The Other Side

[Brad W]

Made the semi-annual trip to Kona yesterday to load up at Costco and Lowes. The traffic and vog reminded me of Las Vegas. It made me regret ever having any second thoughts about picking this side. Felt great to get home last night.

[mella l]

Hi Brad, Hope the Dr. turned out ok. Say remember we weren't going to tell anyone else just how good/bad this side might be ok, but not the best!!! But we agree and now want to keep it quiet right? LOL

mella l

[leilaniguy]

Hey folks, If anyone wants an "unbiased" opinion of Puna, go to tripadvisor.com and look up Hawaiidan, the Big island "expert". according to him Kona is right near the center of the universe and a trip to Puna is something akin to a vacation in Iraq, a trip to Pahoa an almost certain death sentence. He refers to us as "those types", hippies and weirdos. Hmmm come to think of it, maybe today I'll braid my beard and get those beads I always wanted...

[mella l]

Hey NOW that's the spirit Hutch! Go native in what ever culture is your choice!!! 70's hippie, Native American, Shaman, there are so many to choose from!! LOL Hum a beard with bead work in it might just catch on! Great temporary, not like a tattoo!!!

mella l

[Cindy V]

Exactly how I felt when we first came to look at land. We stayed on the Kona side and it being our first visit was oh my what were we thinking, then we made the drive, took I think all of 2 min. on the east side to feel at home. Never considered the other side.

Aloha

[John S Rabi]

I have been saying it on the politically correct forum for 10 years: Kona is wonderful and Puna sucks! People believed me for years but I got busted one day when another member found out I have been buying properties in Puna all along. That's when the market skyrocketed there!

John S. Rabi
ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,R
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
808.327.3185

[Brad W]

Perhaps i failed to mention my one-man crusade to drive property values on the East side straight up. Some folks pick a hot market and buy multiple properties - not me, I buy one property in a medium market and get rich advertising it to death.

[lkrider]

Aloha all,
Speaking about da other side, I have to admit that I love Kona. Or perhaps what I really love are my memories of Kona before it transmuted into 'LA.' As a kid (many years ago!) I spent time in South Kona on grandma and grandpa's coffee farm, hung out at Hookena and Magic Sands, and a big night out was getting to go into town to eat at Ocean View Inn (how sad we were when that closed!)

Still love the North Kona and Kohala beaches for day trips, exploring around South Point, and hikes into the old homestead, but when it came time to pick a place to live, the clear air and relatively slower pace of the East side won out, not to mention the bike-friendly terrain and beautiful coastline. Can't wait to get there and become part of the community.
Linda in CO

[David D]

Ikrider,
How right you are! I can remember my family camping on Hapuna Beach 30+ years ago! Kona was a cool place to visit. As a matter of fact, I can remember my sisters and me playing around on the beach when some young people (they seemed like grown-ups then!) said the sand castle we were building was "COOL"! That was the first time we had heard the word "cool"! I remember we just busted up laughing and ran away! Wow! Thanks Ikrider! I haven't thought of that for memory a long time!
David D

[PunaCat]

Man - my hubby and I got brave and drove over to Kona for the day. That was back over a month ago or so. We were in Puna, finalizing the deal on our new house in Fern Acres. Always knew Kona was not for us. Back 14 years ago, we used to fly over from Oahu, grab our rental car and drive out of town fast!

We could not get over just how congested, polluted, and basically over run it has gotten!!!! What the heck happened?

We got back in our rental car, and drove as fast as we could, back home to our lovely Puna!!!!!

No regrets here, at all.

Is the membership to Costco worth a semi annual trip??? I admit the beer at the Kona Brewing Co. was dang good - but it will be quite a while 'fore we make that trek again!

LOL!

Cat