The Future of East Hawaii

[Cindy B]

Carolann, good to see you here! We met on KonaWeb. I've been reading the posts here for the past couple days and this is what I was looking for when I asked at KonaWeb about communities that are on the alternative side. Reading the posts here is liking sitting at the Food Co-op in Ashland (where we now live -very accepting town no matter your politics, religion, color, etc. ) and listening to conversations around me. A friend of mine in HPP, also from Southern Oregon, said Puna is a lot like Ashland, only more down to earth :-) Peak Oil (Michael Ruppert gave a talk here in Ashland at our Metaphysical Library and is moving to Ashland, which is very much into sustainible living), community gardens (really taking off here), Indigo filmer here, Neale Donald Walsch (Conversations with God)lives here, etc. I love the community of Ashland, which I just discovered after living in a conservative small town for many years. But I also lived on the BI for 9 years and miss it every day. I've never not missed Hawaii, but when I'm in Hawaii I rarely miss the mainland. One of the main reasons I moved about 50 miles from Rogue River to Ashland was to join a hula halau here and for the breath of fresh air. My hula teacher just moved back to Oahu. I've met a lot of people here who live in Hawaii part time. I'm moving back to the BI with my 14 y.o., homeschooled son (born in Hilo, local/haole mixed plate) and our three cats in November or December. I'm so glad to hear Puna's not so much the Wild West as it was, and even happier to see from this forum, that it is still very much alternative, yet in more positive ways. I was thinking of trying to find an affordable rental in Waimea just so we could be closer to my son's favorite beach (Hapuna of course), and I could be closer to the dolphins (Kealakekua Bay) and all that. Plus we like peaceful, rural living. But I couldn't get any feedback or feel for the Waimea community. Didn't even find a natural food store listed. It's after 2 a.m here in Oregon and I just got done with work, so I'm probably not making much sense and am getting way off topic, so I'll log in tomorrow and post in the introduction section.

Thank you radioguy for starting this thread!

Aloha,
Cindy