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Have been lurking here for a couple years and finally just bought a lot up in Orchidland so thought I'd post a few pointers. I have been tramping around on my 2 acre rectangular lot and it's really been a learning experience! First off, on the advice of Melissa Fletcher (very nice lady who builds yurts) I hired "Evan" at Island Boundaries to survey my lot. He and a helper chopped through the lot lines (very basic) and marked them (also very basic, but enough)- and for a great price! Then I went out and sprayed roundup along the lines, waited a week, and peeled back the underbrush and planed trees and peanut grass along the lines. Then I got some quotes for bulldozing a driveway and putting in a cesspool and nearly had a heart attack. Also, I dont want my giant Ohia trees killed by the heavy machinery, or the topsoil pushed off my land. So, I took a large cardboard box and started heading into the jungle by jumping on top of it, and then moving it to a new area, and proceeded in this way- about 100feet into my lot! It could also "mow" down some smaller strawberry guava and other bushes. I sort of floated on top of the vegetation way inside my lot! I was thrilled about this. No sticks poking into me or my clothes! It was however still a lot of work. Went out there today and took a look, sprayed some more round up on my new "driveway" and "sortof cleared area"- and next I will hopefully have some gravel delivered to at least make some kind of rudimentary driveway and parking area. It's not nearly as nice as a bulldozed area, but it was cheap! Just thought I'd share. I still have to go out there again, and put crossbow in some sawed areas on the bigger strawberry guava I want to take down. I was tempted to use my minivan and a piece of plywood to "mow" those down, but I restrained myself.
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To call it a driveway you will need to be able to drive on it. A smaller dozer costs less than a big D9 and can work a bit more delicately. I recommend Bob Hill (965-9149).
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I think what Melissa does has value. I'm not exactly sure what value to assign to it, but I am convinced she can get a yurt permitted and built better than anyone else in the area. As for the "driveway". Yes, I will keep everyone posted if I can manage to get it to a "drivable stage" on my own, or if I need to hire a dozer. I may just leave a "parking area" and plant some fruit trees and other landscaping and some more peanut grass and wait awhile. I think the major thing that would "put a fire under me" towards development, is if I hear that the rules for cesspools are changing. I absolutely do not want to have to put in a septic system.
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Best wishes on your project. I know hand work is tough. I admire your determination. An elderly Japanese friend taught me a local life lesson...... "little by little" can get the job done.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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I'm no professional when it comes to waste disposal, but what I do know (mostly gleaned from this forum) is that you need a 3 acre lot for a cess pool, otherwise you are going septic.
I'd definitely check with the county before going either way, but I've read the 3 acre part quite a few times now.
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It goes much faster with small power tools and a little bit of (ethanol-free) gas.
Explore with a string trimmer (at least 25cc and .155 string), then clear with a chainsaw. A pair of 2" loppers will cut smaller waiwi. Peel and dry the ohia for use as construction timber; cut the waiwi down into poles for general farm use (fences, trellises, etc). The chaff can be mulched-in-place, which also helps water retention for new plantings.
So far I haven't needed any bulldozer work.
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It's one acre for now, but there have been discussions to change it.
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Thanks for the advice on clearing. Yes, I'm going to try and "reuse" any wood that is cut down...
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quote:
Originally posted by rainyjim
I'm no professional when it comes to waste disposal, but what I do know (mostly gleaned from this forum) is that you need a 3 acre lot for a cess pool, otherwise you are going septic.
I'd definitely check with the county before going either way, but I've read the 3 acre part quite a few times now.
One acre. I know because I just had one approved on a one acre lot.
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike
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I agree w/ Kalakoa's post above 100%
its easy with good tools, and you need to stay on top of it or it will grow back...
you'll be surprised at how fast your lot will evolve with just a few hours a week of work... much of the work will eventually be going back and keeping old places you worked on nice too
good luck!
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
