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If there's anyone considering a move to Puna in the next few months, I'm looking to go in on a small property to test the waters and use as a stepping stone to finding and buying private acreage somewhere.
Ideally we'd each have a few thousand dollars to pitch in, buy a 3 acre lot with no neighbors, and share some of the improvement costs (perhaps even shared solar power, refrigeration, rain catchment, and a communal kitchen). Everyone would have their own private cabin/camp, but we could help each other build.
For the cost of living in an apartment for a few months you could live off-grid for a year, experience the lifestyle, and potentially even recoup your investment selling to other interested mainlanders in the future.
Thoughts?
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a 3 acre lot with bulldozing, gravel, cesspool, structure(s), solar system, water catchment system and other misc costs will likely be in the $50K range, minimum.
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Keep in mind for now you won't be able to get any insurance and nobody really knows how the lava flow will affect prices and where. It would make sense to wait until there is some indication of how that plays out.
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I would go for a bigger lot; typical 3-acre "spaghetti" means neighbors could suddenly be too close (and possibly complaining about your project).
Also recommend a road without grid power, lots will be cheaper and neighbors less likely.
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Thanks for all the good advice.
I see some spaghetti lots without (current) neighbors in the 16k range, and some square lots ~ 22k. Not looking near Pahoa, but I am curious how that will affect things. Perhaps prices will go up in upper Puna, and down southeast of Pahoa, if that area gets cut off (or at least enough to cause more massive traffic jams than usual).
I'm hoping to go DIY on a lot of the improvements, given enough manpower. Minimal clearing, make our own composting toilets, home made solar water heaters, just enough solar and batteries to run a rigged up chest-freezer-fridge, lights, lte+wifi, and recharging outlets for laptops and cellphones. Propane grill and clothes washer.
Kinda like Thoreau, I want to get down to the simplest living possible, and then see what I truly miss. :-)
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if you're trying to do it on the cheap, best suggestion would be to pack up and move to a campground for a month and see how fired up you are about the idea after that. i have serious doubts that even on the cheap anything can be done for less than $50K.
google maps is fun to look at in your bedroom. those lots could be cheap because they are in a flood zone or infested with invasive trees that will make you wish you had never bought the lot.
it's far better long term investment (time, money, energy) to build with good materials and quality parts with warranties and life spans.
not trying to be a downer, but i had a very similar idea to you 3 years ago, and have been working on it since. i wish it would have only cost $50K
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this isn't fantasy island, the last thing puna needs at the moment is more people living in shacks pooping in buckets. enough people from here are forced to live rough. moving here with that as your plan is just a drain on a already stressed community
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I guess I share this sentiment to a large degree. On the other hand it pretty much describes me so I bristle a bit too. There is nothing inherently wrong with pooping in a bucket. I do and it all works out nicely. On the other hand you can screw it up. That is the major benefit of the tried and true flush toilet and cesspool or septic system. Once installed properly it is largely foolproof whereas getting either lazy or creative with a bucket of poo is gonna cause problems.
I cobbed together a 2kw solar system for $3,000 to $4,000 and it is worth every penny. I wouldn't want to go with less capacity. I have a reefer, microwave, washing machine, dehumidifier, and a TV and pretty much live as I please energy wise although I use the dehumidifier sparingly.
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randomq,
How do you intend to support yourself here?
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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randomq: ' wifi, .... laptops and cellphones. Kinda like Thoreau, I want to get down to the simplest living possible... '
Best laugh I've had all day.
By the way, did you know that Thoreau brought his laundry home for his mother to do once a week ? For real.
