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There are at least over 40 Puna subdivisions. These subdivisions are sometimes as big as cities. For example, Hawaiian Paradise Park has over 8,800 building lots and is the second largest private subdivision in the United States. Puna's recorded households consist mainly of single family dwellings. Most of the properties in Puna are zoned as agricultural land (Ag) and therefore most of these single family dwellings are actually considered "farm dwellings".
However, many parts are still underdeveloped with no shopping centers or other public facilities nearby. That means that although these subdivisions are the size of small cities they do not look like a city at this point, and because some of the parcels are up to 3 acres, they probably never will.
Before we went to Puna for the first time, we looked at some of the Puna subdivisions in the Mountain View area like Fern Forest Estates, Aloha Estates and Eden Roc Estates on the map. We were convinced that we would be able to see a clear distinction between the subdivisions on that side. But when we got there, nothing looked to us like any subdivisions we had ever seen! It was more like a big forest with a few houses here and there … and it was more beautiful that we had imagined it would be - pristine and quiet.
The Puna subdivisions were mostly formed in the 50’s and 60’s before zoning laws were introduced and so they were created more or less like independent ‘pods’. This is the main reason why the different subdivisions offer such varied lot sizes. (See table below)
Most Popular Puna Subdivisions
(click links for more information and subdivision maps)
| Name | Year | # of Lots | Lot Size | Acres | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainaloa | 1959 | 3,637 | .2-.5 ac. | 1,160 | Map |
| Aloha Estates | 1961 | 1,846 | .25-.3 ac. | 593 | |
| Black Sand Beach | 1962 | 918 | 7,750 sf | 202 | |
| Eden Roc | 1960 | 1,809 | 1 ac. | 2,000 | Map |
| Fern Acres | 1958 | 2,021 | 2 ac. | 4,000 | Map |
| Fern Forest | 1958 | 2,579 | 3 ac. | 9,000 | Map |
| Glenwood | 1962 | 152 | .25-.3 ac. | 53 | |
| Hawaii Island Paradise | 1960 | 449 | .20 ac. | 100 | |
| Hawaiian Acres | 1958 | 3,944 | 1.8-6 ac. | 12,141 | Map |
| Hawaiian Beaches, Parks and Shores | 1961 | 3,522 | .2-.5 ac. | 1,416 | |
| Hawaiian Orchid Isle | 1958 | 205 | 3ac. | + - 700 | |
| Hawaiian Paradise Park | 1959 | 8,843 | 1 ac. | +/- 9,469 | Map |
| Kalapana Sea View Estates | 1971 | 693 | <.25 ac. | 166 | |
| Kapoho Beach Lots | 1954 | 185 | .25-1.2ac. | 50 | |
| Kehena Beach | 1964 | 199 | .25-.3 ac. | 52 | |
| Lanipuna Gardens | 1973 | 118 | 1 ac. | 130 | |
| Leilani Estates | 1960 | 2,266 | 1 ac. | 2,400 | Map |
| Maunaloa Estates | 1960 | 893 | 20,000 sf | 550 | |
| Nanawale Estates | 1960 | 4,289 | .25-4ac. | 1,134 | Map |
| Ohia Estates | 1960 | 756 | .25-.3 ac. | 280 | |
| Orchidland Estates | 1958 | 2,491 | .5,1-3 ac. | 5,670 | Map |
| Pacific Paradise Mtn. View Manor | 1971 | 606 | .25-.3 ac. | 145 | |
| Puna Beach Palisades | 1973 | 72 | 20,000 sf | 36 | |
| Royal Hawaiian | 1959 | 1,640 | .25-.5 ac. | 630 | |
| Tiki Gardens | 1962 | 481 | .2-.25 ac. | 120 | |
| Volcano Village | 1968 | 1,064 | N/A | N/A | Map |
The subdivisions in Puna are not always interconnected, so traveling from one to the other is sometimes only possible via the highway. But in other cases, you may be in one subdivision and then unknowingly cross over into another without noticing because there is often a lack of consistent signage and the forest in one subdivision looks pretty much the same as the forest in the neighboring subdivision. There are plans to increase the interconnectivity of the subdivisions in the future, but this will not be possible without the sacrifice of some of the properties in that particular area.
Some subdivisions are growing at a faster than others due to various reasons. Proximity to Hilo is a big plus for commuters. Increasing home prices in the Hilo area, which continues to pushes people towards the outskirts and even beyond the city boundaries, have definitely had a big influence on development in the nearby Puna subdivisions. Plus things like having paved roads, existing electrical poles and access to county water makes a subdivision more desirable. It is important to understand the lava hazard and flood zones as they can have a big impact on the value of a property and they definitely can have a negative impact on the development of certain areas within a subdivision.
Return from Puna Subdivisions, to Puna Real Estate
