Life change move to Big Island (fit in, real estate, to rent)

[type3secretion]

Putting aside all the red flags, caveats, money issues, etc, I'm interested in a move to the Big Island. Put in time with a certain life style, looking for big change.

I have always been very drawn to volcanos. Drawn to the sea. I have this dream to find some sort of isolated land on the Big Island, build a house, live differently.

I'm a bit of a lone wolf, I don't need much in the way of people or stores or night life - just the opposite, and I'm really looking for the opposite after 20 years in Manhattan (where I never wished to live, but did so for work reasons).

I love the idea of multiculutral, and even the idea of being in the minority (I'm European-American). Willing to live more simply etc. I've been to Hawaii three times, the Big Island once (Oahu other times, which is too developed for what I'm looking for).

I'm interested to discover where on the Big Island one could seek out such a life style. How would one go about discovering the places one could live, how to obtain little bit of land, building codes, etc. I'm doing online searches, but would love any pointers to efficient routes to this (outside of just moving a renting for a while, and scoping it there, which is tempting and may be my route).

I'm not in a hurry. I've been rushing like a madman all my life, and I want to change that, take my time, do it best I can.

Thanks for any advice.

[franklin42]

Originally Posted by type3secretion

Putting aside all the red flags, caveats, money issues, etc, I'm interested in a move to the Big Island. Put in time with a certain life style, looking for big change.

I have always been very drawn to volcanos. Drawn to the sea. I have this dream to find some sort of isolated land on the Big Island, build a house, live differently.

I'm a bit of a lone wolf, I don't need much in the way of people or stores or night life - just the opposite, and I'm really looking for the opposite after 20 years in Manhattan (where I never wished to live, but did so for work reasons).

I love the idea of multiculutral, and even the idea of being in the minority (I'm European-American). Willing to live more simply etc. I've been to Hawaii three times, the Big Island once (Oahu other times, which is too developed for what I'm looking for).

I'm interested to discover where on the Big Island one could seek out such a life style. How would one go about discovering the places one could live, how to obtain little bit of land, building codes, etc. I'm doing online searches, but would love any pointers to efficient routes to this (outside of just moving a renting for a while, and scoping it there, which is tempting and may be my route).

I'm not in a hurry. I've been rushing like a madman all my life, and I want to change that, take my time, do it best I can.

Thanks for any advice.

Sounds like the Big Island will suit you fine! How much can you spend on land/house? You can find some really good deals if you look around. You can find "cheap" land around the Puna area(many others too). I know a few people who bought acreage and built dwellings(without permits) and live off the land/grid. Water catchment/generators...(Mdand3boys could probably help more on that subject). A ton of people do it and love it. I would however come and visit first if you can. If not, I would recommend moving and renting and checking everything out first.

[hothulamaui]

our big island posters will have more info than I but my guess would be the puna area on the hilo side and up to volcano area. there are several MLS real estate sites that will have plenty to look at. some of the subdivisions you can live off grid no worries

[Balad1]

Do you have money enough for the move and to establish yourself here?

Are you going to have to work and if so in what field?

[cynmkolohe]

This may be the best "I'm thinking of moving to the Big Island" post I've ever seen.

There are a number of blogs from local bloggers that you can find through a Google search - the TOS of City-Data prevent me from posting the links here, but do a few searches on simplicity, sustainability, East Hawaii...and you'll get there.

In the meantime, if you have specific questions about building codes, I may be able to help with that. The first step is to see if a subdivision (we use that term very loosely) has CC&Rs. If you end up focusing on the Puna or Ka'u districts, only a few subdivisions have Covenants/Conditions. This is a plus for some, but not for others. If there are no active neighborhood CC&Rs, then only the county building code applies. You can explore that on the Department of Public Works Building Permits main page.

Must add, though, moving here and renting for a while is a really good idea. If you've only visited once, there is no way for online research to fully convey the reality of living in rural Hawaii. Rents are so competitive right now there is no reason to rush. Once you are better acquainted with the area and have time to discover how you will fit into the community here, you will be armed with the information you need to make a decision that you will be much less likely to regret!

[Lisa From Maui]

Want to move to Big Island? Hope you can handle air pollution. volcanic fog = VOG People who live on BI can give you more info.

We moved to Maui in January. The vog never bothered me because I lived in a big city and was very much accustomed to air pollution. Days with Kona winds, locals said, "I can feel the vog. Bothering my sinuses, my eyes, I feel icky, yucky, run-down." I said, "Vog? What vog? I don't even feel it. This is every day air pollution back home."

In November, I felt icky, yucky, run-down. Took me 2-3 days to figure out why. We had Kona winds; it was the vog. My body got accustomed to fresh air. It took 11 months, but I can now feel the effects of the Vog.

That's one major reason I would not want to move to BI. Air pollution. (There's other reasons too.)

[cynmkolohe]

Lisa's post touches on another good reason to rent for a while in an area you may consider living in long-term. Vog impacts different areas differently, even in Puna.

Here's a previous post about vog: //www.city-data.com/forum/hawai...about-vog.html

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

OP, we bought land on the south end of the Big Island in 2003 and built our house in 2005. I'd be happy to share thoughts and experiences with you; if you email me privately we can chat. Basically, you can find a lot of what you are looking for in both Ka'u and Puna districts and prices are very affordable right now.

[hotzcatz]

Originally Posted by type3secretion

I'm interested in a move to the Big Island. Put in time with a certain life style, looking for big change.

There are a lot of different areas of the island which would most likely fit the parameters you mentioned. If you would expand a bit on the "certain life style" you're looking for, then we could perhaps pinpoint several areas for you.

In any case, don't buy ANYTHING until you've looked at it. Better yet, move over and live in the area for several months at least so you will know how the place is in the different seasons.

There is lush wet areas, dry volcanic areas, elevation makes a huge difference in temperature and climate. Very few houses have central air or central heating so ambient air temperature is important considering that's the temperature you are likely to be.

Building is easy enough, as a draftsperson, I'm always chatting with folks about how to build houses. Loads of folks around here build their own house. There is a book written by Ortho Press called "Basic Homebuilding", that will give you a lot of useful information. An architect named Sarah Susanka has written a brilliant book called "The Not So Big House" which has a lot of nice design ideas. Her methods of building the designs are a bit on the high end, but the same design can be built with less expensive materials and have a similar "house feel".

We have nice weather, people spend a lot of time outside, so you don't need a big house. Less expense, easier to furnish, easier to maintain = more time to go to the beach.

[whynot?]

I'm on Maui, so I haven't rung in on this, but I was surprised by how many posters suggested off-the-grid living for someone moving from Manhattan who said he/she wanted to "put aside red flag issues like money." There's a lot of life change to be had in-between, although the Moku Nui sounds like the right place.

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

There is a book written by Ortho Press called "Basic Homebuilding", that will give you a lot of useful information. An architect named Sarah Susanka has written a brilliant book called "The Not So Big House" which has a lot of nice design ideas. Her methods of building the designs are a bit on the high end, but the same design can be built with less expensive materials and have a similar "house feel".

Thanks, hotzcatz, for the great book suggestion. I'm/we're ready to downsize from here out, and I've been looking at practical (but nice) ways to not feel cramped. I'm ordering the book today.

Best of luck.