land clearing costs

[quentincron]

can anyone give me a general idea of what it costs for land clearing on the big island? for something like an acre of vegetation?

[terracore]

Not many people get their land "cleared" most of them get it ripped. This means the top layer of lava is ripped up and crushed into fist to head sized rocks that are smoothed out. This allows trees and bushes that are planted to reach the soil and nutrients that exist under the top layer of lava. It's been many years since I've heard a price for this service but the number I heard was between $10k-$15k per acre. After the land is ripped it will almost immediately start filling up with invasive species unless you begin to maintain the property.

If you simply want the land "cleared" there are a few companies on the island that use temporary electric fencing and goats to clear off the vegetation. This leaves the larger trees standing AKA will not be effective if you have an albizia problem. The dozer companies can also clear the land of course. I don't know about price but it must be cheaper than ripping.

[randomq]

I would guesstimate just "grubbing" or clearing the trees/shrubs off an acre would be in the low thousands. But you will almost certainly need the driveway and house pad ripped and rolled, if not a yard.

Also, consider your privacy from neighbors and the road. Either leave yourself some ohia and uluhe fern buffer on the edges, or have the edges ripped deeply and bermed with green waste so you can plant trees. Personally I like not seeing my neighbors, and they probably rather not see me walking around naked either!