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Retiring in Puna
Retiring in Puna will definitely become more popular in the near future.When you look at the needs, interests and tastes of Americans age 60 and older, you can see that Puna excels in many of the criteria that seniors and baby boomers find valuable. We definitely consider Puna one of the best picks in Hawaii. Here’s why: - Affordable housing: Of course the housing prices in Puna are above the national median. But you are in Hawaii and if you compare Puna real estate to the rest of Hawaii real estate, Big Island real estate or even Hilo real estate, Puna is the most affordable area in Hawaii. The median home prices in the beginning of 2006 were still under $300,000.
Large living space and outdoor living: It is still possible to buy very affordable large acreage in Puna, which gives you a lot of space, peace and quiet, but also the possibility to for extensive outdoor gardening, which many seniors enjoy.Available Jobs: There is a lot of opportunity in the Puna and Hilo area to find jobs, offer professional services and start small businesses. If you are reliable and conscientious you will be able to get a job and if you are a professional you will definitely be able to find work, (reliability is an important issue since many workers in the area are notoriously unreliable). Clean air: Even though the Kona side of the Big Island is more popular than the Hilo side, Puna has much better air quality. Trade winds which usually come straight onshore in Puna bring always fresh air, which is also high in negative ions. Vog, which is volcanic ash that is carried by the wind (volcanic air pollution), usually plagues the Kona side much more than the Puna side. In fact asthma has become an issue for many people in Kona, especially the children.Low pollution levels: There are basically no big industries in and around Puna, so pollution is very low.Culture and entertainment: Hilo, which is Hawaii’s 2nd largest city, offers everything that a big city has; shopping, cultural events, restaurants, theaters, education, etc.Shopping: There are regular Farmer’s Markets in Puna where you can buy fresh, local produce from nearby farmers and socialize with friends in the community. There is a good supermarket called Puna Foods and several smaller natural foods stores in Puna as well as a new hardware/general store in Orchidland. Anything you cannot find directly in Puna you should be able to find in Hilo.Plenty of outdoor recreation: Puna has an abundance of walking and hiking trails, nice trails and roads with little traffic for biking, swimming in heated tide pools, and of course golfing. Plus a variety of excursions and outings offer the opportunity to explore the Big Island in many different ways. Personal and property safety: Even though Puna was considered a little bit wild in the past, increased numbers of law enforcement officers and strong neighborhood watch programs, have made Puna just as safe as anywhere else.Continuing Education: Hilo offers many different courses for continuing education. Strong sense of community: Puna’s communities are growing at a very fast pace. Some community associations established Community centers, which offer activities for its residents. Proximity to quality health care facilities: Hilo Medical Center (HMC) is the largest facility in the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Established in 1897, HMC has grown from a 10-bed hospital, erected by the Hawaiian Government, to the present facility of 264 licensed beds, consisting of 130-acute licensed and 22 skilled nursing beds, including a 20-bed psychiatric unit, a separate 112-bed licensed extended care facility and an accredited home care agency. It offers 24-hour emergency room service, a same day surgery, cancer care, and outpatient services. How to get around: In Puna a car is definitely a must. Puna, as with most other parts of Hawaii, does not have a very good public transportation system. Traffic is for mostly very, very low, but will definitely increase as Puna gets more popular. Hilo international airport is between 10 and 30 minutes away from all areas in Puna.
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