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 ©2007 Bryn Berg |
While it is true that Puna is still affordable, it is also true that Puna is a bit rougher than the touristy areas people usually associate with Hawaii. Puna is not exactly what people see in TV ads and picture postcards. Nonetheless, Puna has all the beauty Hawaii has to offer and much more.
Many Puna residents will try to obscure this view (unless they want to sell you Puna Real Estate), trying to make it seem less palatable to a newcomer. This is so that people will not overcrowd this beautiful place. But this fear seems unnecessary. There is plenty of space. (Btw a lot of the people who have a resistance to newcomers made a fortune in the last 5-10 years when Real estate prices in Puna went up!) This might seem a little hypocritical, but there is a good reason behind Puna's ‘grumpy faces’.
Many places in Hawaii used to be like Puna - pristine places with beautiful vegetation and magnificent beaches. Take Kona on the Big Island or Lanikai on Oahu as an example. Those places have sold out. The majority of owners are now rich foreigners, who just use their house as a vacation home (and maybe rent it out) but are not invested in the community at all. You might think, "Well why not, if they can afford it?" But that is exactly the point that Puna residents are making. Foreign owners jack up the real estate prices and make it so that the local population will not be able to afford real estate in their area anymore, driving them out of what has been their home – in some cases for generations.
So be aware of this when you visit Puna - you just have to overcome this first wave of resistance and then you will find that Puna is a really nice place with a lot of good people. And if you care for Puna as they do then you will be welcomed. And as a word of advice for those looking to fit in – do not repeat the phrase "in such and such state we do it like this". Not going to win you any points in Puna (or Hawaii in general). Puna people have their own way of doing things and it will benefit you to be open to that.
 ©2007 Bryn Berg |
The first point to remember: There is so much land in Puna that you almost have to approach finding your perfect spot as something of a treasure hunt! So, the most important thing we can tell you is that you need to find yourself a good, reputable real estate agent (Punaguide.com will equip you with the necessary tools to recognize such an agent.).
The area of Puna is as vast as the entire island of Oahu so there is a lot of ground to cover and communities to get to know. A great agent will save you a lot of time and headaches.
Of course, you can – and perhaps should- go out on your own to get a feel for things if you are so inclined.
If you are going to brave the roads yourself you MUST get a copy of a great map that shows you where all the subdivisions are located. The best map to get is Map Book of East Hawaii.
Traveller's Tip: There are some areas of Puna that are undeveloped and have rough roads. You don't want to rule out these areas though since there are some great finds there. So, we advise you to rent a good all terrain vehicle. The best place to rent these types of vehicles is Harper Car & truck Rentals. Harper’s is the island’s specialty vehicle rental company and they offer 4-wheel drives, passenger vans, assorted trucks and cars alike. They also offer fully equipped motorhomes for those who really like to take it on the road!
Most of the people I talk to try to scout Puna on their own first. But many of them get overwhelmed by the size of Puna and try to find a good agent at the last frantic minute. We were in the same situation and it just didn't work. Puna is just too big. And if you are short on time then I would skip right over to the agent's office from the start and let them tell you what the best gig is.
Punaguide.com has contacted many real estate agents and asked them about their strategies, services and attitude towards the future of Puna.
To be honest, I didn't meet a lot of really helpful people – good representatives for buyers. The main problem is that the market was moving so fast that many agents didn't have to offer any service in order to do business. So, in my view you need somebody who will work fully in your best interest and who can pinpoint the right location and offers for you.
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What I really like about Jeff is his determination to protect Puna and I quote, "I have strong personal opinions about developers and development. East Hawaii is not set up to handle development in the right way. That's why I might be one of the few people that support the current administration’s position on subdivision and development. We need to do right by the existing subdivisions and preserve/enhance them. We have more parcels in existing subdivisions than could be built on in our lifetime. Why add more parcels for profit, when the vast majority would actually increase what the State considers sub-standard subdivisions? Huge wake up call there. In fact, it's my opinion that the developers that clear-cut and level the land should be forced to live there. We truly need to educate people on that subject." Wow. You go, Jeff….
Then there is their big aloha to you, "…our office is available for phone, fax, copies, maps, etc. We are located in Pahoa Village. Mi casa es tu casa." As I said - good people.
If you'd like to know a little something about Jeff and Manu you can read their Bio here and an interesting article that appeared in the local publication "Homes of the Big Island" about Manu.
To reach Jeff and Manu you can send them an email by filling out the following form and they will get back to you, promptly. Happy hunting!
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