will be gone and get away from this rat race in about 5 years. by then enough money to kick back and relax maybe get job at golf course. thanks for all your help just trying to figure out my avenues.

For ocean access and tide pools around Tiki Gardens, Kapoho is probably your best bet. As for selling a vacant lot and buying on the Kona side of the island, $200K to $250K is not going to get you that much. In addition, the Kona side of the Big Island is now pretty similar to Southern California with its traffic woes, vog, earthquakes, and housing prices.

It usually rains at night on the Hilo side and sometimes, there are a few showers during the day. Centipedes are less of a problem than coqui frogs and Albizia trees. Before moving to the Big Island, I highly recommend a couple of extended visits. As a part-time California resident, I find myself missing things like In-n-Out burgers, the local news in HD, IKEA, Trader Joe's, Fry's Electronics, Porsche and Lexus dealerships, Lakers and Clippers games at the Staples Center, etc. when I'm in Hawai'i.

[Sorcerer68]

[quote=Jonah K;209945]Usually, it's the northern route via Saddle Road.

It usually rains at night on the Hilo side and sometimes, there are a few showers during the day.

This is true much of the year, in the winter it can rain for days at a time. It can be Biblical.

As a part-time California resident, I find myself missing things like In-n-Out burgers, the local news in HD, IKEA, Trader Joe's, Fry's Electronics, Porsche and Lexus dealerships, Lakers and Clippers games at the Staples Center, etc. when I'm in Hawai'i.

Yep, me too. I'm moving back next month.

Regarding cheap stuff on the Kona side, the further south you go, the cheaper it gets. You can still buy something nice for your 200-250k in South Kona but it won't be close to town.