04-03-2006, 06:52 PM
After eavesdropping for the last few months I figure it's about time to come out of lurking closet, especially since we've recently become official Punatics!
I first need to thank all the fine members of this forum and their valuable contributions for allowing this transition to go smoother than it otherwise would have. A special aloha and mahalo plenty to LeilaniDave to doing some investigative footwork for me. Armed with the information (and knowing what questions to ask) gleaned from this board we had a real head start when it came to looking for property.
A brief background.....Originally from Northern California, we lived on Moloka'i from 1985 to 1995 while the last 10 years have been spent in Florida caring for elderly parents and making sure the kidders got a well rounded education. Lately, the window of opportunity has opened up for us to be free of the aforementioned responsibilities and we are able to once again return home.
This time we'll be settling down in Opihikao, right off the red road, having bought a 2 acre orchard/farmette with several unpermitted but structurally sound and attractive buildings (built from the mango and monkeypod cut on the property.) It's off the grid but apparently there's plenty of power along with 20,000 gallons of water catchment in three separate tanks and LARGE greenhouse. Cell phone reception is nonexistant without an external antenna and internet connection is also wireless if I remember correctly. Have a lot to learn here....But we've got gardening and homesteading skills. We are also artists and potters (stoneware pottery) by trade and I build ukuleles and do scrimshaw that I've sold for years in Lahaina. So it's my guess that we should be able to make a pretty fair go of things this time. (Moloka'i was just toooooooo small!)
The plan is to be there sometime between May 15 and June 15 and start building/remodelling the shop. We feel so fortunate and priveledged to be allowed to return and hope that our hearts remain open, that out impact is gentle and that we have respect for the a'ina and her people, and that hopefully we might be honored to give back in whatever way we can in return.
I look forward to meeting you all some day. In the meantime, get ready for lots of questions!
Lucky come Hawaii !!!!!
I first need to thank all the fine members of this forum and their valuable contributions for allowing this transition to go smoother than it otherwise would have. A special aloha and mahalo plenty to LeilaniDave to doing some investigative footwork for me. Armed with the information (and knowing what questions to ask) gleaned from this board we had a real head start when it came to looking for property.
A brief background.....Originally from Northern California, we lived on Moloka'i from 1985 to 1995 while the last 10 years have been spent in Florida caring for elderly parents and making sure the kidders got a well rounded education. Lately, the window of opportunity has opened up for us to be free of the aforementioned responsibilities and we are able to once again return home.
This time we'll be settling down in Opihikao, right off the red road, having bought a 2 acre orchard/farmette with several unpermitted but structurally sound and attractive buildings (built from the mango and monkeypod cut on the property.) It's off the grid but apparently there's plenty of power along with 20,000 gallons of water catchment in three separate tanks and LARGE greenhouse. Cell phone reception is nonexistant without an external antenna and internet connection is also wireless if I remember correctly. Have a lot to learn here....But we've got gardening and homesteading skills. We are also artists and potters (stoneware pottery) by trade and I build ukuleles and do scrimshaw that I've sold for years in Lahaina. So it's my guess that we should be able to make a pretty fair go of things this time. (Moloka'i was just toooooooo small!)
The plan is to be there sometime between May 15 and June 15 and start building/remodelling the shop. We feel so fortunate and priveledged to be allowed to return and hope that our hearts remain open, that out impact is gentle and that we have respect for the a'ina and her people, and that hopefully we might be honored to give back in whatever way we can in return.
I look forward to meeting you all some day. In the meantime, get ready for lots of questions!
Lucky come Hawaii !!!!!