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Aloha,
I live in North Carolina and finally talked my husband into buying a lot in FFVE. I am the adventurous one and my husband is the couch potato, so it is like pulling teeth to get him to do anything. He is still working but I am retired. I thought it would be neat to live off the grid and try to survive on a meager retirement income. I feel I could do it. I love growing things and I would like to camp on the lot for at least a year to see how I would like it and what I would miss. I like comfort, but do not really need luxurious things. Will I be able to grow citrus trees and tropical fruit up there?
The lot has been lived on and there is a couple cabins and a greenhouse on it, so it would seem camping wouldn't be too difficult. I just may decide to come there by myself and bring my dogs for companions.
Does it flood up there? This lot is near the Forest Reserve at the end of Captains Drive. Any info on this area? I have been reading the Konaweb forum for a while and just found your forum. I love it and I want to be one of those people that come there, enjoy paradise and leave the smallest footprint.
Jean Hopper
Jean Hopper
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Joined: Jun 2005
Jean, I think it would be worth it to come check it out if you haven't already....it may or may not be what you have in your mind as a doable place to live. I have learned finally that you should never buy sight unseen. Is your husband up to such an adventure also? You might love it or you might hate it.
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"Paradise" is probably a lot like North Carolina once you get here. Actually, probably more like really rural North Carolina without any city type amenities.
It is a LOT easier to set up living situations as a two person team, if you could get your hubby to come help, it would make things loads easier.
Living off the grid usually means things like back-up generators. Can you start a gas generator? Can you fix a small gas engine? If you have a photovoltaic electrical system, then there are banks of batteries to check the water level of occasionally and the whole system needs at least a minimal level of watching. You will probably have catchment water which involves a water pump, finding out how they work would be on your "to do" list. Many folks get their drinking water from taps alongside the highway, hauling in water would become something on the "to do" list, too.
If you are handy with tools and able to cope with things on your own, then it might work. If you are anticipating hiring a "handy person" to help with broken things, then it will be much more difficult.
You have at least visited Hawaii before? You've seen Fern Forest Vacation Estates?
"I like yard sales," he said. "All true survivalists like yard sales."
Kurt Wilson
Posts: 41
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Thanks for the replies. Yes I have been to the BI 3 times and when I was being steered away from Puna by the real estate people I kept looking at places that they said I wouldn't like.
My husband is one that has to be pushed into something before he does it, but then enjoys it afterwards, it takes the fun out of it when you can't plan things together, so I learned to do things on my own. I was adept with power tools and have added many to my collection and if I like it there maybe I'll send all with me in a container with my Chevy pickup. My husband and I built a 2 story garage here to live in before we had our house.
I thought that Florida would be the place I would retire, but once I came to the Puna area and saw that living there was a feasible dream, I latched onto it. My son and I stayed in a house near Pohoa in the rainforest (off the grid) and I loved it. I was the one that set up the rental and my son was not too happy at first, but really loved it afterward. It seems like I am the motivator for my family but it gets tiring.
I have a small lot and mobile home in Florida on a canal that goes out to the St. John's River and is accessible to the Atlantic, but I have never gone too far on it. I also live on a lake in NC too, but rarely go out boating. Both places are extremely hot and humid in the summer and I stay closed up inside with A/C. I like the outdoors. I like waking up in the morning and opening up the windows, having a breeze blow through the house and letting the outside in.
Everyone says about the vog over there, my son is living in Florida and he tells me noone can really go out of their houses there because of all the smoke from the fires.
I did pretty much research on Hawaii and it seems like this is the place for me. I was hoping for a partner in this venture but I may do it on my own because it is one of those things I feel I must try before I die. My one concern is protection from persons on drugs squatting somewhere in the jungle and coming out to break into peoples houses.
Is this a main concern? I am mostly alone here in NC or in FL but I rarely was afraid to be alone.
My daughter has a lot a couple blocks from mine in FFVE, but she won't live there until she retires and I fear I'll be gone by that time. I am 67 and she is 48. So it's up to me to have my dream if I want it.
Mahalo (I'm trying to get used to those greetings)
Jean Hopper
Jean Hopper
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Joined: Jul 2005
Go for it Jean. You've got the right attitude, and that's what's most important. And it sounds like you're handy. The rest will follow along when the time is right.
Home invasions are not common here to my knowledge. You mentioned dogs, bring them for sure. Secure your stuff so you are not an easy target - thieves are lazy as hell - that's why they need to steal. Be friendly, word will get out that you're cool, and you'll be left alone in that regard. If all that fails, do some occasional large caliber target shooting.
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I live near where you have purchased.I have been out here for 11yrs.Things have changed,like we have pavement.What do you want to know about out here?There is alot.For one,it is very wet,like seattle.If you don't have cinder or gravel in major traffic areas,you will be in mud.Also,toursits park at end of road to go hiking.This does bring the theif elemet into play.Most people don't leave their property unattended,and or have ferocious dogs.Most people have firearms as well.There are druggies,as well as theives.And wild boars.There is frequent gunfire out here too.It is a beautiful place.I love it don't get me wrong.But it is one of the roughest neighborhoods in hawaii.Also,a lot of people that hang out at the community lot are druggies and theives.Some will befreind you to rip you.This does not alppy to the roads group or the volunteer fire dept.And yes,most things grow well out here.Except mango and lychee will not fruit at this elevation.Also, peas and cantelope and apples will not fruit.But citrus, green beans ,
strawberries,bananas,taro, cabbage, and cucumbers do well.Corn and papaya will if you make deeper dirt boxes.They like to make deep roots.I also grow coffee,sugar cane,spinach,tapioca and pineapples.Well,look forward to you as a neighbor.Also,feel free to ask more.It is a unique place.Like ,yes solar and generators are the way to go out here.There is elec.hook up if you are close enough to that intersection.
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Addendum: There have been six home invasions that I know of.One actually made the radio news.Two people were tied up and ripped off.Including their car,which was set on fire . Rumor has it ,it was drug related,and not back in this section of the forest.The key to safety is to stick together with your neighbors.We are a very tight nit group back here and will help each other.Keep your firearms handy and word will get out,as Brad said.It is the coconut wireless out here.As far as water catchment.If you get a food grade liner in your catchment tank,you will not have to haul drinking water,or water period.unless there is drought which has happened before.I am thinking of adding a second water tank for droughts.Okay....laterzzzzzzzz
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Contact me directly... if Hubby isn't ready to tent it on lava, and you have some funds, my friend is about to put his unpermitted cabin on the market. It is in Fern Acres (a little lower elevation than Fern Forest), two acres, 750 sq ft cabin off grid but with total solar, water catchment, etc in place... even a composting toilet system. It has bamboo floors, he is just installing the kitchen sink and cabinets now, and is cute. There are babanas, pineapples, liliquoi and other things growing there.. with lots of flowers, etc.. It is delightful. Divorce is forcing the sale; I think the first $100,000 is going to take it. You can buy a lot for less, but not with a cabin, solar, water, phone, etc... all up and running.
If interested contact pslamont@yahoo.com
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
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I have been lurking on Punaweb for a couple of years now, without comment, but now I must reply! Thunderfoot, I must take issue with your comments about the people who hang around the community center. Yes, many of them drink and smoke a little weed, but these folks, for the most part, are good people and are not Ice heads or theives. I have gotten to know many of them, have hired some to work for me, had them in my home and have found them to be trustworthy workers and friends.I consider many to be part of our Ohana. Don't make accusations here. Making such a generalization about a group of people is unethical and unwarranted.
As far as living in Fern Forest, It can tend to be wet and cool. The Vog usually comes with a Kona low and is a problem sometimes, but I would guess less than 5 % of the time. Random theft occurs periodically, but not any more than other areas of Puna. People in Fern Forest are a little stand offish until they get to know you. The biggest issue might be the moist climate or if you take issue with random recreational pakalolo smoking.
Posts: 41
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Joined: May 2007
OK here I go....I am going to turn my husband on to this thread to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what he gets out of it.
We both read the thread on the price of a shipping container being bought and brought over to Hawaii and we seemed to have different versions of it. Can anyone tell me what the name of the thread was?
Mahalo to everyone for your input. This is great!
Jean
Jean Hopper
Jean Hopper
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