Mana'o on Buying in Hawaiian Acres

[kaleohano74]

Aloha Mai Kakou,
We are new to Punaweb, and looking for any information anyone can give us regarding buying land in Hawaiian Acres / Fern Forest area. We are from Waimanalo on Oahu, and are tired of the whole island turning into a concrete jungle. My wife and I have been wanting to live a different way for a long time. We would like to have land to be more self sustainable. Raise our own livestock, grow our own food and live with the Aina. Our problem is that we have lived our whole lives in Waimanalo where we are currently renting. Land here is now in the 1 million per acre range since the wealthy have discovered how beautiful Waimanalo is. If we worked till we where 200 we might be able to afford 1/4 acre. That being said, I have been looking in the Puna area for something in the 3 acre range which led me to Hawaiian Acres area. I have seen a huge variance in price from $15,000 to $50,000 for 3 acres. We are looking for the inside scoop on the difference in prices, as well as what we need to look for with respect to the different areas in Hawaiian Acres. We are drawn to this area because of the close proximity to Hilo, where my wife can transfer, but still have country living. We would most likely be doing this as owner/builders starting with obtaining the land first. Any info (realtor, different areas, inside info, red flags, whatever you know, Etc.) you can share with us is greatly appreciated. We really want to learn from those who have already "been there, done that" so to say. Mahalo for any help you can give us.

[unknownjulie]

I think I drove about every sq inch of HA roads, prior to buying my lot in Orchidland. I'd look at Fern Acres personally, because you have paved roads and the bus route. On the other hand HA is nice and the thing to research is if your lot will flood and the roads going out there. The lots in the middle of the sub. are usually the cheap ones, and the roads really are terrible, although mostly passable in my minivan. I almost bought a lot in HA for 13,000, but the sellers wouldnt take less than 14 and I walked. It was on craigslist. I have been having to fly back and forth to Oahu for school and I agree that it's really builtup there. I don't like it at all. GL with your search. If your wife can transfer, then I'd just move here - into a rental -and then you'll be able to drive around and see for yourself what you like. Give yourself 6 mo. to figure it out while renting. Then again, if you see a "killer deal" you may just have to jump at it, and deal with the consequences later (but I am not risk averse at all). Sometimes people get desperate, or get bad advice- and sell good stuff for really cheap.

[bananahead]

Im originally from Kaneohe, and now live in Hawaiian Acres. Im on Rd 2 between C-B (a dead end rd)... My place was $50K 6 yrs ago and it came with an offgrid solar powered new cabin w/loft on 3 lush raw acres. My land is 150' X 871' but feels much larger, its like living in your own park the front is cleared and planted out w/fruit/ornamentals where the cabin is, then 1/3 way back in a low slot I have a cool creek that cuts across the property that only flows 10-15 times a year (a beautiful plus even though the prop was prob cheaper because of this so called 'flaw') then the middle is tall Ohia jungle (some nearing 75'-100' tall) and then in back 1/2 I have about 1/3 miles of trails cut with many native endemic plants planted throughout the fern covered lava cracks and tubes.

as far as the 77 miles of raw roads in HA (7 are somewhat paved), I agree the worst ones are in the middle areas of HA (ie 4,5,6 C-D-E. but worst case is you have for buy new shocks/wheel based stuff every few years on your truck, .... or if you want you can buy on paved city like roads (with speeders/traffic) and pay many thousands more if not double the $$ overall just so you drive all smooth for 5 minutes a day lol.... my raw cinder road is perfect, you can only drive 5 MPH max, and anyone who drives to the end lives there as its a dead end and we all look out for ea other (so no homeless/crime probs on my rd. lol).... takes about 10 minutes to get to a store (JHara or 7-11), 25-30 minutes to get to mid Hilo or the best National Park in the country.... and my neighbour coffee farmer just won best coffee in state

all for same $$ as a average new SUV



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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

[Cagary]

Just be aware that most of the land in Puna is nothing like the land in Waimanalo on Oahu. Much of the area lacks soil and is covered with relatively new lava. Using a shovel to dig a hole for planting is impossible. Heavy equipment is necessary unless you want to spend a lot of time using hand tools to break up the lava.

If you are thinking of growing your own food or raising livestock, you might have to bring in tons of soil. There is a reason why the land in Puna is so much cheaper than the land on Oahu.

You might want to consider looking north of Hilo. This area has deep soil, but much higher prices per acre.

-Veritas odium parit”(Terence 195–159 BC))-"Truth begets hatred".

[kaleohano74]

Mahalo everyone for all your help. Are there certain areas within Hawaiian Acres that are known for having better soil ?
Bananahead did you have to bring in soil or is there lots with good soil?
Why such a huge variance in prices just for paved roads, or is it just people trying to make more of a profit?

[csgray]

There are some people who just would not consider living on the unpaved roads in part of HA, I know because my husband is one of them, because some of the roads are so rutted and some flood and wash out during heavy rains. That reduces the possible buyers for those properties, which drops the price. Plus there are not all that many lots on the pavement, so their supply is limited, which raises their price. Basic law of supply and demand: high supply and fewer buyers=low prices, low supply and more buyers=higher prices. Remember some of those people paid a lot more for those lots a few years ago, so they aren't being greedy, just trying not to lose too much when they sell.

Carol

[kaleohano74]

Ok I have been reading about these walls that divert the water into HA that actually cause the flooding. What areas exactly are affected by this flooding or us it all of HA? This will help me to at least rule out the areas that are prone to flooding during heavy rains. Mahalo Nui

[unknownjulie]

The low-lying lots may have more soil My lot has some remidied run-off issues, and I have huge Ohia and also, a foot of soil or more- in Orchidland.