08-03-2009, 08:34 AM
Gonna say: That would depend on sooo many things: for neighbors, many of the older areas here have very tight neighborhoods... you really do have to 'earn' your way into the neighbors acceptance. For lots of land at a very good price, Puna has many rural ag areas, but some of the areas are not known for neighborliness. The Hamakua coast has a lot of older communities & a lot of ag land, with some of the most spectacular views you can imagine, but is also much higher priced than the Puna areas. Schools, very few are commendable, so that may be the very decisive factor if you have children.
In Hilo areas:
Pi'ionua (around Silva school) area with some fantastic bay views and many lots have waterfalls, convenience to downtown HIlo with some public transport, nice neighborly feel - (the neighbors will be in your business!)
Waiakea - some of the areas are very secluded with mountain/bay views for such an 'urban' area... there are some very tight neighborhoods some public transportation
Wainaku & Ainako - acreage land, some with great mountain/bay views close to town, no public transport
Out of Hilo areas:
The whole of the Hamakua coast has a variety of areas, many very small towns - the prices are down, but this is the more expensive land area on the east side.
Puna has so many private subdivisions, most all ag land, even though the lot sizes may be as little as 8,000 sq ft, to an acre, up to minimum multi acre. Most created about 50 years ago, most are half or less developed, so the feel of the subdivisions are still being created. With most of these private subdivisions, there are no public services of any kind. With a few of these subdivisions, there are fairly established and well working homeowners associations, others have been overly involved in litigation & are fairly non-functioning, and others never were functioning. One of the basic rule-of-thumbs with these subdivisions is the farther you are away from paved roads, the more unusual the character of the neighborhood (read: wild west)
We personally chose an area that was a crossroads type area, with full public services & the one of the best public transports on the island. Main reason: because we have done the private ag subdivision on the mainland (had planned to here, too) & realized there was a lot to say for having public conveniences, esp here on this island.
In Hilo areas:
Pi'ionua (around Silva school) area with some fantastic bay views and many lots have waterfalls, convenience to downtown HIlo with some public transport, nice neighborly feel - (the neighbors will be in your business!)
Waiakea - some of the areas are very secluded with mountain/bay views for such an 'urban' area... there are some very tight neighborhoods some public transportation
Wainaku & Ainako - acreage land, some with great mountain/bay views close to town, no public transport
Out of Hilo areas:
The whole of the Hamakua coast has a variety of areas, many very small towns - the prices are down, but this is the more expensive land area on the east side.
Puna has so many private subdivisions, most all ag land, even though the lot sizes may be as little as 8,000 sq ft, to an acre, up to minimum multi acre. Most created about 50 years ago, most are half or less developed, so the feel of the subdivisions are still being created. With most of these private subdivisions, there are no public services of any kind. With a few of these subdivisions, there are fairly established and well working homeowners associations, others have been overly involved in litigation & are fairly non-functioning, and others never were functioning. One of the basic rule-of-thumbs with these subdivisions is the farther you are away from paved roads, the more unusual the character of the neighborhood (read: wild west)
We personally chose an area that was a crossroads type area, with full public services & the one of the best public transports on the island. Main reason: because we have done the private ag subdivision on the mainland (had planned to here, too) & realized there was a lot to say for having public conveniences, esp here on this island.