hawaiian acres flood zone

[Greenreef]

Anyone have any experience with the flood zone in hawaiian acres? I found an interesting lot near 6 and c and obviously dont want a lot that is going to flood. Any signs to look for as obvious signs that it is in this zone, I would expect bare rock to be exposed by rushing water correct? (I know thats a characteristic of puna) When was the last flood BTW? I hear 4 or 5 years.

Mahalo

[bananahead]

I get whitewater 5+' deep about 15 days a year or so (longest was 3 straight days) when we have our big rains up on the hill. But it dries up within a day to just puddles and if stop raining the creek is bonedry within a week. The main creek/river that cuts across HA (starting in HA at the bridge on So.Kulani Rd.), cuts through Orchidland, and goes to ocean ....cuts across my property here at 2nd and C, but its in a low spot and only gets about 40' wide and cuts straight across my 150' width.... It actually made my property cheaper (flaw), but I love it when it flows, beautiful and the sound at night, its soothing. My creek bed is solid pahoehoe lava and I keep it clean of vegetation so it doesnt back up and flood my garden areas near the creek...... wish I could dam it up and make a permanent pond, but when if flows its some serious water, so wouldnt work. I am building a pond next to it though. My cabin is about 100' away and about 15' higher so no chance for flooding and its in front of the creek so no driveway flooding probs. My neighbours dont have it so good, they stripped their land originally (ugh) and now its so flat that when it floods the creek spreads out a few hundred feet wide to cover at least 1/4th of their 3 acres cutting off their driveway too.
If your looking at property in the floodzone....ask the neighbours what the land looked like during our Kau/Puna superstorm in 2000 (36" rain in 24 hours) incredible video on storm damage... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LaHOZXWRo8

save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[bananahead]

here are some pics of the creek at my place in HA

looking left when its "whitewater" (wrapping around 8' wide Ironwood tree in middle of creek)
http://centuryoldcards.com/images/flood1.jpg

looking right down creekbed when the flow has slowed to just "ponds"
http://centuryoldcards.com/images/flood2.jpg

save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[bananahead]

PS. youre right about the lava being exposed in the creek in the main flow zone, but there should be some plants growing on it too stuck to the porous lava.... I have a huge Ironwood that is growing in middle of creek and it really doesnt have soil.... its the largest (fattest, 8' wide) Ironwood Ive seen on this island, I also have the largest Waiwi Ive ever seen too (2.5' wide at its base). And my Ohia trees in the floodzone grow like redwood trees trying to outgrow the huge Waiwi, on the largest ones, the Ohia's first branches start 50' up the tree and the tree is as straight as an arrow w/some close to 100' tall and a few are growing on solid rock with their roots going to soil.
My trees grow good because along both sides of the creek there is a ton of washed in soil built up along with old bottles and tires lol

save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[rawvegan]

best time to buy is in the middle of winter when the rains are pouring down. we looked at many lots some in the supposed flood zones some not. the ones that weren't wet sometimes flooded and some of the lots in the flood zone were not. we bought the driest lot we could find. no flooding and were supposedly in a flood zone. theres always lots for sale in hawaiian acres and a lot of them so just wait.