Posts: 798
Threads: 38
Joined: May 2005
I'm Rob & my partner is Michael. After years of thinking Hawaii was crowded and somewhat tacky like Waikiki, I came across an article on Molokai in 1996 and went there and to Maui and fell in love with Hawaii. We went back in 1997 for 3 weeks on the Big Island, including a week at Kalani. We loved all parts of the island and for the first time I fantasized about living there.
After I spent 9 days on the island in November, 2003, my ex who I'd first visited with told me that lots in Seaview were under $10k. The stars aligned such that I got a big tax refund and some vacation payout and I was able to buy a lot there sight unseen based just on maps. Thank god it turned out to be exaclty what I had hoped--not jungly, not too far from the water, and with partial ocean views. I originally thought I'd keep it for many years and maybe retire there or build a vacation rental. But after visiting in February and staying in Seaview the whole time, I didn't want to leave. Each time I've been there I just feel drawn to the area and feel content and at peace like no where else. It's even more just that area of Puna specifically than Hawaii or Puna in general. There is something just electrifying about being below the southeast rift zone where the world continues to be created.
I realized that we really could sell our home in Oakland and since the equity in it has balooned, we could actually build a home there and move and live without a mortgage. So now we're on a 5 year plan. Being only 34 and knowing that neither of us will be able to get jobs in our field there (I do HIV research and Michael does visual merchandising) we need some time to save and build up retirement. Still the temptation is there to just do it and move sooner rather than later.
I know living there will be a major life change, but it's one that we both want. I'm ready to trade having crack dealers and hookers down the street for dolphins, whales, and spectacularly beautiful ocean & lava cliffs.
For now it's lots of research and fantasizing about different house plans. My partner loves design so he's loving this process. By 2010, we'll be there with our 2 dogs and hopefully spend the rest of our lives in Puna!
My intro. PS Seaview area has plenty of iceheads and petty thieves. Just wanted you to know that but it is indeed close to the water. Just trying to feed you mopre info about area by experience in that area and what goes on.
I am Frank, a misunderstood type individual and certainly infamous on this forum for excercizing my freedom of speech but will not go there.
Born in New Yourk State where I was living until I was graduated from College in 1980. Moved to Seattle where I lived for 24 years. As urban sprawl happened in an intense way when the californians bought out a planet full of real esate and drove prices way above affordability{JUST LIKE ITS HAPPENING IN HAWAII}
I moved out after experiencing the most incredible political correctness one can imagine! The traffic and road rge did not help either.
After making my first trip to oahu I fell in love with hawaii and the idea of actually leaving Seattle and my job and so called friends and all the stuff that I found unbareable.
I bought a lot before the big boom in puna area. I then continued to work and make my plans on how I would be able to accomplish such a life changing move. I found a contractor, found a loan company found a home plan I liked.
I have now been here as of July 9th one year now! I have visited hawaii for 6 years. I lived, breathed and slept hawaii. Listened to Israels music on my luch breaks to visualize my hawaii dream.Im settled in now after a gruelling period of time it took to make this all happen. My home has gone up at least 100,000 dollars in equity which is incredible.
Hawaii has been a good choice for me as I love being near the ocean.
frank battaglia
Posts: 122
Threads: 5
Joined: Jun 2005
Aloha Everyone!
Wow, what a diverse and exciting group of misfits we all are! What better place to be than here!
I am 29 yrs young, grew up in Vermont, spent the first eight years of my life in Detroit where my dad was a cop and my mom a Montessori teacher. My dad was injured in the line of duty, so we moved to Vermont for his recovery. There he built our house single-handedly and worked four jobs to help keep us kids fed. He also instilled in me at this time a healthy work ethic and I begrudingly admit... "a certain amount of character" taught through what i considered at the time an ungodly amount of chores. My childhood in Vermont instilled me with a love of nature and a certain off kilter cant (Kant?) towards life and politics.
In 95' i applied to college at Hilo and a few other schools, though i got a full ride at UH Hilo i decided to go to a more radical school in Sarasota, Florida (New College). There I really learned my way around the world and became much more widely educated. I dropped out twice and spent some time bartending and living in the Carribean. I majored in Marine Bio, with a focus on Aquarium Science. I lived in Tampa for a year working as a waiter, exposing myself to some more of city life and the many underground cultures of that nice city.
After a few years i decided i still wasn't ready for school, (besides i was learning so much more on my own!) and ended up travelling and working in Central America and the Carribean. I did two summers of research assistance in Roatan Honduras and further cemented my love of the ocean. Then I moved back to Florida and worked in a few aquariums for some time. Couldn't pay my rent without a degree so I went back to bartending.
On the drop of a hat one day I moved out to San Diego California. Thought it was a spontaneous romantic thing to do. Damn that Kerouac and his manifest destiny! Blew my wad looking for bartending jobs and after six monthes of mixed luck ended up working with my neighbor as a starting contractor. After five years of that I was pretty good at it.
I met my girlfriend of 4 years in Ensenada, Baja Mexico. We both hated the mentality of image-obsessed, money-crazy, conspicuously consumptive SoCal and started dreaming of somewhere with a real community. We love the environment in Cali and spent a lot of time travelling in Baja and to the many great wilder areas in southern california. After a few bad monthes, i just got really fed up with the grind and decided I would finally try to get out of the vacuum that is San Diego.
I had the chance to remodel some really high end homes in Hollywood so i moved there with the hope of getting enough of an egg together to escape. I bit the bullet and moved to LA. After completing one house I spent two weeks visiting the Hilo/Puna area. I was really taken by the atmosphere. I decided that I would rather take the good and the bad here than allow my soul to continue its slow doward descent in the mediocrity and soul-lessness of SoCal. I travelled all around the windward side of the Island, met some great people and really connected with the back to nature feel of Pahoa. After a spiritual experience in Waipio Valley and some not so profound, but enjoyable days at Kehena, i decided that I wanted to try it here. i spent a few nights sleeping in the woods, and hiked out to the lava a few times just to check with Pele that she would allow me to come. I survived, and felt even more convinced that this was to be my place. I guess that Pele left the door open for me.
I applied to UH Hilo, just to make sure i could get in, and started planning. A few monthes and many gory details later I arrived. I am worktrading with a nice family who own the Beach Dog internet cafe in Hilo and hope to remodel their home and turn my now humble living space (backoffice/garage) into a rental.
I have been working as a remodeller with a really neat Hawaiian locally for about three weeks now. Eventually, i would like to specialize in renovating delapidated Hawaiian-owned properties into rentals. I plan on working hard doing more profitable work for a few monthes first to rebuild my bank account. After that that I hope to apply for some grant money to subsidize the hawaiian remodels. Maybe do some long-term repayment/pro bono work, get local organizations and gov't money to pay for materials and permits. Maybe even work on offsetting the inflationary costs people like you and I are inflicting on the locals, by providing some sort of affordable housing.
Interstingly enough the one new construction job i plan on helping with will be for PSLamont, Pam here on PunaWeb. I also went and checked out some work for OceanDreamer50, Frank B..
SO, I'VE MET THEM BOTH, LIKE THEM BOTH AND CAN ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THEY ARE BOTH GOOD PEOPLE WORKING ON THEIR OWN NOT SO DIFFERENT AND EQUALLY ENVIABLE DREAMS!
BTW Frank doesn't have two heads, and Pam doesn't walk around telling people how great she is. They're both actully rather humble.
My girlfriend will be moving out here in two weeks and moving into the experiment that I am now inhabiting. She is an experienced Nanny/Au Pair and will be looking for work. She is creative and adorable. She'll probably go native about 13 seconds after her plane touches down. Anyone with some good work oppourtunities please contact me. She loves nature, kids, outdoor activities, gardening... her name is Abby.
She'll undoubtably read this post and groan at what a character i am.
So that's me.
I brew my own beer, love to cook, ride a motorcycle, read too much, and look forward to all of us working together in a respectfull way with the local population to help this community stay as wonderfull as it is and maybe even improve on some of its weaknesses.
Mahalo,
Hazen Komraus
Edited by - hazen on 08/11/2006 11:50:36
Posts: 159
Threads: 21
Joined: Jul 2005
I am Lee Graves and I am 44 yrs old, Married to Ana from the Philippines, We have a 6 yr old daughter. We live on 3 acres in Orchidland Estates and run a Vacation rental business. We are in the process of building a home in Ainaloa as owner builders thru Pierson lumber. We have been here for 1 year and still love it!
If you are in need of a place to stay we offer affordable accomadations starting at $300 per week our tel no. is 966-6481. Sorry, couldn't help to put a plug in for the business. I am an Electrician by trade but not licensed in Hawaii yet, I worked for Lockheed Martin 20 years and spent the last 13 years on the Island of Cyprus as a Field service Rep. before moving to Hawaii. I use to scuba but haven't in 10 yrs and would like to find a fishing partner to fish the local waters.
Lee
Hi Sean I m Frank alias oceandreamer. I was born in New york and very familiar with Long island. I lived in Westchester country in Mount Vernon. Spent alot of time in the bronx where my grandmother and unt lived. Familair with Allerton avenue or Barnes ave? Thats where I used to go alot. I loved eating at White castle. I loved going as rarely as I got to go to Jones Beach, fire island etc. Well welcome to Puna.
frank battaglia
Posts: 3
Threads: 2
Joined: Jun 2005
I am 30-years-old and putting the final touches on my big move over to Pahoa. I currently live in Portland, Oregon and am craving a more relaxed lifestyle complete with open minded, kind people. I like to think i'm used to rain being in the Great Pacific Northwest, but I guess nobody knows for sure until you get in it. I have the fortunate opportunity to work from home on my computer. That means I will be looking for small, one/two-bedroom homes in the Pahoa area. I am working with a realtor right now and I feel like I have some good possibilities in my price range. After securing my little humble abode, I am very much looking forward to meeting the good people of Puna. While I do like some amenities (DSL, water, etc.), I am really in search of nature and people who love and respect it. I want to explore all the Big Island has to offer and live a quiet existence. I have a motorcycle that I hope I will be able to ride with the rain. I also have a beautiful Dalmation named Small Cow. While I am still a year away from physically being there, I feel like I am already there mentally as I work toward tying up all my loose ends. I look forward to chatting with all of you and "sucking" all the information and feelings you have about your incredible area. It truly is a dream and I will be living it soon.
Posts: 27
Threads: 1
Joined: Jun 2005
quote:
aloha to all,my name is sean king my handle is IKA japanese for squid.i'm living on the noth fork of long island in new york state.was born in the bronx my family moved east to l.i to get away from the maddness.i grew up in a small farm and fishing town on the noth shore called miller place.since the late 80's i have been moving further and further east on the island.my old town miller place has no farms left just strip malls and black top.the township of riverhead is where i live now,but once again we are loosing our farm lands, crushing the enviroment and wiping out all habitat for our fish and wildlife.searching for a better life i found puna,we bought a 10 acre papaya farm in OPIHIKAO.the land has not been farmed in some time,needs lots of love.we hope some day to bring it back to its full glory .the family who sold the farm is a proud hawaiian family whos sons allmost lost it do to ther"ICE" problems.ther mom a great woman,sold the land and bought alot of smaller peices to give to her children and grand kids so they all will have a peice of paradise.it was her farthers farm and i promised her once again she will be proud of that land!i was blessed by the grandfarthers spirit on the land and it was the first time in about 7 years the whole family was together on it.my family and i feel that we must carry the tourch not to leave foot prints behind and to live the ALOHA SPIRIT.we love the land , the aloha spirit and will forever. my family,the love of my life DEB,my mom and our furry friends wahoo,bonito and hanna the dogs fatty, frigate and skip jack the cats.we should be in puna in mid to late july,we have meet some nice people have some old friends that live ther and will be looking foward to meet with our puna friends.i'm a very handy person with alot of tools that will allways help any body that needs it.we love the outdoors,fishing freak!,kayaking, hiking and riding my motorcycle so please feel free to talk story chow for now,sean
Edited by - ika on 07/07/2005 20:15:31
Posts: 229
Threads: 19
Joined: Dec 2004
Hello All,
I'm Nate, I currently live in So-Cal and I just turned 35 this past June. I have lived all over the United States(Texas, New Hampshire, Boston, Florida and even did a short tour in Africa in the Peace Corps. I'm married to a beautiful woman who I met while I was an exchange student at UHH(crazy story how we met). We have been married 13 years and it seems like we met just yesterday(yeah right). We have two beautiful Consumers (daughters) eight & five. We bought our place in Orchidland (lil' over 6 acres) about three years ago. I gradutaed from The University of Southern California. I'm an electrical engineer by "trade" and I currently work for JPL in Pasadena, CA. My wife works for the Rand Corp. and evaluates issues related to Asia. We dont really have a time frame for when we want to move but the school situation for the kids is not fair to them and will not give them the tools they need to suceed. my ultimate goal is to have them move out of my house one day and that wont happen with the education system there. Our plans are modest in regards to buidling and like I stated we dont really have a time frame(maybe I should work on that). I enjoy all kinds of music from Bob Marley ,Rage Against The Machine, Led Zeplin and more. Fishing is my "thing" and I often go deep sea fishing here in So-Cal on the 3/4 and 1/2 day boats. Anyways, if you wanna meet a cool guy who will help you out and not judge you on any level except how you are as a human...look me up.
Nate
Posts: 7
Threads: 0
Joined: Jul 2003
Hey! I'm Mike. (Mmmichael K on konaweb) I signed up on this board a long time ago but haven't posted in a very long time. I live in Hilo with Rick. We moved here almost one year ago, a move which was made much easier by all the help and info and support we got from our friends Punagirl and David M from Atlanta. We had always wanted to move to Hawaii and had come here once a year while we were living in California. I'm teaching highschool this year, while Rick is a church organist and sometimes resort pianist. We both volunteer for the Palace Theatre Organ restoration. Well, I could type more, but I have to hop in the shower because we have a date with the famous Laura K. (Lunch at Cronies.) Bye bye Mike
Posts: 551
Threads: 61
Joined: Oct 2004
My partner and I decided to move to puna a couple of years ago. We just retired in May/Nov. We were planning on being on being there by Sept. We decided to take a three month tour of the US in an RV. We are headed
back towards our former home in So Cal. I must say that after all the travel,places, and experiences on this trip. That there is no comparison (in my eyes)to the Hawaiian Island. We will be on Oahu for 3 months by Sept. or Aug. Then on to lower Puna to build. In Chicago area right now by a beautiful lake wishing I was there now.
We Hope to be on Big Island by January
Hope to meet all the people that post on this site.
Take care and Aloha
Mark & Richard
"Yearn to understand first and to be understood second."
-- Beca Lewis Allen
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