Questions about building a small cabin in Fern Acres Hawaii (Volcano: transfer, maintenance)

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by leilaniguy

Nanawale requires 880 sq. ft. I've not seen a yurt there, but the association might permit one. They approved the beehive house at the corner of Flower and Tutu roads. You can see it on
Google earth streetview, just type in "14-3444 Tutu Ln. Pahoa". Quite an edifice. I wonder if it leaks?

Yes, but that isn't a glorified tent. It is a real "structure".

I equate yurts with being the Puna equivalent of a mainland "double-wide".
Sorry if that offends anyone...

[KoaKine]

Question ?

How do you collect your catchment water from a yurt???

[YurtGirl]

Thanks for the apology mdand3boys. I do get offended when people further the idea that a yurt is a 'glorified tent'. IMHO, it shows that a person has not done their research and has made some big (and mostly false) assumptions. Yurts are a 'real structure' with an unbelievably strong infrastructure. They are stronger than most all-wood houses. They withstand over 120mph winds and incredible snow loads. They're a structure that is over 1000 years old and still being used widely today. A double wide is a cheaply made, flimsy, ugly, uninspired box, as are many of the kit homes being sold today. *end rant*

[YurtGirl]

We have gutter systems that catch the water, definitely a recommended upgrade here in Hawaii. There's soft gutters or hard gutters. I like the hard gutters best. Hotzcatz, I own the yurt company here in Hawaii. Started it from scratch 6 years ago and have done over 50 permitted yurts now, all happy, happy yurt dwellers.
Nanawale has yurts. It also has the square footage requirement. So you can do a 2 story yurt, connect more than one yurt or add a small room to a yurt.

[Balad1]

Originally Posted by YurtGirl

Thanks for the apology mdand3boys. I do get offended when people further the idea that a yurt is a 'glorified tent'. IMHO, it shows that a person has not done their research and has made some big (and mostly false) assumptions. Yurts are a 'real structure' with an unbelievably strong infrastructure. They are stronger than most all-wood houses. They withstand over 120mph winds and incredible snow loads. They're a structure that is over 1000 years old and still being used widely today. A double wide is a cheaply made, flimsy, ugly, uninspired box, as are many of the kit homes being sold today. *end rant*

Do they conform to all Hawaii county building codes?

[YurtGirl]

Yes they do, Balad1. As I said, we have permitted over 50 of them to date. Codes will change again soon, hopefully not in the ridiculous way that they're talking about, forcing everyone to have insulation instead of the more important and better design of ventilation, but we are prepared for those changes should they occur, and will continue to work hard to keep yurts allowed as a legal, affordable housing option here.

[Haackman2010]

Who needs insulation in the tropics?

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by alaskangrown

Composting toilets are approved ("factory made") but who wants one in their house?

Well, Ed Begley has them in his mansion in Beverly Hills, so we're not talking about something unseemly. Matter of fact, modern composting toilets are odorless and look just like conventional plumbed toilets. They are extensively used in "normal" houses in Scandinavia, and are increasingly popular in Canada.

Matter of fact, outside areas which have municipal sewage systems, composting toilets are a far better solution in Hawai'i than septic systems are.

[poschulte]

Anyone familiar with Maui Rd. in Nanawale and if there are utilities to it?

[leilaniguy]

When you receive a building permit the association will have the power co. install poles. There is no piped water, no sewage. You can see it on Google Streetview, type in Maui Road Pahoa.