01-04-2015, 10:53 AM
The wiki page on Puna says:
Despite the natural hazards and rudimentary infrastructure and services in these subdivisions, build-out of the lots has been occurring, especially within the northeast quadrant of Puna (from Kea#699;au to Pâhoa) and in the vicinity of Volcano where the highest rates of population growth have been occurring. Puna is experiencing the fastest rate of growth of all the districts in the County of Hawai#699;i. The U.S. Census population count in 2000 for Puna was 27,232. The 2010 U.S. Census results shows the population in Puna to now be 45,326, an increase of 66% in 10 years. By 2030, the population is projected to grow to approximately 75,000. Since only about one-quarter of the available lots have been developed at present, it is clear that these extensive subdivisions present formidable challenges to the natural environment and the rational management of development for future population growth.
Of course, Wikipedia is not always a reliable information source, but those figures seem plausible. The next census will be taken in 2020. I can say from visual observations that the number of lots getting developed in Orchidland seems to be exploding in the last year, however I have only been here about three years. The observed increase started before the more recent lava flows.
I do agree that the traffic seems to be getting worse, however I have been contributing that to road construction. As others have said, there are other ways to track population shifts (DMV, school enrollments, etc).
Despite the natural hazards and rudimentary infrastructure and services in these subdivisions, build-out of the lots has been occurring, especially within the northeast quadrant of Puna (from Kea#699;au to Pâhoa) and in the vicinity of Volcano where the highest rates of population growth have been occurring. Puna is experiencing the fastest rate of growth of all the districts in the County of Hawai#699;i. The U.S. Census population count in 2000 for Puna was 27,232. The 2010 U.S. Census results shows the population in Puna to now be 45,326, an increase of 66% in 10 years. By 2030, the population is projected to grow to approximately 75,000. Since only about one-quarter of the available lots have been developed at present, it is clear that these extensive subdivisions present formidable challenges to the natural environment and the rational management of development for future population growth.
Of course, Wikipedia is not always a reliable information source, but those figures seem plausible. The next census will be taken in 2020. I can say from visual observations that the number of lots getting developed in Orchidland seems to be exploding in the last year, however I have only been here about three years. The observed increase started before the more recent lava flows.
I do agree that the traffic seems to be getting worse, however I have been contributing that to road construction. As others have said, there are other ways to track population shifts (DMV, school enrollments, etc).