Every day in Puna is a gift but this one seems particularly wonderful. Hope you are all enjoying it as much as Lady Tang and I.

So, what is anybody's take on 2nd term Hawaii Senator Brenton Awa?

Fired from KITV for his anti-Covid vaccine ideals, then becoming a freshman Senator who went virtually unscathed by his "You would be hung for criticizing me" comment to a well-respected female Hawaiian leader, saying "I am never going to regret something that comes out of my mouth" to this week's speech as the now Senate minority leader, where he said some really smart good things that need to be dealt with, but just had to tap into that pulsating vein of divisive "red meat" tossing to appease his parties core diehards with the "mahu" comments...

So, up and coming Hawaiian republican superstar, or loudmouth arrogant punk?

What say you?

Hawaii comedienne Delores Cachola-Tapia shares her thoughts:

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Friends of the Pahoa Library will be holding a meeting on Wednesday,  Jan. 22,  4:00pm  at the library.

Everyone is welcome.  Please come and see what is going on, and what had to pause.  We are looking for new members, volunteers, and ideas for fundraising.

Hope to see you there !

Maku'u Drive is tearing up our cars.  We've started using Paradise when we go to Pahoa even though our house is much closer to Maku'u.  I was wondering who is responsible for the condition of Maku'u Dr. if anyone knows.  Thank you.

When I read this between the lines I ask myself, can he aim as well as he claims he can aim?

Elon Musk wants to splashdown his SpaceX rockets in a much larger area in Hawaii waters and Hawaii residents are encouraged to weigh in.

The space exploration company is asking the FAA for a landing zone about 20 times larger than its current zone.

https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/01/14...ii-waters/

Here is a good example of where a Community Association COULD have sought out good competent legal advice BEFORE hand several years ago but didn't and just went ahead with what can only be described as a brilliant idea and then the resulting damage that happens when a very small minority of "concerned citizens" step in and take over.

As Bill Nye would say:

"Critical thinking caps ON!"

Does this remind you of anything?

From Hilo to Hamakua to Mauna Kea Resort.
Hotels.  Restaurants. Farms.

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/best-th...slow-coast

Brian Schatz knows the difference between Greenland and Hawaii.

But not everybody was amused. When told about the remarks, Brian Schatz, the Democratic senator from Hawaii, looked blankly before telling The Independent, “That’s one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hawaii-republ...26603.html

And there’s certainly a lot of ignorance to choose from.

This is Punaweb. Supposedly, a lot of info about Puna. So, here goes:

If you live in a substandard subdivision in Puna, Hawaii, or if you are planning on moving to a substandard subdivision in Puna, Hawaii, there are a few facts you may want to know:

1. Unless your substandard subdivision has a Declaration and CC&Rs, which they have filed with the Hawaii Bureau of Conveyances, then your substandard subdivision is not a homeowners association, nor a planned community. What your substandard subdivision most likely IS is a community with private roads, which more than likely you own along with your neighbors.

2. Many substandard subdivisions in Puna, Hawaii, were thrown together without any other plan than to sell lots and make money. If your substandard subdivision has an "association" that is not an HOA or planned community, then what you will probably be "funding" is a road association, whose sole purpose is to maintain the substandard subdivision roads. In most substandard subdivisions in Puna, Hawaii, funding a ROAD association is mandatory.

3. Some of the substandard subdivisions in Puna, Hawaii (if they are not an HOA or planned community) have, in addition to a road association, a voluntary community association. Unlike road associations, owners are not required to join or fund a voluntary community association. So, if you do not wish to pay for anything other than road maintenance, then you are not required to do so.

4. In some substandard subdivisions in Puna, Hawaii, a voluntary community association may not be forthcoming and will not share with you the differences that legally, and according to the State of Hawaii, constitute a mandatory HOA or planned community. That said, sometimes, the  voluntary community associations will not disclose to you that while you may be required to pay them mandatory road maintenance fees, you are not required, BY LAW, to be members of their voluntary community associations.

5. To protect yourself from non-disclosure and confusion regarding these voluntary community associations in substandard subdivisions, in Puna, Hawaii, you can do the following:
a) When presented with your property title search, check to see what type of encumberances are listed and if there are easements listed (sometimes many) ASK about them.
b) When signing your paperwork in escrow, note to see if you are presented with, or if there is any mention of a Declaration and CC&Rs. These documents should be made known to you if they exist.
c) Check out your deed. Does your deed state any owner use or restrictions? If not, the community association (not to be confused with road association) in your substandard subdivision, in Puna, Hawaii, is not an HOA, or planned community and you do not have to be a member if you do not wish to be.

Summary:
Road easements are not "common areas," such as parks, swimming pools, fitness rooms, etc. Road easements are a piece of property that allows a person to use another person's property to get from one place (usually their home) to another (main, public roads). There are LOTS of road easements in the State of Hawaii.
Paying toward the maintenance of road easements is fair, and there are legal precedent for this.
Being coerced into being a member of a voluntary community association is not fair, nor is it legal, and their is NO U.S. law or case law that will support that practice.

In Close:
If you live in a substandard subdivision in Puna, Hawaii, or if you are planning on moving to a substandard subdivision in Puna, Hawaii, ASK QUESTIONS because what you are paying for, to whom, and why matters.
If ALL you are supposed to be paying for is road maintenance, then that should be VERY CLEAR.

***In Puna, Hawaii County, a developer creating a planned community and establishing an HOA (Homeowner Association) is required to file a "Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions" (CC&Rs) along with Articles of Incorporation, which are considered the primary governing documents, outlining the rights and responsibilities of both the association and homeowners, all under the state law governing planned community associations, Chapter 421J of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS)."***
(As per the County of Hawaii- please note the "required to file")