While all of the Hawaiian Islands are wonderful, each has its own distinctive character which makes it unique. The Big Island is one of the most intriguing places on earth. It is full of majesty, power, and mystical beauty. To those of us fortunate enough to live here, it seems to be a place alive with amazing strength and soul. Perhaps it is the spirit of aloha that dwells within the island and rests in the hearts of the island's people. I invite you to visit the Big Island and allow this aloha spirit to enter your heart and forever change your outlook and your life.
GEOLOGY & DEMOGRAPHY
The Big Island is called that because it is
larger than all the other islands combined. It's
over 4,000 square miles in size and growing. We
are riding an active volcano; actually we're on
the Pacific plate and are riding over a hot spot
that has created a volcano. It is currently
located in the southeast portion of the island
and doesn't now threaten any population centers.
Legend has it that Madam Pele makes her home in
the volcano. Herb Kane, a local artist and
author of international stature wrote, "As long
as the earth is alive with quakes and eruptions,
Pele will live in Hawaiian hearts and minds as
the personification of the natural phenomena of
volcanic activity". Hawaii island is made up of
five major volcanoes and countless minor vents
that never really grew up. At the north end of
the island is the Kohala Mountain range. Just to
the south of that is Mauna Kea, "White Mountain"
(13,796') known internationally for its
observatories and locally for its skiing. Next
comes Hualalai at just over 8,000 feet, the
backdrop to Kona that last erupted in 1801.
Legend says that the flow from the mountain was
nearing one of the villages and that Kamehameha
the Great stopped the eruption by cutting a lock
of hair and offering it to Pele as a gift while
standing at the crater's edge. The volcano has
not erupted since. Further south is Mauna Loa
(13,679'), "Long Mountain". Mauna Loa is an active volcano, last erupting in 1984. It is also the world's most massive volcano covering over 1,000 square miles. Our most active volcano is Kilauea (much spewing), which has been erupting pretty much non-stop since 1983. Pele is still a resident of Hawaii island but has started a vacation home on the newest of the Hawaiian islands named Lo'ihi located about 26 miles south of this island. Lo'ihi is still 3,000' below the surface and not expected to appear
for some time.
According to the 2001 census reports, there are about 148,677 people on the island. Hilo is the seat of government for Hawaii county, for now. There is a movement to split the island into two counties because of the size and the different needs of the two sides. Hilo's population is divided between North Hilo,
at 1,600 and South Hilo, at 45,900. Next in population is the Puna district on the southeast side of the island with about 26,700 people. North Kona has about 24,900 and South Kona another 8,500.
Ethnicity wise, the Big Island is a real mix. The 2001 census shows Caucasians now make up the largest percentage of the population at 31.5%, Mixed races
follow at 28.4%, Asians at 26.7%, Native Hawaiians at 11.2%, Others at 1.1%, Blacks and American Indians at .09%.
WEATHER
Of the thirteen climate zones in the world, the Big Island has eleven of them, so pick a spot. If you want wet and rainy weather, try the Hilo side.
For warm and dry weather, look at the Kona side. If you want a desert, head south, a rain forest, go to Puna, and if you want to ski in the winter, go to Mauna Kea.
If you're looking for ideal weather, then come to Kona. The west side of the island gets less than 20" of rain per year at sea level. If you move up the slopes of Hualalai, you get into the clouds, and if you go high enough you get rain everyday. That rain is the source of fresh water for the Kona coast. The almost daily rains percolate into deep lava tubes that drain into underground wells. Much of the fresh water can be seen running into the ocean along the shore line, especially after heavy rains.
By moving up the mountain slopes you can pick the temperature you wish to live in. The higher you get, the cooler the outside air. There are people living above the 2,000' level that actually have heat in their homes.
Back at sea level, a unique rain pattern emerges. It usually rains only at night. Most mornings are crystal clear with clouds forming in the afternoon. By sunset, which is almost always visible, the clouds begin to clear away and there are beautiful, starry nights.
We are pretty much limited to two seasons: summer and winter. Summer runs from May through October and is warmer and wetter than winter. From November through April, the weather is cooler and drier. Average temperature in August is 81°F and the average in January and February is 74°F. Yearly average temperature is 77°F. The coldest temperature was a frosty 58°F, and the all time high was 95°F.
It doesn't get much better than this!
EMPLOYMENT, JOBS, ETC.
The Big Island, especially the west side, has continued to grow. More and more people are discovering the
island's beauty, the rural nature of the island, and the tranquil environment to be found here.
The two biggest employers on the island are the state and county governments followed by the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel. The service industry ranks number one and will probably remain number one for a while to come. There are lots of other opportunities however.
One of the most promising fields is that of health. Hawaii island is becoming known as the "Health Island". Thanks in part to the new North Hawaii Community Hospital which opened in June of 1996, the Big Island is home to a variety of health practitioners, ranging from traditional MD's to those who practice Hawaiian herbal healing and every discipline in between. Wellness practitioners from around the world are being attracted to the island and its leading edge hospital, as well as
its reputation reaching back 150 years to the likes of Jack London and Isabella Bird, who wrote about the island's healing effects
on the mind and on the body.
As the Big Island has grown, we have seen the opening of many of the major retail stores. It began with Costco/Price Club in 1993, followed closely by K-Mart, Walmart and Safeway. Other national names like Borders Books, Ross' Dress for Less, the Hard Rock Café, and Starbucks have arrived on the scene, as well as Home Depot and Lowe's.
In the wake of this growth there is an increasing demand for niche services. Entrepreneurs are finding a wealth of opportunity which includes investment counseling, book keeping services, errand services, physical fitness training, computer services, cellular phone
services, specialty shops, local arts, and all
of the healing arts. There are as many opportunities as there are good ideas.
With the advent of telecommuting, your job may not even be physically here. I have heard of more than one person who works that way; one sits on her lanai with a Power Book computer and a modem and recruits executives on the mainland for mainland firms. Another handles rental property almost 6 months out of the year while enjoying Kona sunsets. There are job opportunities,
and you can even create them yourself.
EDUCATION
Hawaii's schools have always gotten mixed reviews. Our daughter attends
Kealakehe High School,
a public school, and loves it! We have been very impressed with the dedication that her teachers have shown and the initiative that the administration displays in striving for excellence in education. There is
also a wide variety of private schools available for every age group. For complete information, please e-mail me or check out the links provided.
As of the fall of 2000 there were 27,557 students enrolled in all public schools on the island of Hawaii in K through 12. Private schools had another 1,950 students. The University of Hawaii in Hilo had a 2000 enrollment of 2,874 students, issued 447 degrees, and had a faculty of 410.
Making Your Hawaii Real Estate Dreams Come True!
