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+--- Thread: More affluent people moving to Puna? (/showthread.php?tid=409)
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - Nate SC - 05-09-2006
It sounds like your friend is jealous. I'm curious how she "observed" all this "new money". Was she standing in front of a store and people were talking money ?? Or maybe she saw some new shiny cars driving around ?? Or someone paid for a plate lunch with a "hundred" ?? I dont know, sounds kinda like your friend needs a hobby or a volunteer job and quit being concerned with other peoples money.
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - jdirgo - 05-09-2006
I see all kinds of people coming here. Some have a good amount of money, some do not. For me, its the spirit of the people I see coming here that makes the difference. Even customers of mine that have bought relatively expensive places love the funky atmosphere here. They don't want to see Pahoa's funky wooden sidewalks go away or see any of our local "characters" leave. I know I would hate it if John (the toothless fellow in Pahoa that waves to just about everyone) was gone, or if I went to Kehena and didn't see "Rasta Grandpa" there. Heck, I want to BE "Rasta Grandpa" when I get older. Nearly all the customers I've had here want to visit the Makuu Market on Sundays, go to the naked volleyball on Saturdays and smell the incense wafting from the shops near our office.
I kind of have a way I judge who's going to fit into Puna and embrace it. I drive them through Wa'a Wa'a.
If their reaction is "Oh. My. God. This is the most amazing place on Earth", then I know that the island will welcome them with open arms. If they don't react that way and instead say things like "This road is horrible, and there's no power or telephone -- who would ever want to live here", I just feel that the island will spit them out. And the island will be better for it.
John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - Carolann R - 05-09-2006
Naked Volleyball!!! Inscense wafting...that is so funny an image! HeeHeeHee...for the record, I thought WaaWaa looked like the most magical fairytale land and would love to wander off in there when I am old and think I'm Peter Pan's friend...
Mahalo for the very funny pictures!
Carrie Rojo
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - John S. Rabi - 05-09-2006
I couldn't help but smile on your post John. Maybe we should co-write a book!
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
75-5870 Walua Road, Suite 101
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
(808)327-3185
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - cara4art - 05-09-2006
"I'm curious how she "observed" all this "new money". Was she standing in front of a store and people were talking money ?? Or maybe she saw some new shiny cars driving around ??"
I think that was it - and this prompted me to run this by more folks who are living in Puna to get a more comprehensive view. Hugely aware that one can never go by just one person's opinion of what's going on, and my friend is going through her own transitions regarding her business and livelihood as well.
All of you have given great input, which I really appreciate! Jdirgo's "test" of whether someone would appreciate Puna in taking them down a certain road is wonderful!
Currenty my husband and I live in north-central New Mexico near Santa Fe, which is unique in its own respect. In some ways it has things in common with Puna in that it is not for everyone, people either really fall in love with the high desert or they hate it and leave after awhile(or turn right around to leave too-LOL!). And the location where we live is more stark than Santa Fe itself! For myself, I can honestly say that the Hilo to Puna district is the most amazing place I've ever visited, and we are looking forward to returning any way we can, whether it's for another visit, or even a move. While we were visiting, we were in a great vacation rental house in Puna Beach Palisades, and although we did some touristy stuff like go to Volcanoes National Park, etc., most days we spent just enjoying the daily ebb and flow, going to the beaches(Kehena was just a quarter mile or so from where we were staying), taking drives, walks, going to the Hilo and Pahoa farmers' markets, eating all the wonderful produce, etc. We both really noticed a difference in our health from this(and we eat well at home, too). We didn't try to do nine thousand things in those 3 weeks. Good people around too!
health-conscious visionary artist in transition
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - Andrew - 05-09-2006
I love to go the Volcanoes National Park and do so often and I've been here on the island for 11 years. I guess I'm still a tourist!!!
It's an awsome place for visitors and locals alike.
[quote]
and although we did some touristy stuff like go to Volcanoes National Park, etc.,
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - David M - 05-09-2006
So just who are these affluent and should they be feared???
Gosh, I sure don't know. If history serves, perhaps I do have some insight. I grew up in rural, coastal Maine. Although we (my friends and I) did not actually know these people, there were in fact a number of big houses, each with stories about the people who belonged to them. The kids didn't go to school with us, the Dads didn't work with our Dads, for the most part their Mom's didn't shop with ours either. Pretty much except for a few weeks from Memorial Day through Labor Day, none of these people were even around, in many cases the houses were closed up except for those weeks. I guess these were probably truly affluent people. At least they were affluent enough to own and enjoy a lot more house just a few weeks per year than the rest of us while also maintaining a real life someplace else. They did contribute significantly to the tax base without drawing much on services. Being a small town, I remember we had this yearly book, appropriately called "Annual Town Report" I remember one of the activities to pass time was looking up everyones taxes (not based on market value, but that's a different rant). While our Dads might complain about this years tax increase, or question the school budget, we kids were more inclined just to find the big numbers and dream a little - gee, a lesson of youth - those who paid more taxes tended to be rich!!!). I'm tempted to remark how this book was incorporated into HS senior government class and attendance at the Town Meeting was mandatory, but then I remember how bad our current education system is after 40plus years of mandated improvements and budget maniplulation and realize that if it's so bad now, we must not have been able to read, write, or do math back in the 60's. Pardon my digression...
Anyway, late 60's, 70's, we began to hear about "affuence". Seems we'd been discovered by people from more affluent places (MA, CT, NY), people intrigued by our quaint, quiet, laidback lifestyle. Seems these people were so affluent, they could just give up (sellout?) their old life and buy into ours. Funny thing, they didn't buy up and move into the old big houses of my youth, although a number of them seem to disappear only to be replaced by a gawd awful number of smaller, but costly houses. Lot's of other changes happened too. Not only was it discovered our schools were totally inadequate for these "affluent" children, but apparently ours towns were not properly managed as we grew up not knowing about proper infrastructure. Wouldn't this be pseudo affluence or faux affluence? Hmmmm.
Well, I was last there 2 years ago when my Dad passed, lots of changes in 40 years. Lot's of affluence apparently, but only of the newer type. Some of locals adjusted, even prospered, others didn't, others, like me, mostly likely left and won't return. If you read the newspaper, listen to the local news, it appears poor education and infrastructure are still the hot topics. Strange, but my guess is the affluent of my youth didn't really address either in our town. Guess they could afford not to.
So, my lesson from history? Fear not the truly affluent as theirs is not a mission of change as the truly affluent don't need to change the lives of others.
The above is JMOHO based on personal memory and not intended to cast aspersions on persons known or not know on this volcanic rock in middle of the Pacific.
David - Solvent, but not affluent
Ninole Resident
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - HADave - 05-10-2006
A common phrase says, "Follow the Money", but what if you cannot? Those who think of themselves as insolvent because they have allowed themselves to be measured within the context of a scale that is no longer accurate must, simply, find a new measuring stick. The "Haves" own the world, but try as they might; have not found a way to take it with them.
On a placard, outside an old abandoned church, that I recall as a child, read; "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth". Under that someone had hand painted, "If that alright with the rest of you." As I struggled to understand the first part of that as a child. I struggle harder to understand the second part of that as an adult. One thing for sure we seem to remain a people divided on many levels. Culturally, geographically, religously ....The Haves the Have~nots....
I'm trusting this meaning of Aloha is a Vow of Harmony and Gratefulness that it is up to those that choose it's path to Get It and Live It, for richer or poorer in good times and bad, till death do us part.
Ayuh! Humbly Grateful HADave
)RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - Rob L - 05-10-2006
An acquaintance of mine died recently. He was in his late 50s and I had assumed that he was very wealthy. He owned a very expensive home, dressed well and traveled a lot. After he died, he left his home to his partner and the rest of the estate to his adult daughters. They were shocked to find out that the estate had to pay off a mortgage he took out on the home a couple of years ago for half a million dollars and that there was almost nothing left after that. My acquaintance had literally been living on borrowed money. I think a lot of people who seem to be rich are actually highly leveraged. A lot of people who may have a lot of money lead very modest lives (that is how they saved the money in the first place.) So, while you can’t be too poor to buy into Puna, don’t assume that people are rich because they throw money around. What really matters is are interesting, funky people moving to Puna? I think that is what the area attracts. So, while everything changes all the time, I’m not too worried.
John, I'm glad I passed your "test" and you allowed me to buy in Puna. :-)
Aloha,
Rob L
Edited by - Rob L on 05/10/2006 16:23:35
RE: More affluent people moving to Puna? - miketat - 05-10-2006
it is funny that people seem to be so concerned about other people's money. I live in Hawaii for almost 10 years and one of the things that I learned here is to respect a person for who they are. There is rich good people, there is poor good people, there is rich crooks and poor crooks. Money (even though necessary) is a side dish. Maybe we should focus more on the main course and learn from each other. Aloha.
michael
http://www.punaguide.com
Edited by - miketat on 05/11/2006 00:47:00