Visitor's Guide

Welcome to Puna!

Be Safe. Ask Questions. Have Fun.

(Seriously --- any questions at all, just call or text anytime)

Solar Power

Living off-grid is a bit different than what you're used to. The available power will fluctuate over the day. On a bright sunny day, you may have 2000W or more of available power. Yet after consecutive non-stop rainy days and nights, you might might only have 200W of available power, first thing in the morning. The key is just to monitor and know where you are on the spectrum before using appliances that may have significant power draws. The Power Meter to monitor is just to the right of the kitchen sink and shows available power as Voltage. Think of 12.1V as "zero available power". Each .1V represents ~100W. If the meter reads "14.3V" (mid-day), then you have about 2000W available. Please follow these general guidelines:

    • Monitor the Power/Voltage Meter Regularly. Usually only a problem during endless rainy days. Never have Voltage below 12.1V or above 14.8V.

    • Never run the toaster in the morning. The toaster consumes about 1000W of power and the mornings usually have only about 200W available.

    • Only run the washer/dryer during daylight, when the Meter shows 13V or above. Never run the washer/dryer at night

    • Heat-conducting appliances (toaster, hot-water kettle, rice-cooker) consume the highest power. Only use these during sunny days, when the meter is above 13.3V

    • If the voltage goes down to 12.2 or lower in the morning, then please start-up the red Honda generator, located under the house, which will help charge the batteries.

    • If the voltage goes up to 14.8 (which I've never seen), turn on all the lights and appliances. Make tea and toast.

Propane

Propane is used by the oven, the hot-water heater, the outdoor grill. (The dryer is useless)

The 5 gallon tanks for the oven, hot-water, dryer are all by the side of the house.

Lots of local places to refill tanks, including the Maku'u Farmers Market and ACE Hardware in Keaau

Toilet and Cesspool

The toilet has a wonderful bidet feature, so that using toilet paper is optional and discouraged.

Please NO tampons/pads, dental floss, or anything synthetic in the toilet --- only poop, please.

Please be very mindful, since it's a cesspool and not a septic tank.

If you smell sewage, please let me know.

Rebooting the Oven

When the propane gets changed, the pilot goes out for both oven and broiler — which triggers the safety switches. To restart the oven, you need to first re-light the pilots for both the broiler (upper oven door, towards the rear) and the oven (lower oven door towards the rear). The Arrows below point to safety reboot “buttons” that prevent gas coming out of the broiler or oven if the pilot is not lit. Once both pilots have been lit, lift the top of the range to get under the hood. Press each button for about 15 seconds. Then both the oven and boiler should engage and fire up, when turned on. If they don’t engage, press the button again for a bit longer.

Outdoor Shower

Perhaps the best room in the house the outdoor shower.

But it is a Jungle out there, so trim when needed if it gets out of hand.

Depending on the cycles, you may be sharing the shower with orchids.

Please using only liquid soaps and avoid using hard perfumed soap --- the rats love to eat that.

Garbage and Compost

Please put organic compost in the compost bin out by the banana patches every day/night, since food in the house attracts the unwanted.

Any meat/bones/fat should be put in plastic bags and stored in the freezer, until you can do a dump run.

There are Transfer Stations (i.e. "dumps") in Keaau and Pahoa. Keaau is closest. Please visit regularly and don't let trash accumulate.

Feel free to add dry leaves and brown matter to the compost bin and stir, if you're around for a while.

Normal Sounds

Expect to hear lots of Coqui Frogs at night, and roosters in the morning.

There are also dogs ... (and earplugs)

The RAV4

If you've got the place to yourself, the "warm-up" routine for the RAV4 is :

  • Start the car

  • Walk down to unlock the gate, to let the car warm up


Cheapest gas is at Safeway in Hilo. High-octane only please (it's a V6)


If there's problems, here are the best auto resources in Hilo:

  • Mechanic : Pro Machanx, Hilo: 808.961.1212

  • Tires: K&J Tires, Hilo, 808.437.3404


It's best to have AAA or Geico road assistance on you mobile phone.

Local Groceries

Keaau: Foodland, Keaau Natural Foods

Mountain View: Dimple Cheek (gets lots of stock from Costco in Kona) and is also a nice restaurant spot.

Pahoa: Natural Island, Malama

Hilo: Natural Island, KTA, Abundant Life, Suisun Fish


Best Fresh Fish: https://www.facebook.com/Elliegirlfishing


Generally recommendations are Foodland for great local "Big Island Beef", wine, and Tilamook frozen custard; KTA for fresh fish; and Natural Island in Hilo for food shopping therapy. Suisun Fish in Hilo has the best Poki bowls, but is very crowded from 11:30 til 1:30 of course.


There are also a couple good produce stands on the West side of Hwy 130 between Kaloli Drive and Ainaloa, and also across the street from Foodland in Keaau. (Hint: Locals don't ask "how much?")

Farmer’s Markets

Maku'u Farmers Market is on Sunday 7am to Noon. Not to be missed.

Hilo Farmers Market is everyday 7am - 3pm. But it's about as touristy as you'll see on the east side.

The "Beach"

Beach Road, just north of Kaloli has a parking lot. Then just walk due East, and you'll hit the coast. Beyond amazing.

There's also good spots at the end of Maku'u too. Beach Road and the side streets make for the best biking too.


On the south-east side is Kahena. But it's quite crowded on the weekends. And you're likely to be "overdressed".

Odds and Ends

  • Volcano National Park. Visit during the day for hikes, or at night for best lava flow viewing. Not to be missed is the amazing old-growth forest walk in the town of Volcano behind the Volcano Art Center

  • HPP Facebook Group has lots of good hints/tips and is searchable for many questions.

  • Fun in Hilo

Liliokalani Gardens

Wailoa River State Park

Palace Theater