Moving to Puna stories

[surfdude]

Hi to everyone from sunny London, UK. Only kidding, it is rainy, hehe.

I have visited Hawaii on three occasions, and have been on Maui, Oahu and Big Island. Out of those three, me and my wife liked Big Island the most, even tho I felt somewhat dissapointed when we landed in Kona. All I could see were wide rivers of hardly weathered lava, and no vegetation.

Once we reached Hilo, our final destination, things looked more promising. People were asking us why we were going to Hilo, as Kona coast was sunnier and more popular with tourists. My 'Lonely Planet' guide to Hawaii tells of Hilo as the place where largest rain drops were measured in the whole world .

Well, I was glad I went there. Scenery is much more varied and rewarding, and as for rain, well, how else do you keep landscape so green and lush.

Anyway, we both grew to love the place, the more we explored it. At the end of our journey in Jan 2004 (1 week in Oahu, 1 w in Maui, 1 week in Big Island and 1 week in Breckenridge skiing), we concluded that windward side of the Big Island was the highlight of our whole journey.

But now, the best bit. In May 2004, I flew from London for a week. Reason - looking for a plot of land. I got a word from a friend that land prices were on the upward move, and it would be a good time to buy, since I have mentioned to him that I would love to do so.

I spent many hours searching the net, but have made a decision to come in person and have a look at different subdivisions etc.

To make short story longer, I made offers on three plots in Leilani Estates. Each plot had multiple offers, all of them higher that the asking price!!! At that stage I thought everything was going Pete Tong (cockney; read 'wrong'). Within my last 30 minutes on the island before I had to leave for the airport, I got word of two plots being up for sale in Leilani. They were not on the market as yet, as seller was hoping to sell them privately (former realtor). So without wasting any time, I was taken to Leilani and shown plots in question. I made an offer on one, sorted last minute deposit, went on to the airport, got back to London, cancelled offers on three original plots I was interested in, and within weeks, escrow deal was closed. Man, it felt good - still does.

And for what local people are like, all I can say is 'awesome'. On my first visit in January, I was a tourist, with no contacts there. In May, I met sooooo many great people, I was treated as if I knew everyone all my life, I was invited to peoples houses, parties etc. Wow! Time of my life, and all crammed in six days.

Now that I'm proud owner of 1 acre plot in Leilani Estates (Malama Street), I am looking to build a nice house in next few years. Will I move to the Big Island? I'd love to, but I will take one step at one time.

[Happy_Haole]

My wife and I bought our place in Hawaiian Shores Rec (that means we get to use the pool and parks) in 2002. While getting it furnished, I noticed that my yard was full of palm and coconut trees, but not much else.

So one day, while at the Hilo Farmer's market, I picked up a 4 foot tall Apple Banana tree for $8. I brought it home and proudly showed it to my neighbors. My first real Hawaiian fruit tree! They yelled at me. "If you wanted a banana tree, why didn't you just tell us? We would have given you one of ours.. these things grow like weeds!"

A couple days later, I was talking with some neighbors about all the lovely plumeria trees that were around and how I would like to have some in my yard. I mentioned that I would probably go buy some small ones and plant them. That's when I was informed that I should carry a plastic bag around with me wherever I go. If I see a plumeria tree growing on public land and like the color, I should just break off the tip of a branch, put it in the bag, and bring it home. Also, the next morning, I was awakened by one of my neighbors who had been doing yardwork in her yard (at 6am). She was calling my name from the street. When I looked outside, there was this sweet woman dragging a huge branch from the pink plumeria tree in her yard that she was pruning.

Funny thing about Hawaii -- you stick a plant in the ground and the darn thing grows! I now have a nice small plumeria tree growing in my back yard. Some day soon, it'll give me the prettiest pink flowers!

Living in Puna reminds me of living in Southern California back in the early 1960s. Everyone is so friendly. They share everything they have, they loan you their tools, and help you without your having to ask. Pahoa is a true and refreshing "neighborhood".

Aloha,
Ron (Happy_Haole)

[Rob Tucker]

Yeah, Nice story Ron. A big thing I like about the area is the simple Hawai`i style aloha. No need to rush, no need to fuss.

[HADave]

I just have to bring this forward...

from past years of PunaWeb

I have to say, Rob T., your intentions of creating a forum for and about Puna has grown to be so much more, I suspect, than you realize, It has brought some real joy, information and down right good entertainment to our lives, and We just want to say thanks!

Warm Alohas, HADave & PeggyAnn Puna, spring 07

[Royall]

Hey Rob, loved your story! Do you think that if you were to do the “tool and beer” test again it would turn out the same? Just wondering if the Ice problem has changed things in the last 3 years.

Royall

What goes around comes around!

[Kahunascott]

Short and sweet. Moved to Hawaiian Beaches in April 06. Mother, sister and wife they’re all
retired and I’m the only one who has to work???????
We all pitched in and bought a remodeled 4/2. My neighbors are great, exchanging tools, talk story,
fruit and recipes. (Did I say Fruit Pizza?) We all watch out for each other. It ain’t the Wild West here anymore. The renters are gone and home pride is abundant.
I got a great job with a large construction company in Hilo, I was hired at the interview….. go figure. I am very humble and lucky to find a great job so fast. Best part of my day is leaving Hilo and enjoying the ride home. Even the Keaau merge is great I get to wave to my neighbors. This is being told by a NYC boy who worked many years in metro construction, and my sister put in 35 years with the United Nations.
We couldn’t be happier. You guys gave us the info we needed to help form our opinion that this is
paradise and we love it here.

[malolo]

Mmmm. Yes.
We're all very fortunate.
Each of us. Extremely so.

The secret I think, is an eagerness to learn.
And a willingness to help.
And assuming the very very best in folks.

Smiling is good.
Trust even better.

And ha!
Having a neighbor with an imu is a plus!

I can honestly say, without even a smidgeon of bullsiht, that in the several decades I've called Puna home, I've had nothing but positive encounters on a day to day basis. And experiences way beyond Wow.

Life is what we make it, yah?
Some are miserable wherever they are.
Others are in constant awe.

So if I ever run into you in the line at Longs, you damn well better be smiling!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Edited by - malolo on 10/11/2006 22:57:32

[oink]

Some very nice stories there. I hope to fare as well.

S. FL Islander to be

[Kapohocat]

I was thirty (18 years ago) when i moved to the Big Island from the San Fernando Valley in Cali. I came kicking and screaming having been only married 4 months when my then hubby got a job at the Hyatt on the Kohala Coast... he promised me only 3 years and we could move back to Cali and the Central Coast area. I was a city girl and Hawaii was the country!!

We lived on the Kona side in Puako, and Waimea... it took me 4 years to move to the East side and Puna - HPP actually - it was then way out in the country - party lines for phones, DSL or cable?? no way, no Orchidland gas station, ... stayed a few years and moved to Honomu... then back to Puna in 2002 - and stayed here since.

When I moved to Puna the first time (1994)... HPP was ...okay but Leilani, Nanawale, Hi Acres, and HB/HS wasnt somewhere a woman alone would drive into at night....

Now I am a country girl and Hilo seems like the city! Hi Acres, HPP, Leilani, HB/HS, Nanawale even; have some of the most desirable real estate and are safer than they were 10-15 years ago!

My, how times change!

[Hopefeather]

I started having a recurring dream where I was riding a bicycle down a dirt road in the middle of a jungle area. The sun was shining and the breeze cooled my face as I pedaled over the bumps and lumps. I remember feeling a certain satiation in the dream as I made my way to an old woman's plantation-style home nestled secretly in some trees. She was waiting for me on her porch - a large brown woman with gray hair - and as I walked my bike up to her porch, she opened her arms and she said to me with a toothy smile, "time for you to come home." When I awoke from the dream, I sat up, woke up my husband up and told him I had a dream about Hawaii. For the next several weeks I would have this dream again and again. I knew in my heart somehow that it was time for our family to move to Hawaii. The subject of Hawaii was popping up everywhere I turned. I would turn the television on and see Hawaii -- someone would call me and tell me that they'd decided they were going on vacation to Hawaii. The subject of Hawaii was everywhere. I couldn't get away! The next obstacle would be the money it would take to move, and we literally had none. We were paycheck to paycheck, barely making it in Seattle (where we're from).
I figured out it would cost $10,000 for us to pay off our debt, buy airline tickets, have money to get a rental and some buffer funds to get us by until we found jobs. I said "10,000 dollars" repeatedly, over and over -- I wrote it on notecards and posted them all over the house. I wished and wished. I paced like a madwoman. Twelve hours later, my husband's mother called us, unknowing of our plans to move or plans to come up with the money. She told me she was calling because she had a gift for us, of $10,000.
And here we are. We've never felt more at home, we've never felt more in love with life. Never been healthier, never smiled more, never laughed harder, or cried harder. We are home.

hope