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Aloha, Lenny. The pest situation has been covered in at least one other thread, but I would like to add a word or two on that, as well as some of your other concerns.
The mice, rats, and roaches can be minimized by keeping your screens and window/door frames tight and by keeping all possible pest food sources as inaccessible and as air-tight as possible. We invested in a large assortment of quality food storage containers, and saw our pest problem drop way off. If the buggahs can't smell food, they are far less likely to try to get in. We check the screens, windows, and doors monthly to be sure there are no entry ways. Also, the gekko is your friend. Yes, I know they creep some folks out, but they eat bugs, and we think they are cute. 'Nuff said about that.
Given all the rain we have, flooding of homes is surprisingly rare. The cracks in the lava rock seem to absorb tremendous amounts of water. Temporary road closures and street flooding are an issue in some areas of Puna, though. You should ask about that before buying property.
Medical care is tough for some, depending on insurance resources. The local Blue Cross affiliate, HMSA, is selling policies in the Hilo area while virtually all the doctors in Hilo who accept HMSA are not accepting new patients. I am told, however, that there are HMSA doctors in other areas of the island who will take newbies. I use Kaiser, and have had good care so far, but it is a strictly controlled HMO with limited choices. Just about all the health care organizations use resources in Honolulu for very difficult or unusual procedures, so travel can be an issue for some.
Finally, do a LOT of research about all your concerns. We made about 12 visits over a period of three years before we bought our property, and kept visiting another two years before we moved. Bought four books on moving to HI (mostly out of date before we got them, BTW.) Spent weeks on-line researching. Despite some predictable culture shock and adjustment pains (folks on this forum will attest that I do gripe sometimes), Puna has been quite good overall.
Good luck and much Aloha,
Jerry
Posts: 942
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Joined: Aug 2005
There are parts of Hawaiian Acres and Orchidland with flooding problems in times of heavy rain due to a diversion wall that was erected back in the 30's. I have maps that show those areas, if you need them, although when you're driving those areas, the condition of the roads makes it clear.
As for the bugs, the geckos control a lot of them for me and I just periodically spray near my house to deter the roaches and centipedes. Being that my house is also mostly post-and-pier seems to help too. Its not bad enough to bother me (and I don't like bugs). The fact that we don't have snakes is a HUGE bonus.
John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
Posts: 210
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Joined: Mar 2005
Hi Lenny,
There is an article in the Hawaii Tribune Herald on line about flooding in Hilo. In the past they have had some big ones (not counting Tsunamis). But, in lower Puna the new lava is so absorbant that there is no flooding. The books mentioned discuss the flooding danger areas. Also, John Dirgo does not seem to promote himself directly, but he is an excellent real estate agent. He knows the area very well. I bought through him.
Aloha,
Rob L
Aloha,
Rob L
Posts: 88
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Joined: Jan 2006
We were in Nanavale in February and had no problem with any flooding there. The rain was very heavy at times, but the ground dried quickly once it stopped raining. The biggest problems with flooding in Hawaii this year were on two other islands, Oahu and Kauai, both of which sustained severe damage in some areas due to flooding.
We had catchment water, and there was never a problem due to insufficient water in the tank (part of the joy of living in a rain forest). We did have problems with access to water at times because of a defective pump, but that was a defect specific to the house we had rented and not one inherent to catchment systems.
As for buying land vs. a buying a house, there are several issues for you to consider: Do you want to live for an extended period in a temporary home while your house is being built, or is it more important to you to move into your house more quickly? Do you have the ability and time to do a significant part of the work on the house for yourselves, or will you need to hire contractors for most or all of it? If you have decided on the location you want, are any existing houses currently for sale, and if so, are any of them the type you want? How important is it to you to be able to have a house that is designed exactly the way you want it to be?
If you decide that you do want to buy an existing house, in addition to checking Harry Pritikin's list or dealing directly with a local realtor, you may want to ride around the area on Sunday afternoons and look at some of the Open House opportunities being advertised. It seems that no matter where you go in Puna on Sunday, sooner or later you will pass a sign advertising an Open House somewhere nearby.
Howard
Posts: 122
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Joined: Jun 2006
Thank you John for that information I appreciate it. Yes I would not mind those maps at all. If you can email them to me please do and thank you for the offer. Moving there is the biggest risk I will have taken so far in life (besides marriage) and I will take any information I can! Also, it was just brought to my attention that you have a reputation as a great real estate agent. Would you mind giving me some tips on properties or land I can take a look at when I visit at the end of this month? I would really like to work with someone that has been recommended versus someone I have not ever heard of. I have been emailing back and forth with an agent in Century 21 but I rather work with recommendations from the people in Punaweb or Konweb who know what they are talking about. I should be there between the 17th and 24th of June.
Lenny LLuberesm
lluberesm@optonline.net
Lenny
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Hello Rob,
Thank you, I will be sure to check that article out and most of all thank you for the heads-up on JDirgo being someone you trust to buy property. It puts the nerves at ease to have someone recommended to you.
Lenny LLuberesm
lluberesm@optonline.net
Lenny
Posts: 122
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Joined: Jun 2006
Hello Howard,
Are you on catchment water now? Besides that particular situation what are your thoughts on catchment vs. city water? I am definitely debating the costs of building vs. buying. I have seen some new to relatively new homes for sale that are going for a descent price. After looking at some estimates on some of the builders website it seems that building would really only be beneficial because I can get what I want how I want it. But it does not seem too cost efficient so far. I still have a lot to research and I should be taking a look at some land when I visit at the end off the month.
Lenny LLuberesm
lluberesm@optonline.net
Lenny
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My own experience with catchment water is limited to three months in one house in Nanawale; I've had city water everywhere else I've ever lived.
The main objection usually raised against catchment is the risk of running out of water, but in that regard catchment seems to be safe enough in rainy Puna. Other than that, the main factor determining its effect on your life is the quality of plumbing installed in the system and the house in question. This is true of city water also, to some extent, but there the basic system is installed by the city, not you, and is less in your control.
Given a choice between the two, with every other factor supposedly equal, I would probably prefer city water - but every other factor is never really equal. You will rarely have a choice between catchment and city water in the same house, and in selecting a home other issues may be more important to you than the water supply source - location or size of the property, quality of schools, convenience to employment, etc. I would not actively seek a home with catchment water, but I would not rule one out for that reason either.
Howard
Posts: 6,214
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Joined: Feb 2006
Hi Lenny, I was the one with the infested house on that other forum. That was much more of a housekeeping problem than a pest problem. The family that lived here set up a tarp covered outdoor kitchen, and threw all of the waste on the ground.....which we have cleaned up, along with cleaning out every wall. Now that the grounds & walls are clean, the only things we get are a few itsy bitsy bugs that squeeze through the screens (even ants have been fairly easy to control through housekeeping & bait traps) and the live geckos our dumb cat keeps bringing in the house for us, but we are training that out of her (hopefully). I do hope you are not turned off from moving here by my description of the mess we bought, I was just trying to get through to the original poster that there may be reasons to want to build your own house rather than deal with someone elses place. She has a way of making it seem that her way is THE ONLY WAY, I try to see that there are many roads to choose from, and many reasons to choose ones' path.
Posts: 122
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Joined: Jun 2006
Hi Carey,
Not AT ALL, I am on the road to Hawaii come hail or high water! :-) I will be there and I will make the best of it and deal with whatever obstacles are put in my path. That is definitely the game plan. You have to work hard for what you want in life, and I am a HARD worker. You are right, there are a lot of roads to take and choose and keeping an open mind is the key to success in everything in life in my opinion.
quote:
Hi Lenny, I was the one with the infested house on that other forum. That was much more of a housekeeping problem than a pest problem. The family that lived here set up a tarp covered outdoor kitchen, and threw all of the waste on the ground.....which we have cleaned up, along with cleaning out every wall. Now that the grounds & walls are clean, the only things we get are a few itsy bitsy bugs that squeeze through the screens (even ants have been fairly easy to control through housekeeping & bait traps) and the live geckos our dumb cat keeps bringing in the house for us, but we are training that out of her (hopefully). I do hope you are not turned off from moving here by my description of the mess we bought, I was just trying to get through to the original poster that there may be reasons to want to build your own house rather than deal with someone elses place. She has a way of making it seem that her way is THE ONLY WAY, I try to see that there are many roads to choose from, and many reasons to choose ones' path.
Lenny LLuberesm
lluberesm@optonline.net
Lenny
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