Introduce yourself

[sunnhippie]

Hi Tim~ No, I don't know a Ken Kanter, but Ken Redman is the director of the Honolulu Zoo.

[Carolann R]

Aloha Kim! Welcome to Punaweb - what an amazing place to work! Oahu is a little "busy" for us, choke cars, choke tourists LOL! I can understand your wanting to get away from the rat race there.

I just know you'll do great here in Puna...there's so much helpful info here on this forum. Enjoy!



Carrie

"The opportunities to reach into the lives of others in an inspiring way arise in countless ways every single day..." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

http://www.hellophoenix.com/art

[sunnhippie]

Hi Carrie~ Thanks so much for your Aloha. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, so I guess I'm missing small-town life (but not the snow!) Yes, this forum has been FABULOUS! I'm curious, do most people stay on the property while they build or do they rent a house? How's it done?

[Carolann R]

Kim - I grew up in Buffalo, New York...I so relate to the snow thing. I got outta there as soon as I could and went all the way to Southern California. I went back ONE Christmas and that was all it took to convince me that was NOT the climate for me LOL!

There are people who build guest houses and then stay in them...there are people who stay in tents and RV's and rent other properties while they build. I guess it's about what they feel they can put up with while their dream home is being built hahahaha! For us, we just couldn't do the building a house thing after so long rennovating our home here in Tempe, AZ to sell, so we found a little home in Hawaiian Shores Rec area...just was easier for us. If you go to the Building in Puna forum, you will be amazed at the slideshows you can watch of people who are currently building their homes...Wyatt in Kalapana Seaview, Dave & Sophie on the Hamakua Coast - Ninole...among several others...it's so much fun to watch their hard work pay off!

Also take a look at taildrag's work...so much fun to watch...and Royall & Cathie too

Aloha!



Carrie

"The opportunities to reach into the lives of others in an inspiring way arise in countless ways every single day..." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

http://www.hellophoenix.com/art

Edited by - carolann r on 08/09/2006 10:08:41

[punafish]

Kim,
with a name like "sunnhippie" you'll fit right in in Puna! Wisconsin, eh? Which part? I'm from Chicago, so we were almost neighbors once upon a time. Like you, just couldn't take the snow anymore. Still remember shoveling the snow in mid-winter 5 years ago when something inside my brain SNAPPED, and I decided I was too damn old to be shivering in the cold pushing snow out of the way. (And I was only 43 then!) My goal in life now, is never to be cold again. Wish me luck!

(btw, Ken Kanter is a buddy (and animal-lover) who does a lot of charity work for your zoo; that's why I thought you might know him.)

Aloha


Tim
"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there." Robert Pirsig

Edited by - punafish on 08/09/2006 14:18:21

[BJK&FAMILY]

Hey Kim> My family and I are from Wisconsin too. We want to get a couple acres, and chill, and live off the land, and chill, and be happy all together for as long as we still have to be together. And I want a place to raise my son that's a bit more free an many ways than where we are. Also, personally, I would just like to get as far away from this place.... May I ask where your parents are from in Wisconsin?

[HADave]

Aloha Sunhippie, you're from cold country too, eh.. Ayuh, Us too, Mainers don't cha-know. Well you asked how one lives on their property and builds a house too. Well I'm sure you've been ice-fishin haven't you? its kinda like that but without the cold and the ice ) Build a small structure first as in an ice-shack /toolshed or whatever you what the tax man to think it is. Some folks even live in part of their container they ship over. Get your prelim work out of the way before you get there, permits and such. You might even plan your arrival like a vacation package, Flight and hotel right now for 3 weeks in september can be had for 2800.00 from Maine. Your closer so less for you. With permit in hand you can accomplish quite abit in three weeks, if you are industrious at all. A sanitary system, some power and a raised deck is all you need to start and you can live while you build. I know I've done it, mother and I lived like MA & PA kettle for a year back in 92 while we built our last home. Built it one room at a time and did all the work ourselves. I'll admit the first year was tough, Ayuh, a little nippy come Christmas but we survived. We've been happy here for 14 years. It was the greatest experience of our lives, till we get to Puna. If you ever need some diy encouragement, you just give a shout, as I believe everyone should experience the art of building their own home. The right tools will simplify the process and diligence and a strong back with see you through the course. I get all excited when people talk about doing it themselves... Ayuh, Welcome to the forum now.........)

Aloha HADave & PeggyAnn

[sunnhippie]

Wow! Thanks to all of you who responded! I look forward to meeting such fabulous neighbors! My mom & I will be in Puna September 3-6, money in hand to buy some land! Still haven't settled on a subdivision yet - really like the seclusion, yet paved roads of Fern Acres (2 acres), the extra acre (worse roads though) of Hawaiian Acres - and need to look at Orchidland, Ainaloa and anywhere else with 2+ acres that you can recommend! We want to buy 2 side-by-side lots. My mom and I are both from a small town in Shell Lake, Wisconsin (northern Wisconsin) where no one locks their doors and you can leave the keys in the car with the car running and know it will still be there when you come out of the store or wherever you parked (running, to keep the heater on during those frozen tundra winters!) I've escaped the cold for 10 years now in Honolulu and now it's Mom's turn...

[haoleboy]

Aloha everyone! After longtime lurking, two glasses of merlot and certain political comments have prompted me to post and introduce myself.

Sometime last year,my wife and I decided to stop toying with the idea of moving to Hawaii and do it. It would either suit us or not, and we felt that we could afford the losses that a worst case scenario would bring (ATTN: Laura K.) We purchased a house on the Hamakua Coast at the end of the year. Then life threw one of those curve balls at us. The real estate market in our San Diego region has slowed to a crawl. We've listed our house $100,000 under a certified appraisal, and after 3 months haven't had an offer.

After 6 months of making mortgage payments on our vacant house in paradise we made a tough decision. We would rent our house in Hawaii for a year or untill our mainland house sold.

We just returned from TBI after spending 2 1/2 weeks making our house suitable to rent. We love our house, neighborhood, and community more than ever. It's clear to me that there is a different mindset in Hawaii, and that is one of the reasons we are working toward making that our permanent home. I appreciate and respect their attitudes toward family, friends, and simple pleasures.

Time to refill my glass.

Aloha!

[Carolann R]

Wow - what a kettle you've got! Sorry to hear about the market slowing on the mainland. We are in Tempe, AZ and about to put our house up...it has slowed here but still more activity than across the board in other states. We're hoping that works for us this time...also there's the upside-down St. Joseph statue ROFLOL!!! (email me and I'll tell you if you don't already know about it LOL)

The Hamakua coast is soooo pretty. So easy to see why you would fall in love with it there. Welcome to the Punaweb, haoleboy! Looking foward to hearing of your adventures and finally settling in your home on the BI.

Carrie

"The opportunities to reach into the lives of others in an inspiring way arise in countless ways every single day..." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

http://www.hellophoenix.com/art