Advise from Puna Residents, Please

[Chudson470]

Hello All,
It has been far too long since I have lived on the Island and I am anxiously anticipating my return. I know that it would be best for me to come to the island and check out property myself, unfortunately doing so would cut into my budget for land, and so I am hoping that some Puna residents will be gracious enough to give me some good advice.

My questions concern where I should live in Puna. I am interested in owning several acres and having a nice sized garden. I have been looking into Hawaiian acres, edon roc, and fern forest, though I wouldn't count anyplace out.
-- My first concern is temperature. Obviously temperature goes down the higher one lives, and this fluctuates throughout the year. Doing google searches brings up contradictory numbers. Ideal weather for me would be days in the mid 70's and nights in the 60's. I am flexible, but if I have the choice would like to purchase a place with the most comfortable weather possible.
-- My second concern is the rain. Don't get me wrong, I know it rains alot, but I also know that there are microclimates even within Puna, and rain belts, and different types of rain in terms of frequency and length.
I am excited about the rain and love how it creates the beauty, but I also would like to have a few hours most day's to be outside and to once in a while see the sun.
-- Lastly, I am very interested in current Puna residents solar panel experiences. Because it is so often overcast is it reasonable to derive most if not all of your power from a solar panel set up, assuming small house that plans for restricted energy (ie no washer/dryer, no dishwasher, no A/C, energy efficient lights, etc)?

Thank you all in advance for the time spent answering my questions and letting me know your recommendation for where I should live.

Mahalo,
Chris

[Carey]

Asking where is the BEST place is likely to get a different answer from each poster, but you may want to revise some of your knowledge

"Obviously temperature goes up the higher one lives," - actually, temperature goes DOWN the higher you go up & rain totals normally go up....but by how much is very place specific.

When you ask about subdivisions here, you could be talking about more than a few square miles of land, and hundreds to a thousand feet or more of difference in elevation, so that is also why many advise coming here... it is not as easy as oh, this subdivision has "____" . - Any generalization on a subdivision will be pretty general (even soils depths can vary within a subdivision from "soil??? nope solid flow here" to "we've got over 3 feet of deep soil - with no rocks". The generalization is somewhere between those two...

Solar, have seen homes running on PV in even the cloudiest rain belt areas, but as you can image, sunnier is better for PV.... and many do have a full normal house set-up here on solar, with generator backup....

Added: As to how much land to own, this is another reason some suggest renting 1st...

I have always lived on at least an acre, & figured that was what we would have here... We rented first... if you have never experienced an acre on hyper drive growth, you will know WHY we decide a smaller lot would be just fine.... most people here know of all of the plants we have just on our little lot.... you really may not need as much land as you would assume.... right now one of our neighbors is using just a part of our small orchard ~ 1,000 ft sq- in this small area he is able grow food for his family of 15 & to sell at the local market.... before he started growing the food, we were up to our ears in weeding that area...every week things can grow feet! and they do not stop, merely slow down for dry spells....

[Chudson470]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chudson470

Thanks Carey for catching my typo. I will go correct it. I understand temperature will go down, but somehow that isn't what I typed. I do know that there can be radical differences in properties, soil conditions etc, within the same subdivision and I've seen climate differences when I have driven through, I was hoping to just get some general impressions from residents who have lived there. Anything helps me to build an understanding of the area. For Example, I welcome replies that are specific, ie, "My property is low elevation eden roc, by such and such road, and we have temperatures that are in the mid ... each day and usually have a few hours without rain."

Thank you also for your advise on the "hyper drive" growth. I have no intention of actually clearing and planting on very much land. I just like having a little distance between neighbors. I am very friendly and will be a great neighbor, but it is the illusion of solitude and peacefulness that I am interested in. I rented in Kona for a while but it is this wish for space that brings me to Hilo side.

Thank you again for the input. Do you have any generalizations about parts of these subdivisions that you, personally, like the most?

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[DanielP]

Are you bringing an income; and RENT FIRST!

[Cagary]

Do a search here on Punaweb for Any Chance on a new topic of Moving to Puna?

Lots of answers and current info for you.

[bananahead]

I would never buy in Puna unless you live in a similar (close by) area for a while to see if you like it (weather). Rent first.
some places are too dry, some are too wet....

Im at 1,275'in HA (rd2), my lot is 3 acres like many in upper Puna and is fairly long and thin like 3 football fields lengthwise (871' X 150') but not a spaghetti lot like in Orchidland which are much thinner and longer. I have about 1/2 miles of trails cut through it and have it planted out like botanical garden in ways, but much of it still natural Ohia forest too. also have a creek that cuts across it and this flows about 10-20 times a year (4' whitewater), but drys up within hours. My nights range from upper 60s-52 deg (52 is the low for last 5 years), my days are from mid 70s-88 (88 is high for last 5 years), and average day right now is 64 night, 82 days...perfect!
rain.... I always believe I get about 15' of rain a years (180"), but not sure exactly as I dont have a gauge. The closer you get to coast the less rain overall, and most rain is at night. driest areas of Puna are prob the 4 corners to seaview area followed by Kaloli Pt to Wa'aWa'a area. Also the closer to coast the warmer and muggier the nights in most cases. within subdivisions are many types of lots, many with flaws, ie 75' tall thick waiwi forests, albesia trees, creeks/flooding, lava tubes/no soil, very bad raw lava roads full of rutts, etc. these will bring the prices down.
solar power/offgrid.... I am offgrid, I only have 2 large panels and 2 Trojan batteries, but its enough for me to charge and use my computer,watch DVDs on TV, radio/ stereo, lights, charge other batteries (drill, saws, blowers, lights), water pump etc. but not enough for anything w/ heating element (ie coffee maker, microwave, toaster, hairdrier, dehydrator, etc.) My stove, hot water (Paloma), bbq, and fridge run on propane (fridge uses most at $20 per month, while other are far less). I have a generator for backup that is usually used 1-2 hours a week to charge my batteries, pump water, run high power stuff ie microwave/power tools, etc.

I personally like where I am and having 3 rural raw acres with no traffic or fast cars, my mother lives down in HPP on 1 acre and I would hate that, it reminds me of suburbia too much seeing your neighbours houses and hearing their activities on both sides and way too many stripped lots with laws and homes that look straight out of Ohio or California. I would also hate to live where you would need to have heat or a fireplace ie about 3,000', or a place where you would have to buy water at times because your homes roof is lame or small and cant get enough catchment water during drought times (ie Kehena, Kalapana/Kaimu, black sands, HOVE in Kau dist, Seaview, lower HPP, etc.

just my 2 cents on Puna living....
aloha and good luck

save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[DanielP]

The subdivisions that you mention lie on a 5-600 yr.old lava flow, so don't expect deep soil.