Posts: 41
Threads: 24
Joined: Jul 2013
Hi all, I've got a bunch of questions about Fern Acres that I'd love responses to. I've been to the island a number of times and I'm looking to buy property to build my dream home/writer's retreat/retirement home.
I'm very interested in Fern Acres b/c it seems to combine a lot of the best that the island has to offer.
I'd appreciate any responses to the following:
- how is Verizon service in upper or lower Fern Acres?
- how are mosquitoes?
- how are coqui frogs?
- how much flooding is there?
- how about crime/drugs?
- am I right in thinking there are no CC&Rs, so you can do anything that the County allows on these ag lots?
- is good Internet now available affordably? From whom?
Mahalo!
Posts: 167
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2008
Some answers to your questions:
- how is Verizon service in upper or lower Fern Acres?
Not sure what you mean by upper/lower, but I get 1 or 2 bars most places.
- how are mosquitoes?
Present. If you keep the area around your house clear of vegetation, they are not as bad.
- how are coqui frogs?
Again, present. I happen to like them. Again, if you keep the area around your house clear of vegetation, they are not as bad.
- how much flooding is there?
Minimal.
- how about crime/drugs?
No better or worse than rest of Puna.
- am I right in thinking there are no CC&Rs, so you can do anything that the County allows on these ag lots?
There are no CC&Rs in Fern Acres. However, road dues are mandatory and about $130/year. The roads are nice...for Puna.
- is good Internet now available affordably? From whom?
Depends on which street. If you want high speed, some streets have high speed Oceanic cable/internet around $40/month...others do not. Call cable company to find out. Hawaiian TelCom may have slower dial-up or DSL service to most locations as well.
---
Posts: 41
Threads: 24
Joined: Jul 2013
Thanks Ted, this is really helpful. At what elevation do mosquitoes disappear? Anything else you can tell me about Fern Acres that's relevant for a new buyer? I'm assuming you live there? How long for? And why did you choose Fern Acres? Thanks again!
Posts: 510
Threads: 29
Joined: Nov 2007
Hi Aramis, I dont live in fern acres but have friends there i visit. First off, they put a nice new stoplight in at the road you turn off the main hwy for fern acres so that makes it much safer to enter and exit that subdivision. This is kind of a big deal because traffic in general is getting pretty busy. The roads for the main part are paved nicely, but narrow and long 4-5 miles or so. keep this in mind if you buy towards the end of these long roads, it will add driving time. Houses are from shacks to mansions so just luck of the draw. lots are narrow but deep, so if you have just one lot, you may be close to your neighbor. i would buy 2 side by side lots if possible.
hope this helps and is j.m.o.
Posts: 41
Threads: 24
Joined: Jul 2013
Great, thanks mac nut! Good to know about the stoplight. I would like to get two or more side by side but we'll see.
Posts: 998
Threads: 30
Joined: Feb 2012
There are mosquitoes Mauka of FA (up in Eden Roc at least - although they are mostly an evening phenomenon). I can spend all day outdoors without a shirt and not notice them until later. I'm sure the cocquis keep their numbers down (just one more reason I like the little green croakers). I hear that having a fish pond can help minimize mosquitos as the fish kill the mosquitoes and their larvae.
I think you are making a great choice with Fern Acres. The mandatory road fees result in the best roads in the subdivisions off the Volcano road. I wish we could get that passed up in Eden Roc. I've looked at a number of places in FA and there was some signs of vandalism in the houses that spent a long time empty and on the market, but no more crime than anywhere else really.
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike
Posts: 41
Threads: 24
Joined: Jul 2013
Great, thanks VancouverIslander.
Posts: 307
Threads: 7
Joined: Feb 2011
quote:
Originally posted by VancouverIslander
There are mosquitoes Mauka of FA (up in Eden Roc at least - although they are mostly an evening phenomenon). I can spend all day outdoors without a shirt and not notice them until later. I'm sure the cocquis keep their numbers down (just one more reason I like the little green croakers).
Sorry, that's the emerging coqui mythology at work. There's actually no scientific evidence that coquis eat mosquitoes, and it gets worse...
quote:
There is no evidence that coquis eat mosquitoes or termites; gut samples indicate they eat pollinators of native plants. http://dawr.guam.gov/wildlife/invasive-s...oqui-frog/
In other words, never mind that they have destroyed the night time peace and quiet in much of the island, they not only don't do what some people wish they did, they're actually a very negative ecological factor in regards to the tiny flies and other insects that are important for pollination, as well as dominating the competition for eco-space with endemic frogs.
I'm at 3,800' in Volcano, and I get some daylight mosquitoes... the kind that carry Dengue fever... and more night mosquitoes. Twilight time is worst.
Mosquitoes carry avian malaria, and have been devastating to the endemic honeycreepers and other birds. I've heard it said they drop away above 4,000' altitude but I can't confirm that.
Posts: 264
Threads: 60
Joined: Jul 2007
Re mosquitoes: my experience (in Nanawale) is they come on strong around 4-5 pm, esp attacking the ankles. As for in the house, we are up on 10-ft stilts and they don't seem to be able to fly that high for the most part.
