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Moving to Puna?? Hawaiian beaches??
#1
Aloha Punatics, in short enough time I'll be one of you, as my wife and I bought a little lot in Hawaiian beaches last Jan and are planning on building something.

However, we are confused. Last June the neighbor living on the south of our lot called us and said; We needed to cut the tall grass, because of it he and his wife are getting rats.
I told him I'd look into it, asked him if he might find a local kid that could trim it, (it was leveled and dozed a few years ago and last December, there was 4-8 ft tall grass and weeds we took 25 photos of this 12,000sq lot then, which we refer to currently)

He said he'd see what he could find out about somebody who migh help cut and trim. So, in Aug. he calls me to tell me about the rat problem again and he talked to somebody who could cut the lot for $800.00.

O.K. I am thinking it does not cost $800 to get a brush hog, and cut 7-8.000 sq feet for a few hours, right? Whats the going wages? $800 a day?

Anyways we've been trying to get over there for a few months, so we’ll see what we can do when we get thier and look around for help in the mean time.

So, like two weeks ago the neighbor on the north of our lot calls us and says they would like to cut down our big Avocado tree, with their chain saw. (It’s in the middle rear of the lot about 25 ft from her property) and that our guava tree is dropping guavas on their yard. (we did not know we had a guava, but that sounds like good eating) And she tells me that the tall grass is causing them to have rats.

I was 'like' "Why does MY tall grass make the neighbors get rats in the middle of the jungle?" I asked her how can my grass make them get rats, and she said "oh, well, the avacados and guava are ripening and it is bringing rats to their house." I asked "but how does the grass make rats come?" she went on to tell me that the guava is dropping on her yard and bringing flies, and sort of avoided the rat question to tell me that they were going to call the health department if I did not do something.

In the mean time, we've bought tickets and will arrive next week.

But today the lady south of us called my wife, and threatened her with a law suit, and that they were going to bill us for their telephone calls, and hat her husband has cut down the trees threatening their house, and then saying she's recording the telephone call, etc.. etc. that we obviously are not taking them seriously and they will sue and call the health department.

My wife was very upset and disturbed, with this ladys voice, threatening 'smart alic' tone and attatude.

There's a big problem here. There's no trees next to their house, in fact there is a nice ground cover creeping from their yard that was spread at least ten feet into my lot preventing anything from growing there.

I have been thinking that maybe we would just plant that stuff everywhere and the wild grass would not grow.
But what tree could just pop out of a nice ground cover and threaten their house in less than a year?? An Albezza? There was nothing in that area last year but a single skinny banana tree nothing,, Albezza grow fast but not so fast to threaten a house, no.. That Lady did say the banana is still there, never mentioning it to be a sorce of trouble.

So, imagine Punatics, I have not even moved over there and I am getting harassment 4,500 miles away! ( I talked to the Hilo Police and they say this is the case, “To file harassment charges on the both of them”.

I thought people over there were friendly?

A elevated lot, kind of grassy right now, On the south-west corner of Opelu, and Puna-Paka south, What are we to do?

We are now struggling with the idea that we don’t even know our potential neighbors, on both sides of us yet they already have formed a conspiracy against us ( the Hilo Police seem to feel this is true too).

Our lot does present interesting possibilities for these two it seems. It’s irregular and one side allows the south neighbor to have a nice view, which is the only area that a house can be built. When we build and house? There’s no place except in front of their nice patio, which the roof of is built up to three feet to our property line and concrete floor is about five, (permitted addition By the way) .

And the north side of our lot triangulates extending the typical ‘lot rectangle' into the north neighbors yard/lot, which, with this section their lot would have full frontage, whereas theirs is only half frontage due to the triangular area our lot extends into.

Guess we had better ask them if it’s O.K. and when we may go to the bathroom?

How will we manage, build a home? Make peace with our potential neighbors without worrying about tipsy toeing on our land?



We also understand, “Hey this is the Jungle! Duhh, there’s gonna be a couple o rats!’ And these threats of calling the health department, law suits, have no bearing or grounds to stand on..

They do not want to tell me what they do about the jungle lots behind them and across the street..

Where’s those friendly neighbors in Hawaiian beaches we heard about?

If I don’t figure how to solve this, it’ll be the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s Hawaiian style. Geez!




Edited by - Jeffhale on 11/12/2006 13:55:23
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#2
Right now in that area, people are really touchy after what has been referred to in the press as "THE HOUSE" in Hawaiian Shores. I think it will make a huge difference for you to be here, expressing concern for the problems they are experiencing. Guava is tasty but its also very invasive. As for the albizia, I've seen them grow faster than I ever thought possible for a tree to grow. But $800 is ridiculous. I know guys who would probably do it for a fraction of that (JonP -- is your yard guy available?). Seach the forums, there was a recent mention of a fellow named Lucky or Luckey, who was recommended for yard/landscape work.

So, you suspect that they are being difficult because your construction interfere with their view. As much I think there's lots of "aloha" here in Puna, I guess I can't say that I would be surprised. The best thing you can do is to meet with them, assure them that wreaking their view is not your intent, you are not going to build some monstrosity and even offer to show them the plans and things.

Don't let them cut the avocado -- find some of our forums friends to go harvest them. No avocados on the ground, less rats. They probably have a valid point about the guava though.

Once you become a real person to them, and show that you are sensitive to their concerns, I think you can turn this around.

I just reread this, and wow, it very flow-of-consciousness -- beware James Joyce, there's a new writer in the house. Oh well, its Sunday afternoon.

John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.hawaiirealproperty.com

Edited by - jdirgo on 11/12/2006 14:10:33
John Dirgo, R, PB, EcoBroker, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com
http://www.bigislandvacationrentals.com
http://www.maui-vacation-rentals.com
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#3
Thanks John, I have tried to be nice, neighborly, on the tele with them. Explain my difficulties and attempts to get help to the lot. However, this has been meet with threats. Very difficult to find a sense of warmth with these two, one to the right of me and one to the left..

Yes Lucky's name was mentioned some time ago, he was in Washington at the time. Somebody else said he'd do it, but never called me back. Well in the mean time, it's just been a matter of getting ends tied to travel there and do it ourselves.

Her husband chopped/cut something down today she said?? What?? there was no (spelling correction) Albizia last December and it just does not threaten a house in 10 monthts.. What's threatening them except the Avocado? we are worried this is what they cut.. And Hey that Avocado is several years old, around 20 maybe more feet tall.. It was there before they build their houses, in 94 to the north and 97 south.. Is there a rat invasion this year??

Is there a discussion about ""THE HOUSE" in Hawaiian Shores" on this board?

We are in The beaches, on the other side of the block, chickens and dog side. No, chickens, dogs, and rotten cars side. BTW No make that chickens, dogs, rotten cars and rats side..

You know the side where everybody is freindly and neighborly? verse the one where you can't..


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#4
Jeff
If you want a guy to cut your lot every month or so, I do have a great reference. He lives in Hawaiian Shores. He's on vacation right now so he can't help you out right away but if you want regular maintenace on your lot email me here at the forum.
HTH
Jon

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#5
Thank you Jon, we'll be there shortly.

And John, I forgot, no there IS only one place to build on my lot and it IS right smack in front of their patio, no way around it.

Can you say "Bye, bye nice view, the one where we built a nice patio in 98 to sit on." mister south neighbor?
We did not realize it at the time, but, that patio is history.

Seriously though, at this moment we are thinking about; how they will like a nice 20'x12'storage shed to look at.. then we can just move the shed when we build the post and beam, yes, towering (so they can’t peek in our windows) low cost house beside them..


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#6
Jeff, I suspect that your neighbors are afraid of change. Neither the Health Dept nor police will probably do anything about the neighbors complaints (they have much more pressing issues in this county, even than a rat problem). I'm not positive even if Beaches has grass heigth CC&R's, if not there really is nothing a neighbor can do. As for the fruit, many people have fruit on the ground, and these neighbors have dealt with the fruit & grass for more than a year (unless the previous owners kept up the lot, but it doesn't sound like they were when you bought). This is why it seems like they are not happy with the potential change. $800 seems very steep for grass plowing. Albezia can grow over 10' in a year, but not much more, definately not 20' or so needed to endanger a house. If they did cut your fruit trees, you have to decide how much tension it is worth. (You may have to replant an avocado, be without fruit for a couple of seasons, but hopefully other neighbors & friends can supliment the loss....a pain, but probably less of a pain than interacting with the neighbors on this...Maybe best to let it slide).
If you need to borrow machete, bow saws, cordless weed whacker, feel free to email us, we are in Keaau town, on your way out to the lot. If your lucky (or unlucky... depends), you might even get to borrow hubby Jim.



Edited by - Carey on 11/12/2006 15:20:43
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#7
Run Jim!!! Carey's at it again!! ;^)

Royall

What goes around comes around!


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#8
[quote]
Jeff, I suspect that your neighbors are afraid of change.
(unquote)

Yes Carry very good point!

(quote)Neither the Health Dept nor police will probably do anything about the neighbors complaints (they have much more pressing issues in this county, even than a rat problem). (unquote)



LOL yes my police have better things to do to. 'They, Hilo, said; go to my local, or see them when we arrive' I just called them to verify my suspicions/rights anyways. This is not the best way to solve instant neighbor troubles which is why I am here..

(quote)
I'm not positive even if Beaches has grass heigth CC&R's, if not there really is nothing a neighbor can do. (unquote)

Yeah, no neighborhood nothing, chicken policy as I understand, hopefully they’ll do something about the rotten cars in the street policy one day. LOL.

(quote)
As for the fruit, many people have fruit on the ground, and these neighbors have dealt with the fruit & grass for more than a year (unless the previous owners kept up the lot, but it doesn't sound like they were when you bought). This is why it seems like they are not happy with the potential change.
(unquote)

Calling and threatening the first time they talk to me is not exactly a neighborly thing to do. I aint no dummy, Paid way to much for my lot, ( didn't seem that way last year, ha.) but, I don't think they can afford to 'haf-ta' buy it from me.. And besides, what fruit last June? None..


(quote)
$800 seems very steep for grass plowing. Albezia can grow over 10' in a year, but not much more, definately not 20' or so needed to endanger a house. (unquote)

My lot sold in 2004 for $1,000, 2005 15k, 2006 52k (realtor flip), they missed the boat and taking it out on me??


(quote)
If they did cut your fruit trees, you have to decide how much tension it is worth. (You may have to replant an avocado, be without fruit for a couple of seasons, but hopefully other neighbors & friends can supliment the loss....a pain, but probably less of a pain than interacting with the neighbors on this...Maybe best to let it slide).
(unquote)

This is good wisdom Carey!
We will see. I am a very nice, (no pat on the back) great, handy, intelligent, helpful neighbor. However, I know how to bite twice as hard as my nice. (hate that sometimes, but rarely resort to that, extremely rare). It is though; we are trying to solve this, knowing, we could just tell them to stop harassing us. We have been planning this for many years and we are moving right next to what? Peace or war? Err!


(quote)
If you need to borrow machete, bow saws, cordless weed whacker, feel free to email us, we are in Keaau town, on your way out to the lot. If your lucky (or unlucky... depends), you might even get to borrow hubby Jim.
(unquote)

Wow! Cary, do not be one bit surprised if we take that offer, it's the best thing we've heard/read regarding our lot since we was dar.. Thank you for that light in the dark tunnel.






Edited by - Jeffhale on 11/12/2006 16:09:20
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#9
Royall, he needs to get out & find more friends like you guys, thats allWink
Aloha, Carey

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#10
Aloha Jeff,

Just a thought about the rats. I don't know about the grass, but a friend here with a large pole barn had rats, eating the insulation off of wires in a vehicle, eating the interior of a boat and the parts cars he keeps! They live in the vehicles and they are hungry buggers. Also he believes the chicken feed draws the rats so has really secured that. Luckily he lives on 8 acres and no neighbors complaining!

Another friend in a lovely and developed part of our town, you know sidewalks and such, she got a rat in her garage who ate the wiring in her engine, in a car that is generally a daily driver, but this happened while she was recovering from surgery and not doing any driving.

I think Carey is wise with her thoughts on this good luck with you and the ratzzzz.

Aloha, Mella

mella l
mella l
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