Building in Puna

[sam205]

Hi Everyone,
I'm a new memeber here, just started looking into buying property in Puna, and I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible, anywhere in Puna, to put a trailer on a piece of property temporarely, while I build my home there? I'm a contractor/ framer by trade and perfer to be on site to protect my interest. Secondary question, what do building permits cost, top to bottom, just need a ball park to take the second step towards looking for property there[font=Arial]?

Thanks,
Sandy

[kalakoa]

Most answers can be found by digging through these forums.

Summary: some subdivisions have strict CC&Rs, some have nitpicky neighbors, some are "live and let live". Do your homework. Easiest "snapshot" is a visit to the market (if one exists), read through the bulletin board outside the community center (if any), dig up back issues of the newsletter (most associations maintain a website).

General rule: further away from pavement and/or grid power usually means "less scrutiny" from County (and "more interesting" neighbors). The notion of "temporary" is inversely proportional to "perceived value" -- in the most "worthless" subdivisions, your trailer can be more-or-less permanent.

Many subdivisions are actually zoned "agriculture", not "residential" (the aforementioned CC&Rs are usually intended to enforce "residential" norms in non-residential zoning). In some circumstances a trailer can be a "pre-engineered agricultural accessory structure" which is implicitly allowed by State (HR2646).

Note that any out-of-state licensure is not recognized by Hawaii; you can pull an "owner-builder" permit from County and do all your own framing, but you must hire electrician and plumber unless you also happen to be licensed for those trades in Hawaii.

[sam205]

Thanks Kalakoa, very informative, I will continue to research different areas for what my needs are. One last question though, can you recommend a decent area that has those "loose" CC&R's you were talking about, so I can start looking there instead of area's that might prohibit my game plan? And..., has anyone ever drilled a water well or put up a residential wind turbine on the big island before, can you drill for water there? I know..., I really sound like an "off-grider", it's totally true, I'm am :o).

Sandy

[jlgerk]

Hey Sam,
If you want to drill for water, just drill a hole in your roof.

http://www.icompositions.com/artists/jlgerk

[kalakoa]

There isn't a "handy reference table" for subdivisions. CC&Rs will be recorded with the deed, and (usually) mentioned by the Association. Road fees vary; some "pre-State" subdivisions cannot enforce mandatory road fees.

Off the top of my head: Nanavale has strict CC&Rs, Seaview and Hawaiian Acres have none. Ainaloa "phase I" (the first few streets by the highway) have no CC&Rs, the rest does. Orchidland and HPP definitely have road fees.

Some "subdivisions" have neither CC&Rs nor Association, just a name on the map.

Subdivision names can be a clue: "Homestead" or "Farm Lots" vs "Estates" (or anything that mentions a "Beach").

[Cagary]

quote:

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Originally posted by sam205

Thanks Kalakoa, very informative, I will continue to research different areas for what my needs are. One last question though, can you recommend a decent area that has those "loose" CC&R's you were talking about, so I can start looking there instead of area's that might prohibit my game plan? And..., has anyone ever drilled a water well or put up a residential wind turbine on the big island before, can you drill for water there? I know..., I really sound like an "off-grider", it's totally true, I'm am :o).

Sandy

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Plenty of water falls out of the sky to fill your catchment tank which is what just about everyone does.

Winds are just not strong enough to convert to power. Solar works well enough, though.

[Rob Tucker]

The aquifer lens is very deep. In Pahoa for example it is about 800'. For some unexplained reason local drillers are charging about $100/ft. Not too many private wells.

[sam205]

Thanks everyone for all your advise. Kalakoa..., you'da man, great stuff to get started with, thanks for the lead on subdivisions to look into, now all I got to do is find a piece of property for 5K or less in a subdivison with no CC&R's, no association, in a decent area with a road not overrun by hippies, crackheads or crime. Sounds easy enough :o). Yeah, I'm pretty sure watercatchment is the way to go as well, just found out Puna gets 120" a year, I live in San Diego, and I think we "might" get 9-10" a year, if we're lucky :o) Take care everyone.

Aloha,
Sandy

[csgray]

Good luck finding a subdivision that has both no CC&Rs AND "no hippies, crackheads, or crime." You also could easily end up in a subdivision that has both CC&Rs and "hippies, crackheads, or crime." If you can't deal with hippies, Puna might not be the right place for you, actually anywhere on the Big Island other than the multimillion dollar gated communities on on the West side of the Island will probably have hippies. The definition of "overrun" is in the eye of the beholder.

Carol

[Rob Tucker]

Somehow I would not base my location for years to come on my ability to park an old trailer. Just me.