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intro-livelihood to bring to the Big Island
#1
Hi all!
I'm Cara, new on this board, after lurking for a bit, and it's been great reading the various threads. My husband Richard and I were visiting the Big Island on the Puna side for 3 weeks(Jan. 15th - Feb 5th), and we REALLY REALLY liked it alot. A couple of years ago we visited Maui and Moloka'i, but in our opinion the Big Island and the Hilo-to-Puna area in particular beats the pants off the above! We very much appreciated the lushness and natural lifestyle, as well as a good mix of different kinds of friendly people. We caught up with a young friend of ours who moved there last September, and his girlfriend, Michaela who has Sanctuary Living in Pahoa. We are up for a big change in our lives, and we are considering how we could transition our livelihood to the area. We do property caretaking, and also both of us use computers for digital photography(Richard)with its related services(copy work, etc.), and I use it for my art and design. Since the problem of humidity in the islands may very well preclude doing alot of printing, we are considering offering non-paper related photography and design products and services. We are curious as to whether there is any market for the above on the Big Island. We are self-employed and prefer to stay that way, as we are in our 50's and 60's(and very healthy). We have dealt with artists, small creative businesses and families in both San Francisco and the Santa Fe area of New Mexico.
To help move this along, and for our housing, we would also consider a good long-term property caretaking situation, as we have done that here for the last 10 years. We can provide excellent references too.
This would be a dream come true if we can pull this off! As far as actually moving, it would be easier for us as we don't have alot of stuff, and don't require a large dwelling.
Any feedback welcome - thanks!

Cara Lee
www.richardshuff.com
www.galisteonewmexico.com

health-conscious visionary artist in transition
health-conscious visionary artist in transition
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#2
Hi AkoniV!

Thanks for the tips! We are still rolling around about this anyhow, and are not in any rush to make a big decision right now. Just got off the phone with a friend of mine there, and she says there have been many changes in Puna even since our visit.

health-conscious visionary artist in transition
health-conscious visionary artist in transition
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#3
Cara, I agree that once you are actually here, you will see there are hundreds of niche's that need to be filled. You will find yours. For a person with vision, there is no end to opportunity. All you have to have is common sense an basic drive. You can't wait for opportunity to come to you; you must pursue it. You will do great here!

Pam

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"
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#4
Hi AkiniV,
I appreciate your comments to Cara about the situation over there. I am a graphic artist here in CA (print/web/video), preparing to a trip to scout out relocating to Puna area. This will be returning to the islands for me 11 years in Kauai and Maui. I'm interested in knowing the availablility of broadband connection there as I would continue to service my clients here in the mainland from over there using my FTP site etc., and Lord willing maybe drum up some new clients over there. I appreciate your heart to invite and willingness to be vulnerable since you yourself are eeking out a living in this field. Is there cable broadband service in some of the areas of puna? DSL? Hawaiin Beaches area or surrounding areas?
Thanks for your time and any encouragement
Scott

Scott
scott@swbgraphix.com
www.swbgraphix.com
2 Tim 1:7
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#5
Hi all!

Thanks for input and support - I've always told my husband that one never really knows what an area is like unless one is actually there for awhile. As far as our photography and design business goes, we are very small and flexible, and don't do heavy e-commerce or the real flashy stuff, etc. Most of our clients have been people with low budgets. As well as our skills, our strength is in reliable, fast, personalized service, and we don't try to make all our money off one job.
I am also looking into the feasibility of small-scale natural body products manufacturing, as I have been making a couple of my own shea butter products for several years now.

health-conscious visionary artist in transition
health-conscious visionary artist in transition
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#6
I think you'll find a lot of options here. There's a large health-conscious and natural community here. I don't see a lot of shea butter products at the farmer's markets, and shea butter is GOOD stuff (I'm a former soap maker myself) so I think you'd find a market for it. If you need help on the real estate aspect of the move, don't hesitate to call.

John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
John Dirgo, R, PB, EcoBroker, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com
http://www.bigislandvacationrentals.com
http://www.maui-vacation-rentals.com
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#7
Good Job Tony. thanks for the info, it appears there is cable is some of the areas where were looking into. (Hawaiian Beaches & Shores area) Good luck on your product development.
Scott

Scott
scott@swbgraphix.com
www.swbgraphix.com
2 Tim 1:7
Scott
scott@swbgraphix.com
www.swbgraphix.com
2 Tim 1:7
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