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Joined: Sep 2012
I stopped actively searching for a lot to buy in Leilani Estates when my friend who was helping me look by going to the locations and scouting out neighbors, albezia and other issues he is very aware of.[
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After a couple of lots were explored there became one for sale which was basically flat and "square" 200'x200'. It looked interesting and he went and looked and made some comments about the location in respect of being to close to the PGV plant. The lot is only around a 1/2 a mile away from the plant.
Fast foreward to the next day when the plant went off line.[B)]
Since then I have read and tried to digest Civil Defense evacuation plans, Enviromental impact ststements, all the news in the Hearld over the last year or so peratining to the plant. [xx(]
What am I missing? If I believe one side it's all gloom and doom with everybody dying, or all roses with HELCO eventually having so much electricity they will pay us to use it. [
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Please comment because I believe I will get better information here than anywhere else!
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
Mahalo
Rick
I started out with nothing and I still have most of it.
Mahalo
Rick
Posts: 6,214
Threads: 354
Joined: Feb 2006
In between the two extremes is where the truth will be parsed... 1/2 mile is fairly close to any production plant...and they do have work day & night noises that might even be something to consider.... probably the turbines going off line & back on in the middle of the night would be something to consider...
PGV does have some times when their emissions are raised above the background level...is has not ever had a gloom & doom everything dying episode, and their are many that even question if their emissions are anything to be concerned about... but if it is near your home, it only takes one time...
One of the more interesting fact is the number of times they have had problems with "hot rock" moving into their bore holes....not totally positive, but I have a sneaking suspicion that "hot rock" is a euphemism....for... well, I cannot be positive, but the only thing I can think of, when I hear "hot rock" moving is molten rock...and as that is a slight danger for all of the area around Leilani, perhaps they do not want to announce the fact that they have molten rock in their bore hole.... but I am only guessing here...
ADDED: Also...you probably do want to check, as this may be one of the properties that was sold to the county by the owner due to perceived "unhealthy" conditions......
I have no idea how that works, but have to believe that the county is akamai enough to require a full disclosure IF these properties are EVER re-sold & if they are resold AND the county is really on top of it, a property that had been deemed "unhealthy" by the previous owner & then resold with full disclosure would probably never get a really great resale....ever...
But really have no idea if this is the case... esp with the lot you are looking at...
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OK, the way I view any type of living situation in PUna or even Hilo for that matter is that it "is all temporary"! I personally dont think this is the place to sink tons of money into. On the other hand, if you buy in lava zone 3 or maybe 2 and have insurance then maybe it doesnt matter if the lava eats it. I just view the volcano- and hence the powerplant- as in control. We as residents on the land are certainly not. If you have that attitude then you have far less to worry about. Leilani is lava zone 1. REad about that and realize what it means for insurance coverage and rates, and also potential volcanic activity. I also know someone who had a cabin in kalapana and was denied renewal on her insurance just proir to the lava arriving there. They had just paid off the house two months prior with a private mortgage. It was a 30 thousand total loss for them! These are working class people who were hit really hard by this.
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In Hawaii County, most homeowners insurance does not cover lava inundation (also not cover by most here, earthquake damage...), so you gotta hope that you can prove the house burned up first... and have the time to wait until you can rebuild on your lot, as it may take a decade or longer... and homeowners insurance usually does not include the replacement of your lot (esp. if your lot does still exist, only at a higher elevation...)
oh, and 90% of Kilauea has been covered with lava in the past 1.5K years (ie, since the first human visitors)...and 60% of Mauna Loa....including a huge chunk of Hilo, big chunk of Kau, Waikaloa, & various parts of Puna & Kona....& we are floating away from the islands' birthplace, so living here really is temporary, by next year, your house will not even be here, it will be slightly over there... every year sliding away from here....
Living here, you really are not in control, and to expect to have things taken care of, if something happens, probably will cause a severe let-down on the soul... so it is best to look at all as a temporary solution.... but also best to plan for safety first... just because that is always a good thing to plan for ;~)
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Yeah, this is why I still like the yurt idea. Not that they are "totally temporary" but they are temporary to an extent and could be relocated if need be. It would still be a loss though of the infrastructure put into the lot and utilities. A very small post and pier house might work as well, but the modern cement slab houses would probably be a total loss I'm thinking.
