Why would one live in an area...

[Bullwinkle]

I noticed you didn't mention hurricanes.We are all in the same boat on hurricanes and one will hit this island someday.The myth that the mountains protect us is just that,a myth

two words:

storm surge

[Guest]

You ask why would anyone live here?

Because it is so freaking nice compaired to the Madland

The Lack

The Lack Toons

[Obie]

two words:

storm surge

I took that into consideration.No storm surge has ever reached my property in Kapoho.I am over 1000 feet from the ocean and about 28 feet above sea level.

Something else to consider is that a lot of the homes in Kapoho are constructed in an earthquake and storm surge resistant manner.We live on the upper floor and the lower level is basically a write off in a storm surge if it reaches my house.

[Bullwinkle]

There was a lot learned from New Orleans, 30 feet up and a quarter mile in was still pretty vunerable - keep a raft handy - grin

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/storm_surge.shtml

I agree it’s always something; I have a little place in a high risk fire area, consequently have never kept anything there of sentimental value, keep it insured and try not to get too attached.
I feel privileged to enjoy while I can. Don’t know about you, but I never have felt I “owned” that little piece of paradise; rather I am a caretaker until I pass on the torch.

But with that "ownership" there is also a responsibility for stewardship let’s do something about the E coli before the center for biodiversity decides to.

Aloha

[the hare]

Devany..it sorta makes sense to me now....you have very little in common with us living in Puna

[Rob Tucker]

I have stood in the middle of Manhattan and wondered; Why in God's name would anyone want to live there?

One of the things I appreciate about Hawaii and Puna is that is is about as far from New York City as I can get and still be in the states.

[Devany]

Kathy,

I agree with you about actually seeing the destruction and a'a. Just a short trip to the old Japanese cemetery down the road from Kapoho. More than half of it was completely covered by lava and take the dirt road to the lava road to Champagne Ponds and you really see the impact of molten lava on the land. But does that mean that it will happen again in our lifetime? Who knows? But will it impact the resale value? Most definitely, many of the houses we looked at early on in lower Puna are still for sale more than a year later. Another factor with LZ1 is the insurance, if you can get it.

Kathy, we did look at 5 waterfront homes in Kapoho. All were on 1/4 acre or less. Two were well over $1 mil. None were as nice as the house we ended up with, so it is really hard to compare apples to oranges. All of them were about $400,000. to $600,000 less than the house we bought, but as I said, none are nearly as nice either. Only one was directly on the ocean, the rest were set back but in the first tier or on lagoons connected to the inlet. Another thing about that area, it is also quite remote and far from anything, including emergency services. Our ATT cell phones did not work there either.

Having said that, there are four houses on our street that are for sale. Two have been on the market since before we bought this one. All but one is for sale because the owner died. Three of these are complete rehabs and none have a full acre as we do. Two are on quite small lots. Our house was completely renovated by the architect and his partner who lived here for 4 years. Of those four houses, the three that are estate sales are directly on the waterfront with incredible views and while they are listed from $425-775. I happen to know that any of them could be bought for much lower prices, as the families just want to split their inheritance and they are ready to sell them. So, on one street there are houses just under $2 mil and houses worth a quarter of that and a spattering in between. The lower end ones need at least $200,000 - $300,000 worth of work to upgrade to the rest of the neighborhood. It is a perfect time to buy here, that is for sure.

We found a few Hamakua Coast properties that we really liked too, and they were also on the cliffs. However, we decided they were too far from town. Wes teaches at the University and we like to do a lot of things at the Cultural Center etc. We decided on this house, mostly because Wes loved it so much and also because we are 2 minutes from downtown and yet are in a fairly secluded area. When Wes went into real estate, we were doubly happy with our location, as it is close to his office and equidistant to both ends of the East Coast for showing property.

I feel for you losing a home to fire, I cannot imagine that, and the fear you must have felt when it nearly happened again. With the next Tsunami, we will have warning, so even if you are downtown, you will be able to head for the hills. I signed up with NOAA for notification of every Pacific Earthquake over 4.0 and they relay if a Tsunami could be expected at a "watch" or "warning" level. Interestingly, there have been quite a few earthquakes in Alaska in the last few days, and a 6.1 this morning. Lots of action, at the same time that Pele is also giving us lots of fire! We could surely see another earthquake soon too. Like you, born and raised in CA I am used to them and feel safe in my house, but it could cause havoc to our communications and bridges.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com

[PaulW]

Sure, earthquake and lava chance is 100% but the question is when?
The part of HPP where I live hasn't seen lava for 300 years.

[Bullwinkle]

Just keep everything insured and a to go bag at the door

Aloha

[Rob Tucker]

No one knows when. That is the point. The last 300 years has much less interest than the next 100 years.

People have been living alongside volcanoes since the dawn of time. Sometimes with terrible results - Pompei/Herculeum. Sometimes with minimal trouble - Kilauea.

Italy has a lot of volcanic experience and for some strange reason people still like to live there. Hawaii and Puna too.