What it’s REALLY like living in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii (Funny but True)
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Aloha everyone! In this video we put together a list of things you "can’t” do in Hawaii. We have been living in Hawaii for almost three years now and have discovered some things that are not so obvious that you cannot do in Hawaii. The list is meant to be funny and comes from our own personal experience living on big island in the Puna district. So don't take it too seriously =). There is, however, some truth to all of the things that made the list. Hope you enjoy!! Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE! - Mahalo
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put rice in your salt
We do that in Appalachia. Common knowledge and widespread here.
Dry rice 😂 not cooked...😊
Put rice in your salt shaker. My grandma did and she lived in Pāhoa for 15 years. Help with the moisture
Was going to suggest that... this is one thing New Jersey has in common with Hawaii, apparently lol
Yes. Done in humid parts here in the US main land as well
@Sabrina Trotter That's funny, I always think of dust bowls when I hear Oklahoma :)
@@tombombadil9113 Oklahoma is part of Tornado alley. This is an event in an area of the country that moves through out the year. What happens here is, this is the area where the cold dry air moving down from Canada meets the warm tropical air coming up from the Gulf. So at certain times of year, the warm moist tropical air from the gulf reaches up to and past Oklahoma. This causes Oklahoma to become humid at this time of year.
@@Oniphius1 NJ is just radioactive
One of my surfing, high school friends vacationing in Kauai, in the 80s, fell in love with a local woman, never came back to California, and is living happly ever after in Kauai.
What a romantic tale of true love! Just in time for Valentine's day 😋🤗💘
My Brother moved from San Francisco to Kauai in the late 80's still there I visited w/my Mother 12/2000 stayed a month Yes it is rugged country and beautiful Ther are many
Tourist Attractions Definitely experience a Luau My time there was Transformative
@Aaron B okay incel. sorry you can't find a decent girl but don't project that on anyone lol
That's gonna be me next year
Kauai is magical 🦋💜
My father was killed by Spinal Meningitis, so it ain't no joke, people!
Wash your vegetables THOROUGHLY lol especially from your trendy hippie, "organic garden."
(As if there's any other kind of personal garden 😂)
We live in a little self-sustained community here outside Eugene, Oregon, and parasites can be a huge problem if you don't take at least basic precautions to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Edit; (BTW The thief girl is hilariously adorable lol 👍)
TRUTH!!
Lived in Hawaii for over 20 years, Puna for 13. Just days ago moved back to mainland... won’t miss anything on this list! But I already miss soooo many things about Hawaii 💜💜💜
Pros and cons everywhere 🤷🏻♀️
@zero phantasy Zippys
Zippo’s chili spaghetti, barbecue plate with one scoop rice and one scoop macaroni salad.
L&L and how you can get musubi or manapua at 7-11 😁
I lived in Opihikao off grid for 20 years. It wasn't easy living. Lots of rain. The funny thing about rain in Puna. No more water bills. The rain is measured in feet not inches. We learned real quick to not complain so much. There was more things to be thankful for than to complain about. We raised 3 beautiful kids, with no TV. We never had to water our garden. Beautiful sunsets. Fruit that tastes like they should, like Pineapple, mango, etc. The only thing that I could complain about, and the reason we moved to the high desert, was the people that kept moving there. It seemed like all they wanted to do is beat drums, smoke dope, shit in a bucket, and run around naked. I could put up with that for a while, but on top of all the BS they brought with them from what ever part of the Mainland they came from, they could not stop complaining. To get away from that, we moved to the high desert on 140 acres of land. It's cold in the winter, hot in the summer and if you don't water your garden it dies. Not a lot of complaining and crying. Too much work to do and beautiful sunsets to watch.
Technically this is complaining 😁
Oregon.. they came from Oregon
These people that made this video are the very people your talking about.
Wait, you can not see the sunset from Opihikau, it os on the East Side.
...andvthe raindrops are as big as eyeballs
You two are the most real UA-camrs I have ever seen. Thank you. I will be in Hawaii again next month but no intention of living there. My nephew does and it is a blast to visit him. I am a mainlander myself but live in Japan and it rocks as well...but not afraid of the lettuce and can walk barefoot and can drink open canned beers anywhere. Aloha...see you next month.
So true. I live in Mountain View can have experienced many of the things you mentioned. On a positive note, those hardships are part of what protects the Big Island from over development and becoming like some of the other islands with too many people. Mahalo for your posts.
eacworldart it’s already happening though. As someone whose lives here her whole life. The change in just 10 years is astounding
Hey😊I live in Mountain View too! Moved 20 years ago and never looked back 😂
That thief sure is a tweaker, she carried a whole sink with one papaya in it.
hahahhahaha....
Omygoodnezzzzzzz! Funny
...living on an island we learn how to be self sufficient and work around things? Life has it's challenges, yes? Hawaii is home and i wouldn't have it any other way!
Exactly! We love it here too 😊
I lived in Hawaiian Acres for 2 years. This video is very accurate. I think there are too many harsh comments on here. I guess everyone just wants to be a Hawaii expert and try to sound so smart picking apart this video. Clearly it is ment for The Big Island of Hawaii and clearly for the Hilo Puna side.
The Grammar Nazi bit was funny when the Internet first started. Now it’s just old and overused. I’m not going to put a period at the end of this sentence
look up the definition of grammar. better yet, let me do it for you.Grammar: the whole system and structure of a language.spelling would fall under that. the more you know man....the more you know. have a great dayoops....forgot the period there at the end. this whole reply is just riddled with errors, damn
so the whole system of a language doesn't include spelling?? lets see...whole is defined as "all of, entire". why on earth would you separate out the particulates of the english language if grammar encompasses "all of" or the "entire" system of the language as its definition states?? keep reaching...
Ok...sure you do mr frank. You’re so machismo that it gets me all riled. No really, I’m over here like a little school girl....short skirt and all. Tell me more and be sure to talk dirty. Please don’t keep me waiting
Oh....OH......*OH* .....colloquialism!!!! I love it. Keep it coming!!!
Hey guys! 👋👋 😃 sorry, this is going to be a bit long winded, but, there may be info here, that you will hopefully find useful.
I only use pink salt or pure sea salt in a fine salt grinder, it works great and never clogs up. Salt lamps, will simply dissolve away, unless they are turned on pretty much permanently, so they're not great off grid, in a humid environment.
Trail cams / wildlife cams, strapped to your trees, make for great surveillance when you're away. They are really cheap online , on ebay, amazon etc. They have motion sensors, so only record when there's movement, so the batteries last. You can view the footage on the actual camera or on your laptop. Loads of videos on UA-cam, check them out.
UV light works great against mold and so does ozone, but they require power, so not ideal for you off grid, however, if you mix sodium chlorite and an acid, like citric acid, it will produce chlorine dioxide (gas) that will permeate everything and kill mold. Smells like chlorine ,but isn't! but still has to be vented out once you have treated the area. Chlorine dioxide, generated from sodium chlorite is approved by FDA for disinfecting water used to wash fruits & vegetables. It is also used to purify drinking water and widely used in the food industry. I mix it in a glass and place it in my cupboard and close the door for an hour or so, to prevent mold. NB. dont get the liquid on your clothes, because it is a "bleach".
You could also make your own colloidal silver, to do everything from disinfecting drinking water, to applying to all your cuts and scrapes. Really easy to make and SO handy to have. Hope you will find something here, that you can use! 😃👍👋👋👋 if you need any additional info, feel free to ask, ok?
Mahalo! Appreciate it 😉
Thank you so much for doing this video. I went to Kona in 1991 as a nanny with the family I was working for back then. To say the least, I fell in love. I have romanticized living there for over 25 years. Now I can stop! I could never afford to live where we stayed and I'm way too old to live like you guys. So now I know the other side of living in Hawaii!
Thank you for the video, Dream of moving to Hawai when my husband retire…. But watch your video let me know they are a lots of things is not paradise in the island, but reality when you lived there,so Thank you for let us know in advance. 🙏
I use local local mail and ship. expensive but convenient.
We use soy sauce becuase the sea salt turned to a rock.
Our pet chickens have gotten rid of most of our slugs.
I got a little electric jackhammer to dig holes. You can borrow it if you want.
Thanks for the tips👍🏽
Put packages of silica gel in the salt container to absorb the moisture and stop the salt becoming solid.
'nuf sed
Wotdermatter Or some uncooked rice.
I keep salt in a jar that has a seal in the lid. No problem.
@Ben Humanity has had to deal with pestilence for ages!
I had to give a like for the reenactment shots
Me too, those little example clips really made this video.
Loved it!
....stealing the kitchen sink! :D
Haha loved the sneaky bandit!
Loved me!!!
For years I had heard that Hawaii was a better vacation destination than a place to actually live. When I finally visited the Big Island I wondered what all the fuss was about. It seemed a livable place except for being so cut off from the mainland. Of course the Elvis movies don’t tell you the whole story about a place either! Your video has really illustrated why this could never work for me as a place to live! Any one of those reasons by themselves would be enough but together it’s overwhelming! Thank you for putting this together. It’s a real eye opener!
Richard Morgan
We have lived here eight months. House is already up for sale. Not easy to live here.
It's expensive and taxes will kill your life savings. I live here on the big island all my life. Now because of the way things are now I am in the process of moving to Las vegas.
@@islandfantasy5931 WOW ! From tropic to desert.....I grew up in Waianae, Nanakuli, and now live in desert near Vegas, I LOVE my desert, but do miss my times on the beach at Kaaina Point, and my friends I grew up with in Barbers point.
I work part of the year in Kona and the other in the desert near Palm Springs , it’s a stark contrast! It’s a hard place to live but good for the soul 🌺
Enjoyed your video. Puna is a challenging district, but it's different depending on what parts of Puna you reside. It's the same way all over the Big Island, and neighboring islands. Since Puna is the youngest part of the island, and the most prone to volcanic activity, it is constantly going to change. Life on a Volcano. We sometimes wonder why we have Lava in the living room!
However, there are some upsides that I'd like to point out. Because we don't get a lot of services here, our property taxes are lower than other parts of the island. Mainly because many areas in Puna are designated as agriculture, and property taxes are assessed at lower rates. Trash pickup is nonexistence, but when we run into Kea'au town, or Pahoa, the rubbish dump is a easy quick stop. After dropping off the rubbish, you stop by the Kea'au Post Office. It's may take a while to get a PO box, but interacting with the locals working there is part of the island experience. Patience is a virtue here, and being on a first name basis with the locals is a necessary part of integration to this culture. It's growing faster than ever expected. I see too many new arrivals get frustrated and then leave withing a year, or two. They forget we are an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific. We're not the mainland.
Electric : You can choose to either live with HELCO, or a mix of solar. However, because we are also windward, solar/wind is problematic during rainy seasons. Batteries, and charging systems, can be expensive. We live on grid, and HELCO has been very reliable.
Water catchment is a chore, but it can be easy if you design your system correctly. Plus you can drink your water safely. We have an 8,000 gallon tank, USDA grade liner (white), with black mesh cover. It is filtrated with rope, carbon, UV and a calcite filters. We check the PH in the water every month when we change filters. Calcite balances the PH, removes the acid. We add a cup of bleach to the tank, on occasion when needed, to cut down on algae growth. We use a first flush system to catch any rubbish from the gutters before water moves into the tank. We clean them after every rain fall. In the tank we use nylon foot stockings to filter out any residual dirt that may find it's way into the tank. Be aware that slugs can and will get into the gutters, so a UV filter, and first flush, is a must to prevent slugs from getting into the tank. Doing this will keep the tank very clean, drinkable, and easy to maintain. University of Hawaii Hilo has a booklet on catchment design and maintenance. You can find that at Water Works in Hilo, across from Ken's. Do this and you will never have to buy bottle water again! Highly Recommended!
We also have LFA (little fire ants) also, but there is a way to cut down on their growth, because they will get into your house and mess up your electrical systems. The USDA has a two step solution that will help slow down the spread of LFA. A barrier and a sterilization solution that will prevent them from hatching babies. They are invasive species, so they don't belong here anyway, like mosquitoes, rats, and mongoose. The USDA in Hilo has a free class they offer on how to manage LFA.
As for veggies! Wash Everything! In KTA, Foodland, and Safeway, they all recommend washing. I don't care if it comes in a plastic package. The mainland has had episodes of listeria and hepatitis-A breakouts. Play it safe, and wash everything.
Mold is a problem, especially black mold, try to keep things dry as much as possible. Leather from the mainland will get moldy, but not leather from the tropics. If your furniture was made in the tropics, then it will keep well. Remember that most products are made to mainland standards, and not to environments with high humidity. The guy commenting from Louisiana is right. Except we don't have alligators, but pigs that dig up your crops. Fences do hep keep out pigs and other buggahs that steal stuff.
Plastic bags are your friends. Trust me. I have several kinds of salt. I use Ziplock plastic for my kosher salt. I dump it into the bag and tightly seal it. No melting. Same as my Maldon flake sea salt. My Hawaiian 'Alaea sea salt doesn't melt and keeps fine in its original container. Plastic can be reused also. We have saved many plastic bags before they banned them, and we use them for shopping. When they get old, we use them to line our rubbish bins.
Those people that come here with idyllic dreams of an island paradise life, are over setting their expectations. Unless you're rich enough to live that lifestyle. Most of us learn new skills to adjust to island life. That can be a rewarding experience to mend a fence, repair an appliance, and keep cantankerous machinery working. The coconut wireless also helps in networking with the right people to help when it's needed. Have a generator handy. An emergency kit. Evacuation kit. After all that, kick back and enjoy island life! Live Local! Aloha!
Aloha thank you for taking the time to write a descriptive and informative comment! 🤙
Wow, that's hella detailed comment. Really appreciate it.
You forgot about a silent night... nothing but coqui frogs. Fun video, you should do one about things you can only do in Hawaii... such as see an active lava flow, go surfing, and play in the snow all in this same day or watch the sunset and meteor shower from 13,900 ft.
Those frogs 🤦🏾♂️
Sounds wonderful, can't walk barefoot, can't leave property unattended, can't use natural waterways, can't get mail, have to eat imported fruit & veg, can't expect people to be there tomorrow & you might lose everything to a volcano. Booking my ticket now 😄
You can walk barefoot if you build up your feet tolerance. You can leave property unattended and lock it and have good neighbors. You can use natural waterways just don’t go swimming without knowing where you’re getting into. You can get mail delivered to a P.O. box or a friends house, or general delivery. You can eat local fruits and vegetables just make sure there are no slugs or slug slime on them. You can’t expect people to be anywhere tomorrow, anywhere. You might lose everything to a volcano if you live within the active lava zones and you don’t evacuate your things in time. 🤪
1. Mail is delivered in town. Yea it sucks.
2. Your lot isn't developed or landscaped; of course it's sharp ground!.
3. Omg... Bicycles? Really? Do you have a deathwish? This isn't Maui. What will you do when you're 50?....60?
4. If you are going to live offgrid, a good solar system is CRITICAL for good health. Run a de-humidifier an hour every morning and night and the mold will vanish, and your salt will be easier to deal with.
5. Your mold issues are common in Hawaii, but totally avoidable. Your home will need a ceiling to avoin condensation issues. .... 6.1 Rippers are Satanic.
6. Let's get REAL here... there are no rivers, only drainage ditches... full of staph.
7. Growing suff in Hawaii to eat is difficult yes.
8. All those items "grow here". You just need dirt.
9. LMAO ... yep.
10. Lol... you chose to live in lava zone 1; go to zone 3 and you won't have this problem.
10.1 Your friends are leaving because you chose a very difficult spot. Lower Puna is well nown as the ghetto of Hawaii. Come uphill a bit and leave the mosquitos behind!
I also started here on a bare lot... You can make it work!
1. First world problems lol
2. I walked on the lawns through beautiful lilikoulani garden barefoot once, and got bit by fire ants.
3. There’s tons of beautiful roads to ride bicycles on throughout the island, lots of scenic climbs. We specified commuting as being difficult because of unpredictable weather and small shoulders on the highway. Hence the reason we also have cars, not only bikes.
4. Were hoping to just adapt, but do plan to overtime get lots more solar power to run more things.
5. Been wanting to make a roof above the container but can’t decide if we wanna keep it in the location it’s at. Stay tuned ;)
Thieves are possessed by evil demons for sure.
7. Overcoming the difficulties and challenges is worth the results 🍌
8. And proper elevation/micro climates
9. 🙃
10. We don’t live on lava zone 1 🌋
We grew up in the ghetto areas in northeastern United States... just trying to keep it consistent lol. Eventually we would love to live in the northeast part of big island though.
DevRam R LOL.
We are not experts in mold.. but ventilation is key to keeping it at bay
@@OffGridHawaii fellow Philadelphian?
VACUUM SEALING IS YOUR FRIEND.
KEEP LINENS AND SUCH ABLE TO AIR OUT
OR NOT TOUCH THE AIR AT ALL.
Keep in mind you can make a video like this wherever you go. Focus on the good. Tough it up. Solve each challenge. Lucky to live here.
Yeah, it was only 10 things. Where is your list of positive things? Keep your chin up!
@@jimb3900 duh..........Hawaii .
Really that's cool. Informative, honest and heartfelt. Thanks and God bless you both.
The reason you are told not to swim in the rivers and streams is because of the open sewage systems, yes, cesspools, that cover the rainy side of the island. It rains 132 inches on average and if it has a big downpour, those same cesspools overflow and down river it goes.
Rainbow falls turns into sludge falls.
Volcano evacuee here! Leilani Estates. I am glad to be back on Mainland, but I hold my 2 years in Puna in my heart🌺💕
Aloha glad you found a safe place to evacuate to 💚
The pele purge of the haoles
@@leianalei6340
Shame on you! I'm black and part Kanaka maoli. My ohana is from Kaimu. Kealoha is my grandmother's maiden name. My mother married a popolo.
If you ain't 100% Kanaka maoli. You are part ha'ole yourself.
I’m looking to move, been to Oahu but never the Big Island. Love the mountains and rainforests of Oahu, but way too many people and tourists. Trying to find a happy medium between being a hermit and a socialite. Big Island Hilo side good option?
Sounds like there is an opportunity for someone to open a mailbox store there.
💡🧠
@@OffGridHawaii There is one right by the post office in Keaau.
Pat McBride Go to it!
And there is several in Hilo, people use general delivery because it’s free
Absolutely general delivery is an option if you're expecting something and don't mind checking at the post office regularly. 🙂
Aloha, I am a native Hawaiian, born in Kauai, raised on Oahu and the big island. Family has many of acres in Kalapana including the Queens bath area. I currently live on the mainland and from that perspective I wonder 'why are you still there?"
Though your points are well taken from the perspective of the convenience, affordability, and infrastructure afforded in the mainland I humbly ask this question....are the "friends" that have the same complaints also originate from the mainland? There is so much that is "not" included in your video and it creates a self-serving discussion of Hawaii.
You're in the country side, did you expect manicured lands, readily available products and services, city like infrastructure? If yes, do you think a move to Hilo, Kona, Wailuku, Lihue, Makakilo, Aina Haina, Pearl City, and so on is worth considering?
1 - Solutions and acceptance, not complaining and laziness
2 - Capture the beauty of everything you have instead of complaining about what you don't have
3 - Respect the environment instead of expecting or wishing it will change.
I have witnessed, first hand, the degradation of some of Hawaii's country sides (like Waianae) by people with illusions of what Hawaii is or should be prior to coming there from their city of origin, majority of them on welfare. I have also witnessed that many people from those same cities have played significant roles in the progress of Hawaii as a state. Choosing to live on the island with the only active volcano's wouldn't it be logical that you can't dig a hole thru hardened lava? Wouldn't it be logical that the landscape would constantly change? You can choose "not to be attached" but we gladly attach ourselves to the constant evolution of our lands. Where you see the lost of access to a swimming hole, we see the growth of our island.
It is the people of Hawaii, ALL cultures, that perpetuate it's beauty and richness. It is the people of Hawaii that preserves its land and culture. It is the people of Hawaii that run "barefoot" on the black sand beaches of Kalapana like I did. Are you of Hawaii? Or just living there?
Aloha kimo, Thank you for the comment 😊 I can see how some people may think we are complaining and whining in this video but it’s really not that at all. We are just pointing out some of the things people might not know about this area. We get a lot messages from people who have never been to Hawai‘i that want to buy land site unseen and sell everything to move here. We felt it was our duty to at least warn people about some of the challenges. We live here because we love the lifestyle of living off grid, growing our own food, and having beautiful views all around us. 🤙🏽
@@OffGridHawaii Mahalo for your reply.
My impression that you were complaining is that I couldn't find anything positive that was said or written. Thank you for your response. You are factually correct for the most part yet I humbly offer that it could use a broader perspective.
Upon moving to the mainland I received these 2 pieces of Aloha ....."Keep your Hawaiian at heart and learn the American way"....."Don't get homesick and run home". I lived by it but it wasn't until years later that I fully appreciated its full meaning. One aspect is to "be OF America, don't just live there". I am Blessed to enjoy all that is America because of this advice.
The lifestyle you desire you have found. The challenges you speak of you have found. Be OF Hawaii and the dreams you dream will come true. I know it to be true because I was born into this Blessed lifestyle and it will make you find joy's unique to Hawai'i....My Home...and may it be Yours
Malama Pono
That's a beautiful message Kimo, thank you. I suppose we can use the same wisdom here. Keep our American roots but be OF Hawaii and not run away when things get difficult. The challenges we face here actually make living here feel so much more fulfilling. We haven't been here that long, but we hope to stay as long as is destined. Happy to hear you have found your place on the mainland. The mainland could use a lot of Hawaiian aloha, while of course maintaining all the good "American" values.
@@OffGridHawaii My pleasure. May I add that it seems you are already becoming of Hawaii. Unknowingly you have captured part of the essence and philosophy of living in Hawaii with this sentence you shared... "The challenges we face here actually make living (here) feel so much more fulfilling." I offer that life is fulfilling, wherever you are, with this philosophy. Sharing YOUR wisdom is also a part of being of Hawaii. It'll enhance the lives of many, some you may never meet or know.
Kimo Harris This video is crap! I'm from an island and is not this bad! They are exaggerating! I don't understand why don't they just go back to their country?
I really enjoyed your video and after living there for 3 years from 2013 to 2016 I have to agree with 99% of what you said, especially the healing part. I do think most people that come there with the intention of living there find their healing there and are able to come back to the mainland and live amongst the areas where the trauma and/or hurt took place, and live a much healthier life with strong boundaries, true inner peace and happiness.
Except for spotty mail delivery, Louisiana shares many things with y'all, very bad roads, fire ants, mold, drug addicts stealing, flesh eating bacteria in the water. I am glad that I do not live near a volcano that can cover everything I own with molten lava. A good followup may be 10 things you can do in Hawaii you cannot do elsewhere. As always, a very interesting video. Love hearing from y'all. Take care.
lol that’s funny to hear! Thank you for the support!!
My favorite thing was the brain eating amebias! Luckily they could only enter through having water up the nose..
Hayley Koz
what if the person does not have a functional brain?
🐛
Our volcano is not an exploding one. It's been oozing lava for nearly 30 years, but has stopped after the recent flow into Leilani Estates, and surrounding area. Also, where those homes were was a Class 1 Lava district.. can't get insurance much there, and you know that probably within 30-40 years you will see damage from lava. Previous lava flow there wasn't all that long ago. Don't buy in a class 1 area! BTW the 'receive no mail from Post Office' is not spotty, it's non-existent, unless you're a business in one of the 2-3 cities on island. Anything important that we get through the mail, we use FedEx, because UPS has a deal with the Post Offices that they can shift a package from UPS to PO, which means you may never get it at all, because you put a house address on for UPS, then the PO doesn't know where that is, has no idea who you are, etc.
💀 The theft reenactment was life. 😂🤣😭😁
We watched it a least ten times and laughed every time! 😂
Aloha to one of my favorite down to earth couples!! just visited oahu for a little over a week and fell in love! Oahu is very different than the big island but in all the best ways. already love the sea life and island life but that trip basically made me realize that’s how i want to live. Thanks you guys for sharing all your knowledge about life there. maybe i’ll see you there in my own tiny house some day... hint hint ❤️
Aloha! Glad you experienced the beauty Oahu has to offer :)
Well done! Especially the "thief" stealing coconuts and the attempt to dig a hole in the ground. Well crafted and edited :)
Ha ha so true . I live nearby -when I’m there, that is! I’m on mainland back & forth a lot.
I go to SAME post office you showed and share P.O. Box with 3 other adults -all friends.
I’m off grid in tiny house in Eden Roc in Mountain View way up about 1800 feet above sea level so it’s COLD on clear nights !!!!! Mold is major issue for me and I have mycotoxicity. Warning-don’t breath in the mold.
I could go on and on lol thanks for this video . My mom showed me, now she’s more scared of me living there lol. Oh well! I’m making it work.
Good on you guys for making honest account. I subscribed and set for notifications. Glad mom found you and shared with me. Awesome!
Thanks for subbing! 🤙🌈
Yes its good to laugh and its funny!!! I've lived here a year and a half now just saw rice in a salt shaker and was so excited to see what a great idea!! We are very frustrated with the"Tweakers" that are stealing everything we have cameras,dogs and fences with gates now. I wish the police could be a little more helpful. Mahalo and Aloha!!!
Oh wow. that sucks about the thieves
police reports from nixle really are an eye opener. I'm on the kona side and am glad i'm not on the hilo side. Most of the crime is over on that side. local.nixle.com/hawaii-police-department subscribe here and it gives you a heads up on the latest crime spree's
@@gregh7457
Stay safe in kona bro
Yea I live by nanawale and the tweakers are getting brave. Luckily I have my dog and monster boar in my fenced yard. They aren't afraid of my Pit when she is solo. When they see my piggy they bounce.
I also have to worry about hunters trying to steal my piggy. I recently had to pull out my AR 15 because hunters tried to take my pig. I haven't seen them since
Arlene Stannard that’s what happens when you have crazy DemoRATS like hirono running your beautiful Island
I found your information VERY HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
I spent my first 12 years of life on that side of the Big Island. I lived in Hilo, Fern Acres, Hawaiian Acres and Kurtistown. This video is a great reminder as to why I'll never move back. I'll visit periodically but I'll never move back.
I’m living in Hilo now.. going on year 4.
Thanks for sharing, a lot of people don’t realize the down sides. I considered them but I think it’s still worth it
I've lived on the big island for 37 years, and everything you said was absolutely true! But just add to what you were saying... One thing about why imported fruits don't taste as well, is because they're picked green and then gassed, so they don't ripened correctly. And another thing, is the fact that we're not part of the continental US, so lots of companies won't ship various things here. Online shopping from our local stores is also sometimes difficult, because the things I see online, are often "not available in my location", so our options are very limited... Another thing that makes me crazy, is when I call a Hawaii company and they tell me that they only serve the other Islands! Oh yeah, and then there's the medical issues. If you have anything serious, they have to fly you to Oahu or Maui for specialized or critical Care.
On ebay it sometimes says "does not ship to hawaii" and thats because the way ebay sets up the sellers listings. It excludes hawaii, PR and alaska but If you really want the item just message the seller and ask for a price to ship to hawaii using usps preferably. Fed ex and ups are complete rip offs to hawaii.
Yep
Medically, it's been like that, fruits nd vegetables it's best to grow ur own and share with the neighbors nd vice versa.
Mmm recently got some Chilean blueberries at a whole foods in New York and they were delicious! Fresh picked it always better though, for your taste buds/body and the environment :)
You are correct brother. Born and raised on the big island and it can be very hard
Very informative. Thanks so much for putting that together.
I love your down to earth attitudes and truthful ways.
Some true in all tropics. Love joy peace wealth & abundance from Thailand .
Love the re-enactments. Reminds me of the frustrated people in infomercials. The barefoot thing bums me out. Love tooling around in my bare feet. Great vid. I like hearing the truth (good & bad) about “paradise”. All the best.
Yes! Infomercial. That’s what we were going for! Thank you Andrew for your support!
The barefoot thing can vary from person to person though. You could definitely build up the tough skin on the feet to withstand the harshness of the terrain. If there’s a will there’s a way! A painful way...
Hands down the most helpful insightful cons list i have ever seen! Thank you!!
Great video Peter. Good to be reminded of the amazing reasons living in Hawaii is so great!
Visited my dad living up the mountain from Mountain View. The humidity was incredible! I'm from the deserts of west Texas, so seeing it Rain literally everyday was amazing! But this list is very true!!!
I was born in mountain view in 1955. There were 4 in my grammar school graduation and other elementary school was not built yet.
What you say is all true but I was laughing because it sounds like a propaganda video to stop more folks from moving there.
I am living both in NYC and still have property over on hualalai these days.
Many thanks!
This is beautiful...and true. Someone once told me that Hawai'i takes what it wants but gives you what you need. Mahalo nui loa for your wisdom.
Nice of you two to offer this helpful info. I've lived here for the past 33 years (Hilo and Kau). Ya know at the health food stores, especially Isle Nat, Ab Life and a lot in Safeway now they have some decent mainland organic produce. Target and Safeway and Cost u Less usually have frozen organic berries- strawberries and blueberries. Some local stuff too in the health food stores that they claim is organic- lemons, limes, bananas, papayas. I bike all the time but with good (quick dry) rain clothes. I've had rat lung x2 and yeah, it's gnarly! To me though it just presented as extreme sensitivity to touch- the slightest bump or scrape was excruciating! Now I peruse each leaf of everything from my garden to make sure of no slug or slug slime. Best to you!
I take it you don’t work for the local chamber of commerce. 😊
Interesting video, good job.
Having lived in FernForest 2011-2019, this was funny & very accurate. I loved the end where you guys wandered the quality...it was perfect!
Haha love this vid I was born on Hilo Hawaii and grew up on Oahu so its nice to see the two of you being honest but light hearted about your experiences compared to your expectations with moving to Hawaii, lots of people have a fantasy of what it is like living there and are often faced with saying "its not what we expected" lol so no worries stay postive! aloha✨
Thanks! Aloha 🤙🌴
Thank you for your insights. Very informative.
I'm glad saw this, we are traveling this summer to see some land in Mountain view, it just maybe a vacation now, also have you tried raised gardens ? I live in Texas, used to live by coast and could not grow anything until I tried raised gardens, good luck thanks for the video.
Lived in Hilo for three years and know EXACTLY what you're talking about. I finally got enough of the daily rainfall and the smell of wood rot and decay and the cost of living (and the "indigenous people" who never let me forget I was an outsider!) and moved back to the Mainland.
Yeah living here from the main land isn't for every one. It's good to find a place on this Earth where you feel welcome or at home. Sometimes it's all just a mentality. Especially for those of us who never seem to quite feel like we belong in any particular place more than another. It's different for everyone I suppose.
With the Indigenous population; please realize that the Islands were stolen from them (as is the case with all Indigenous Tribes in the USA) and basically they cannot afford to buy in the Islands themselves. They were never given Reservation land, nothing. There is a waiting list to allow them to buy property but you must be 50% Indigenous and these waiting lists are 20 to 30 years long. By time they are "allowed" to buy property they do not have long to live and you are not allowed to allow your children to inherit unless they are 50% or greater also.
I cannot blame them for being bitter.
@@kathleenmuchka2559 🤦🏼♂️ Hawaii was never gonna be defended with spears and fire. If the USA didn't own it, another country would. Also, there's no waiting list to "buy" Hawaiian land. You can get on zillow right now and buy whatever you want, you really found a fancy way to say y'all broke. 😏
White vinegar is an excellent all purpose cleaner disinfectant. Works great to kill and clean mold, Add to laundry for the same purpose. Can be used to rinse fruits and veggies with little or no effect to flavor. Salt is a natural dehumidifier, put about a gallon in a burlap or cloth bag and hang in areas you want to keep dry, place a plastic pan under it because it will drop. A friend uses this in his lady’s closet in Hilo to keep her dresses dry. The water can be used as a natural weed controller and slug repellent poured or sprayed where needed. Get plastic camping salt shakers with flip top lids for salt and spices. Damp spices can be dried by pouring them into a warm, not hot, pan then put into camp shakers while still warm. A Big Island bus pass costs like $60 a month.
Appreciate the insight. Helpful to know and kind of you to share. Have been considering buying land and building a simple home in Hawaii. Yet, only been to Maui, and once. Yet, likely to visit Hawaii, and other islands, this year to see which island makes sense economically and is the most habitable naturally. Ideal would be to have spring water and wild food I can forage. I primarily eat simple vegan, and enjoy a simple, carefree life.
Yes, living in Puna is not for everyone. Like living off the grid so be prepared to be living creative, improvisational life.
It sounds like living there teaches you to live fully in the moment. Not a bad lesson for life. Many thanks.
Thanks for the comment Chopsticks! Very true. The comment about living in the moment can still apply if you look at it as enjoying what you have now and not dwell on the fact that it may disappear some day for ever. But yes, preparing for the future is important too!
Thank You. This is very informative and interesting. So glad I found it. Your a lovely couple.
This was awesome guys! My fav Live- in- Hawaii vids!
Thanks this was informative & funny. Esp No Digging of Holes ! We visted Kona just prior to the recent eruption & were blown away by the beauty of the Big Island. I constantly fantasize about selling up ( we emigrated to Alberta Canada 5 years ago from England ) & putting roots down in, ideally - the Captain Cook area ☺ Subbed 🌹
I lived in Keaau but had to get a PO in Pahoa. The salt water in the air also destroys everything as well. Even electrical sockets will die out within a couple of years because of the salt water. Anything metal will get pitted and rust. Light fixtures, stereo equipment, cars, kitchen appliances.
Yeah I guess we can't be too salty that we dont have beach front property 😏😅 no pun intended
Is Keaau similar to Pahoa or is it totally different like living conditions and all? I know this post is old but I’m curious
I think they share more similarities than differences for sure in terms of living conditions. But then again places within pahoa or within Keaau can differ greatly from each other. Nothing is uniform. We tend to spend more time in Keaau for “errands”. Pahoa has visibly more “hippies” and people who “aren’t all there” mentally. Keaau seems to have more families and locals or kanaka. Both towns are pretty cool and have their unique characteristics.
@@OffGridHawaii Thank you chica!!! This is really helpful. I’m planning on coming out to Hawaii to stay for at least a full week, and I am trying to decide what part I’d like to visit
Very informative. I’m saving up and plan to go within the next few years. Stay happy ❤️❤️🙏🙏
Thank you for your valuable and helpful information. I've been to the Islands twice, but I never had the inclination to stay for longer than a week. After a week I couldn't wait to fly go home.
I have been living on Oahu for 2 years now. I absolutely love Hawai’i. I think this video pertains mostly to the big island. I love the culture and how slow paced it is here.
Thats why its about Puna
Bernadette Keane yes, but some people don’t know that. I was trying to help others that never been to Hawaii understand that all of Hawaii is not like this.
Oh sorry the title says Big Island
Bernadette Keane your right it does. I clearly said it mostly pertains to the big island. I wasn’t being sarcastic or putting this video down. I was expressing how I love Hawaii and the culture.
Im on Big Island
This was super informative and full of things I never would have otherwise known! Thanks!!
Wow, Excellent information. Thank you.
So true! Although two years later the traffic, people, and congestion have ruined Hawaii and our aloha. Sick of people trying to live “off the grid” here. Yet you’re charging your phone at coffee shops, doing laundry at the laundry mat, buying groceries that come in on a barge, shitting your waste into the land, driving cars, ETC. Stay in the mainland and save yourself two years of spending all your money to try and hack it in Hawai’i just to want to leave when you could be advancing your homestead on the mainland and growing all kinds of amazing things on a dryer and flatter piece of land.
If only. Have to know someone to get off the rock. Plenty of land in missouri id love to look at, dont have 1k a month to waste away on rent to check it out.
Hey, you forgot: you can't catch a Greyhound Bus either.
But you can catch the hoppa on hoppa off 😊
I think most of your experiences living offgrid can happen anywhere in the world . . . not only in Puna, Hawai'i. Water safety is always a priority as well as food processing. My experience growing up on the Big Island 40+ years ago is so different from all that you shared. Fruits and veggies were so abundant, people were respectful and looked out for each other, life was simple and as to the attachment comment it seems to be a generational perspective. It's good that you shared your experiences so others can be informed of how it really can be like.
everything was nice before ice hit the islands
Things have changed. As does everything.
Thank you for the video. I really like you guys. Your were pleaseing to listen to. I learned alot. Have a wonderful Day.
I subscribed. I learned alot about a Beautiful singer with his ukulele too. I broke my Heart about his passing years ago. He and his Family touched my Heart. His Nick name was IZ. His name was Israel Israel kamakawiwoole. Passed at 38 and brothe Skippy 28. Years ago. His his and band were the voices of Angels. I would love to learn more about Hawaii. Thank you so much.
You guys had me laughing with the reenactments! It was nice seeing everything. I miss it there (a little!)
😂😂🤙🏽
I was never one to dream of living in a tropical environment due to the affect of humidity. I have a hard time envisioning living in it, even where it is lower than where you live. My wife and I traveled to the Big Island 27 years ago for our honeymoon and stayed on the drier side of the island in Kona (typical honeymoon location, huh?). The humidity had a great effect on us as we live in a high elevation mountain town that has very little humidity. I love watching how you present the difficulties of living in it as I can then vicariously experience it!
I live on the Northern California coast, and I was surprised that the town of Waimea on the Big Island had a similar chillier climate like where I live. It's a lot of grassland and rolling hills and cattle farms, but it had a wind chill and even fog. The Big Island is so cool because there's so many different climates.
Maybe it was the vog that affected you in Kona, as opposed to the humidity? Hard to tell, I suppose, as they are both prevalent.
@@pete1853 Do you mean the fog? No that stuff was up about mid slope on the island and never went away. We didn't' want to get near it. It was the humidity and we were so hot on the beach one night I could not wait to get back to the condo and lay under the air conditioner. I don't think I've been hotter in my life.
The Vog Is why I would be worried about living Kona side!!!!
Love the work you are doing with this videos guys . I have a suggestion to grow your lettuce and other greens without having to worry about those pesky slugs or snails you can grow them in tall containers just wrap copper tape around the container , they can't tolerate copper at all .Good luck
Lmao you guys are funny! Love the content. New subscriber 🤗
Thank you so much more this honest look at life in that part of the world ❤
I once had a salt candle holder. Though Michigan may cold in winter the same thing can occur during heat waves in the great lakes region. It becomes very humid here as well.
💦
The worst humidity I’ve ever experienced hotter than Texas in my opinion. Lol
Coffee filters and cat crystals make big packs to absorb moisture
I was thinking of buying land in that area kind of and when you said everything gets stolen it kind of made me worried… Is there anything that I could do it if I set up a structure to keep it there? Is it dangerous to live there? If I was only there for three months of the year do you think that’s sustainable for setting up stuff and actually having a stay there? Thanks for any answers you have
Born and raised here, and really enjoyed your vid !!!
I guess if I moved to the Puna area I'd feel the same way about this island. But I moved to the sunny side (Kealakekua) and have no intention to ever leave this place. I'd love to see your top 10 reasons you stay here. I know a few of mine are the delicious tropical fruits, some of which you cannot find anywhere else! And the glorious clear, warm ocean water all year round! Nothing beats playing on the white sand beaches here. And mostly the aloha spirit here is so amazing. I'm feeling the love of The Big Island every day, and so happy I traded in Seattle for the island life.
Thats a beautiful part of the island go swimming with the spinner dolphins xD
💯
Thanks for your informative video that really helped me, a resident of northern Alaska, realize that Hawaii is not the perfect paradise that I envision in my dreams. I had never heard of the rat lung slug cycle that can affect lettuce even though I've visited the big island a couple times. So from a subscriber WAY up North, best wishes and may God bless you. Arctic Circle Dave
I lived in Maui for 13 years and it is completely different there. This video is only describing an area on the Big Island of Hawaii or what locals call Hawaii. Maui is magic and an amazing paradise with none of problems listed above.
Yes quite the adventure living in Puna district. I used to live in HPP...... Love your vids.....I know all that area quite well...have lots of stories...fun times
how did you like HPP? my husband and I are moving there very soon!
I love your video. Thank you both for sharing. And yes, the intro was perfect😅 Much Love.
-Bill
Mahalo 🎶
What an awesome video! Wow! Thanks for making. I had no idea about them! I've been to the Big Island a few times and have been specifically to the Kahena/Kolapana areas. Both areas which have been affected by the latest volcanic eruptions :( I'd have to say #10 isn't SO bad. I think of the Buddha quote, "The root of suffering is attachment". And I understand that the Island Goddess Pele makes it so - constantly transforming and creating. However, I also understand the human need to connect with others, so there's that...
My question is: Is this the case on all parts of the Big I? Also, how about other Islands in the chain? I'm thinking of Kauai specially. Thanks again - super cool video :) Geof
Thanks for the comment! Are you asking about everything we listed on this video? Certain things may apply to other parts of the other islands, but honestly everything varies greatly even through big island and it even depends on people's own personal experience. It's better to just experience a place for yourself to make a judgement on it.
If you're just talking about the active volcanic activity it only primarily applies to the southern/east sides of the big island. The other islands have no active volcanoes :)
Wow! Thank you so much -- this eye-opening video cured me of my jealousy toward anyone with a Hawaii address!
Well the ones with addresses probably get mailed delivered to their house hahah
Lynn, the only ones you should be jealous of is the ones that live in the gated resort communities. Living paycheck to paycheck in a moldy jungle with tweakers isn't living
Very funny and very informative you two rock!
I live in a swamp. Rice in salt and other spices keeps it from clumping. Damp Rid and a dehumidifier also helps with mold. Just something to try.
This is actually pretty goodreal world advice. Glad you mentioned rat lung worm.
I love these kinds of stories, though I have no intention of ever living in Hawaii. There must be a lot of very good reasons to live there since there seems to be a bunch of reasons not to. If it's so expensive to live in Hawaii, there has to be a reason for it, and I doubt that it's a desirable place to be only because of the weather. Thanks for posting this video.
I just seen your great video and loved it I "liked" 👍 it and subscribed & clicked the bell.
Thanks for the heads up !!!
Hey OffGridHawaii. Aloha! Thanks for the post. I especially liked the specific title of your video - What it's Really like living in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii (Funny but True). Some of those commenting here, must have missed that title. And to that point, after listening to ALL of your commentary, I never once got the impression you were speaking of all of Hawaii; it seems clear you're speaking of the big island only, and more specifically, the Puna district. Love how genuinely you present the content and how open you are with your life experiences. Sending positive energy your way.
Thanks again Tim! To be fair, the title didn't specify Puna big island originally. We changed it after people started commenting that it's inaccurate to call it just Hawaii. We had made the original video for our subscribers on patreon who know us better and know in what area we live. But then recently the video started to reach a larger UA-cam audience and more people saw this video than we imagined. Curious to know where this video was promoted or what brought people to watch it. Must be the UA-cam algorithms. 🤷🤙
Hey y'all (OffGridHawaii) - Thank you for the clarification relative to your original title. That's fair, and does help speak to "some" of the reply commentary. My wife and I really LOVED watching your video and are now looking up some of your other posts. If it was "UA-cam algorithms", then we are grateful for that, as it introduced us to the two of you.
We're all about positive attitudes, kindness, genuineness, and helping others succeed. My post wasn't at all meant to be confrontational to other viewers, but my wife pointed out that my comment could be perceived as a bit snarky(?) Just felt a little bad for you all upon viewing some of the feedback. If viewers have a genuine complaint or concern about UA-cam postings, I wish they could address those concerns without the seemingly inflammatory language.
Let's all be kind to one another! We taught our kids from the beginning. Use kind words, speak in a kind tone of voice and think about how what you say may affect the person(s) to whom you are speaking. Again, positive energy and the hope for great success for you all! Blessings.
Thank you Tim but don't feel bad for us :) we knew what we were getting into making videos on UA-cam. Lots of anonymous faces with strong opinions. I bet everyone on here is a decent human being, it's just the anonymity behind a youtube comment that makes people sound extra insensitive or callous. And we are also guilty of such ... It's a funny world in the internet 🌈
@@OffGridHawaii Some people really are awful. They're just afraid to show it in real life because they'll get punched.
Key board warriors
I moved to Puna in 2012 - from the Wash, DC area... what a difference! Everything you said in the video is right on and I learned those things over time. My mailbox wait (Pahoa) was closer to six months. You mentioned the mold in the car - also fire ants if you leave it parked in one spot AND the roaches! lol. Is it a hoyhoy trap? It'll fill up quick! I never got to have a garden because of the marauding pigs - though I did harvest a few of them. The pigs are a terror to all your growing things. Regular white mushrooms are like $8/pound. Many crazy people live in Puna. I am more than happy to call it home. Really enjoyed the vid and subbed. Mahalo. p.s. oh yeah! Shower with the catchment - drink county water. Uncle Robert's for "night life".
Uncle Robert still around?
@@christopherallen8930 As I recall, Uncle Robert passed several years ago. :(
Reading more comments. I will only say , keep on keeping on. Can't wait for your next funny vid. Aloha Nui
This must be the biggest 'half-empty' glass I've ever come across. When we first visited many of the islands over 20 years ago it took only 5 minutes to find out it rains most of the time on the east coast of Big Island. So we stayed near Kona. Many of these 'things you can't do' are a function of the humidity. Just look around you at the beauty that brings.
Yes we prefer the rain and everything it brings that’s why we live on this side 😊
Aloha! Thanks for this video! I spent a month visiting with a close friend in Pahoa and experienced so many layers of beauty including the Kilauea volcano eruption following a series of earthquakes. At first, it was difficult to get sleep with the frogs, roosters sounding off at 3 am, and some lady who decided to warm up her car in the middle of the night because you know, it's Hawaii. With in a few days, these sounds became hypnotic not to mention the sound of rain drops on metal roofs. Tranquility. Higher elevation the air is cooler, and dryer. Wondering if my mac desk top mac would need to be in a room with AC and or a dehumidifier. Peace
I went to Pahoa and I loved it, I’ll never forget the scene of the main street through town with the leopard mural and I was trippin when I heard someone playing a beautiful harp at the saloon, I think at that point I went into a hypnotic trance lol ✌️
I wanted to move to Hawaii permanently you're the second video I've just seen of saying how bad it is in Hawaii I was already against moving because of the state tax income tax so thank you I don't even feel like visiting Hawaii now thank you very much and that's for telling the truth !
Hawaii is a beautiful island but there’s certainly lots of tension and drama. Especially now, very little aloha and tolerance for visitors from certain people. The economy is tanking and everyone is feeling it.
These ten things are not a reason to avoid visiting or moving to Hawai’i, they are common sense things to consider in the island life. the same list probably exists for any location in the tropics. You are correct though, if you see the list and it sounds horrible, then Hawai’i or any remote island is not for you.
These ten things are not a reason to avoid visiting or moving to Hawai’i, they are common sense things to consider in the island life. the same list probably exists for any location in the tropics. You are correct though, if you see the list and it sounds horrible, then Hawai’i or any remote island is not for you.
Thanks for the video, it was very informative.Depressing but informative.
Great video. I'm one of those friends that go visit and leave you guys sad hehe, I've visited the big island 3 times in 3 years and I love that place but I never think of it as a place to live. Thank you for the video, good job with the reenactments! Aloha!
How could you leave??? 😭😭 Haha thank you glad u appreciate this video and the silly humor we instilled in the reenactments