Introduce yourself

[Kapohocat]

Well I didnt really introduce myself in the beginning - been here a long time (almost 20 years - East side and west side both). Now living in Kapoho - most similar weather to Puako in my budget! ha ha Been working in the admin side of construction about 20 years and hands on off and on for 6 years.

Now I taking the big step and leaving Argus Building Supply - still will be working with the guys on some of the new job's projects - I am going to A1A Constructions services (bulldozing, pin finding, concrete, framing, etc - a general construction clearing house or networking company.) I sometimes feel like I am going to be stepping out of the frying pan into the fire but am looking forward to being in the field a lot more and working with clients on all aspects of their construction instead of just framing.

Argus has just been the best guy to work for and I will miss him! (But as it goes I will probably see them every week anyway!!) Gotta say though I will not miss the Keaau-Pahoa Hwy shuffle every morning!!

-Cathy
AIA 966-4757

[OpihiChuck]

After eavesdropping for the last few months I figure it's about time to come out of lurking closet, especially since we've recently become official Punatics!
I first need to thank all the fine members of this forum and their valuable contributions for allowing this transition to go smoother than it otherwise would have. A special aloha and mahalo plenty to LeilaniDave to doing some investigative footwork for me. Armed with the information (and knowing what questions to ask) gleaned from this board we had a real head start when it came to looking for property.
A brief background.....Originally from Northern California, we lived on Moloka'i from 1985 to 1995 while the last 10 years have been spent in Florida caring for elderly parents and making sure the kidders got a well rounded education. Lately, the window of opportunity has opened up for us to be free of the aforementioned responsibilities and we are able to once again return home.
This time we'll be settling down in Opihikao, right off the red road, having bought a 2 acre orchard/farmette with several unpermitted but structurally sound and attractive buildings (built from the mango and monkeypod cut on the property.) It's off the grid but apparently there's plenty of power along with 20,000 gallons of water catchment in three separate tanks and LARGE greenhouse. Cell phone reception is nonexistant without an external antenna and internet connection is also wireless if I remember correctly. Have a lot to learn here....But we've got gardening and homesteading skills. We are also artists and potters (stoneware pottery) by trade and I build ukuleles and do scrimshaw that I've sold for years in Lahaina. So it's my guess that we should be able to make a pretty fair go of things this time. (Moloka'i was just toooooooo small!)
The plan is to be there sometime between May 15 and June 15 and start building/remodelling the shop. We feel so fortunate and priveledged to be allowed to return and hope that our hearts remain open, that out impact is gentle and that we have respect for the a'ina and her people, and that hopefully we might be honored to give back in whatever way we can in return.
I look forward to meeting you all some day. In the meantime, get ready for lots of questions!
Lucky come Hawaii !!!!!

[mella l]

Aloha and welcome to our newest former lurker OpihiChuck! Are you a photo hound? Like surfing, gardening, veggies, speculating!

Sure you will find it all here on the Punatic forum!

Thought I'd bring this thread forward as it is one of my personal favorites, to learn about our new one day neighbors friends and their concerns, hopes and dreams!

mella l

[Rob L]

I'm probably the furthest flung Punawebber. I live in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. I'm an American lawyer and I work on an aid project helping reform the justice system here. The winters here are brutal and that plus the fact that Hawaii is the closest bit of the US to Asia (except Alaska and no relief from the winters there) helped me decide that I wanted a place in Hawaii. A lot of research convinced me that Puna was the place for me and I bought in Puna Beach Palisaides. I was thinking of it as a winter get away. But, last year I fell in love with a guy in Chicago. Now I'm torn between moving to Chicago and working in Asia. But, if I live in Chicago, Puna will still be a great place to have a home. I have been working with an architect for about a year and just sent the building drawings to four contractors a week ago for bids. I'll be back in Puna next month to meet with the builders. I hope to have a home by this time next year (but I will go with the flow.)

I grew up in So Cal, but went to HS in NJ, back to LA for college, then in the Foreign Service just in time for a tour as Vice Consul in Isfahan Iran when the revolution struck. Moved to San Franciscio and went to law school there, then to Chicago and then to NYC. The urge for adventure got me and I volunteered to do Rule of Law work in the Republic of Georgia in the former Soviet Union. After that a year in Boston getting a MPA and then six months in Cambodia teching before getting this job in Mongolia 4 1/2 years ago.

Rob L

Edited by - Rob L on 05/14/2006 20:09:18

[Tahunatics]

Aloha,

My wife Regina and I live at Lake Tahoe and own 3 acres in Hawaiian Acres, so I guess that makes us Tahoe Punatics or Tahunatics. We are currently looking for best sources in Puna for fruit trees, bamboo and palms to revegetate our aina this summer after some clearing and leveling. We enjoy reading everyone's posts and can't wait to live the life full time (2-4 years). I lived in Hawaii '84-'86 on a 35' trimaran and went to UH. I've sailed all over all islands except the Big Island, even through a Kona storm in Kiawi Channel. We have many lifetime friends on Maui and visit often, but it is just too expensive to buy there or any other island, especially since we wanted acreage. We think puna is beautiful and we look forward to making many new friends! Steve & Regina

[mella l]

Well I'll be! A hearty welcome to Rob L and to Steve and Regina. Yep I'm a thinkin that Rob L gets the Far Flung Award, Mongolia, wow what a traveling guy, do you teach geography also? LOL
Now I know where Tahoe is and we are practically neighbors! Tahunatics yes that works too!

Good luck to each of you in your plans for a Puna home! We hope to learn from your perspectives, questions, hopes and dreams and to share what we have learned so far or think we have learned so far! LOL Aloha, Mella

mella l

[cara4art]

Hi all! I've started two threads here already(the one about bringing livelihood to the BI, and the one about affluent arrivals), but here goes:
I'm Cara, and my husband's name is Richard, and we live in north-central New Mexico in Galisteo, a traditional historic village 27 miles south of Santa Fe. Richard does excellent panoramic photography, as well as professional photographic services for a variety of people(artists, small businesses, families). We do simple websites as well. He is also a very reliable property caretaker with having had more than 50 clients here in this area. I am an artist/designer, with recent forays into the digital arts, with a strong parallel interest natural health and healing. We are strong devotees of simple living - this makes us much more flexible.
We visited the Big Island this past January to early February, and fell in love(as I'm sure many have)with the Hilo to Puna area. We are currently seeking a way to return, whether it's for another visit, or even a move.
Check out our websites below, so you can see some of what we do:

www.galisteonewmexico.com
(This is a site about our community, along with a few artists' intro web pages)
www.richardshuff.com
(Website about us and our services), including a recent section "Hawaii" featuring photos of our recent trip and some Hawaii-related links. Just about all my art, as well as a bunch of Richard's panoramas, are there too).

health-conscious visionary artist in transition

[mella l]

Hi Cara and welcome to you and Richard! May the breezes blow you to Hawaii if that is your dream.

Just wanted to say that if you and Richard did your own web sites I'd hardly call them simple. They are beautiful! The Hawaiian pictures are exceptional in my opinion and selection color, well just let me say I thoroughly enjoy both sites, the photos and most especially the colorful, symbolic and beautifully done art work presented!

One of the things I love about the Puna area is, it does support the simpler lifestyle and I believe thru all those I know there that the simple life is their desire also. In the midst of packing I can tell you the simple life is my goal too rummaging thru all this stuff.

Good luck to you both, the islands would be fortunate to call you a local.

mella l

[elfmom]

Aloha-my name is Dee and I'm trying to move out of lurker status, but my time online is limited.
I lived in H.Acres in the eighties and hope to return one day.I visited there in April and was so renewed.
I am a midwife and registered nurse and now work on a med/surgical unit in our local hospital.
I was thrilled to find Punaweb and see all the networking going on here! You seem to be a truly great family and look forward to getting to know some of you this way.
Peace, Dee

[mella l]

Aloha Dee elfmom and welcome to the punaweb! Do you plan on relocating to Hawaii? Medical personnel of all types are needed here from all I have read. Good luck to you and lurk or visit all your heart desires. Mella

mella l