anywhere in Puna to buy lumber

[terracore]

Every now and then I need something trivial like a single 2x4 or 1 sheet of plywood and its not worth a trip into Hilo. I don't recall Ace or Orchidland selling lumber. Is there any place that sells lumber even if its over priced and the selection sucks?

[kalakoa]

I believe the Shipman HPM is technically "in Puna".

Occasionally I wonder: if real estate were available, and permits achievable, where would the Puna Lowe's actually go?

[terracore]

My understanding is the lowes was going to be the anchor store at a development near the airport. When lowes pulled out so did petco and.a few others and the development was scrapped.

[kalakoa]

lowes was going to be the anchor store at a development near the airport

Past tense is correct; wondering if anyone knows "why" a Lowe's shouldn't have been built across the street from HPM.

[Rob Tucker]

Pretty much all that land is leasehold property and a lot of it is DHHL land. Which means Lowes may have to 1) consider a different real estate model which they may not be used to and/or 2) consider the ethical dilemma when confronted with kick back, bribes and payola schemes that seem to occur anywhere near or around Hawaiian Homelands. Lowes may simply find the stink offensive.

[kalakoa]

a lot of it is DHHL land ... kick back, bribes and payola

Lowe's model is to be across the street from Home Depot (or similar) whenever possible. I believe the Depot lease terms preclude a nearby Lowe's on DHHL land; there's probably some "history" with HPM.

Thus, all Lowe's needs is a big enough C-zoned parcel that's not DHHL... no problem...

I keep thinking they should break their model and open in Puna, either in the new shopping center or the Keaau commercial lots near the bypass credit union. Better yet, one of those 20-acre vacant lots in the middle of HPP.

[terracore]

If you build it, they will come.

[Obie]

Ace in Pahoa has a few 2x4s and 4x4s .

[terracore]

Good to know, thanks!

[terracore]

All the while the lumber was right under my nose.

I wasn't aware that the Orchidland true value has a lumber section on the far mauka side of the store in the corner. It was there all the time I just never looked in that corner before. $7.49 for a 2x4 is to steep to build a house with but I needed a single 2x4 to complete a project and getting it in my 'hood actually saved me money (plus an hour of driving) versus burning gas going into town to get it. As an added bonus all the 2x4s looked great, like they went to Home Depot and selected only really good ones and left the split, deformed, warped, and knotty ones in Hilo.