Posts: 5
Threads: 2
Joined: Mar 2014
Hello! It has been fantastic reading everyone's advice in regards to building in Puna. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences.
We are near the end of escrow for our lot in Nanawale! We are SOOOOOO excited to begin hand clearing the lot. We aim to preserve much of the natural beauty and non-invasive trees/plants.
All that said, I am looking for an option that is more affordable to "doze" the initial driveway area. I realize that nothing is "free", but I am interested in seeing what my options are.
Are you looking to practice your heavy machinery skills? Would you be interested in assisting? Let me know!
Posts: 1,975
Threads: 47
Joined: Jul 2012
Fyi, I don't think many excavator operators post on punaweb, however, many have taken the time to share the contact info. of those they have deemed qualified excavators.
Sorry if I am confused by the gist of your post. Hope this helps --
Thanks for hand clearing.
Posts: 8,465
Threads: 1,032
Joined: May 2003
Aloha ssgoering and welcome to Punaweb.
There is an old formula for you to consider on this driveway project which may help guide your decisions. It goes like this: Is your time cheaper than your money or is your money cheaper than your time?
Your age and physical condition will play into this as well.
Lots of impressive things have been build by hand labor. Earth moving and road building can be done by hand but it tends to be brutal. Time versus money.
There are small dozers here which cost less per hour and can work rather delicately. I like Bob Hill for small dozer work. Not sure I would advocate anyone practicing on my property with heavy equipment. An unskilled operator can do a lot of damage.
Best wishes.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
Posts: 14,116
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Nanavale Estates lots are typically 7500sf, which makes hand-clearing less unreasonable, especially if it's moderately flat.
Maybe a small excavator; anything bigger than a D4 would be overkill.
Unless it's in the Albizzia Belt...
Posts: 5
Threads: 2
Joined: Mar 2014
Great responses, thanks to all of you who replied!
rainyjim, I wasn't sure if anyone who had a small dozer posted or visited, but just in case someone does my post is here.
Aloha Rob, good feedback. We are young, 25/26 and are on the island for 3 more weeks. Immediately time is short, and so is money. Hopefully long term I will have plenty of both.
Kalakoa, my lot backs up to the National Forest, so we have a couple larger Albizia trees that we plan to girdle. The lot is a tad bit larger at 9,000 sq ft. What's the average cost for an hour?
My main concern is that I would like to get in there to plant a few trees so years later I can enjoy their fruits. Anyone know someone in Nanawale or nearby who would rent something like a DR Trimmer or something like that? Or who sells good machetes?! haha. Also, does anyone know if the lots line up with the electricity poles?
I look forward to your suggestions PUNAWEB!
Posts: 364
Threads: 14
Joined: Jun 2012
Aloha and welcome to punaweb and Nanawale. I live in Nanawale too.
Just wondering if you have any strawberry guava on your lot. If you don't, I think hand clearing will be doable (relatively speaking). Because of the small lots here in Nanawale, I would definitely recommend small machinery for building a driveway. Somebody a few lots down from me, dozed their whole lot. Didn't leave a single plant. It looks ridiculous.
Posts: 790
Threads: 14
Joined: Oct 2013
I might be inclined to come take a look at your property and advise you of the best course of action. It might just take a backhoe to clear a road, or maybe some hand clearing will do the trick. Before you spend a wad of cash it would be prudent to have someone take a look at it first.
Posts: 5
Threads: 2
Joined: Mar 2014
shave_ice, no strawberry guava! Lots of ferns, I think I've heard it referred to as waiwai?
Kander, that would be cool. Feel free to send me a message privately if you would like to take a look. Does your lot line up with the electricity poles?
Posts: 1,179
Threads: 7
Joined: Jul 2012
Waiwai = Strawberry Guava
but if you have the smaller red fruit type of Waiwai they are not too hard to remove by hand (ie chainsaw, loppers, etc.)
(I have yellow fruit type of Waiwai and they can get 75' tall and 1.5' wide in upper Puna)
the trees that are tougher than Waiwai are the Albizia and the other garbage trees like African Tulip and Gunpowder trees, Melochia, Java Plum, Melestoma, etc. a mature Albizia will fall wider than your lot .....some small lots in Puna, it may cost more $$ to remove the Albizias that the lot is worth
if you have any native trees leave them, ie all the Ohia and mature Hala
******************************************************************
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
******************************************************************
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
Posts: 188
Threads: 8
Joined: Jun 2010
Was that bulldozed lot in nanawale at the top end of seaview?...just where the pavement ends upward from nanawale blvd?
Enjoy.
riverwolf
riverwolf
