Hawai'i Photo Gallery

During our 5th trip to Hawai'i in January 2005 we decided that we wanted to live here - "here" being the island of Hawai'i, aka "The Big Island".  In July 2005 we came to Hawai'i again to find a suitable place to live.  We had already decided to limit our search to the Kona and Kohala coast areas on the west side - this is the dry side with climates ranging from arid lava rock desert to alpine.  You can select the sort of climate you want to live in by choosing the altitude and location in the "rain shadow" of the two largest volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, both nearly 14,000 feet tall.  Above 1000 feet its cooler and wetter;  below 1000 feet warmer and drier.  

On our third day of house viewings we found a nearly-perfect home in South Kona, in the village of Captain Cook, overlooking Kealakekua Bay.  The property features panoramic views of the bay and the slopes of Mauna Loa.  You can change pretty much everything about a house except the view, and this view is pretty much unbeatable.   

 

Kealakekua Bay

View from the shoreline at the foot of the hill where we live. The small white monument on the far shore stands near the spot where Captain James Cook met his untimely end in a dispute with local residents.

Our new home

Looking from the street. Kealakekua Bay and the lower slope of Mauna Loa can be seen past the house.

Driveway

Looking back towards the street from the garage. The lots are all one acre or more and the houses are spaced far apart.

Our Nearest Neighbor

The closest house is this one, still under construction and located above and behind ours, a couple of hundred feet away.

Front Entry Area

The front lanai provides plenty of room for seating - in Hawai'i residents and guests remove their shoes before entering a home.

Front Door

The front door is etched glass with a bamboo pattern.

Main Lanai and Pool

The main lanai is like the "family room" on the mainland - this is where you spend a lot of your time, the outdoor and indoor parts of the house blend together seamlessly. The pool is small, for cooling off in - not diving or swimming.

Main Lanai

Here's the main lanai again showing the wet bar - there is a refrigerator underneath this to provide a ready supply of cold beer and Coca-Cola™ products...

View from Pool Deck

The main lanai and pool deck afford panoramic views of the bay and Mauna Loa. The Captain Cook monument is visible on the far shore of the bay. The roofs farther down the hillside are the Kona Pacific Coffee Cooperative plant, an excellent (and close!) source for fresh-roasted 100% Kona coffee.

Obligatory Tikis, Part I

Tiki torches at the corners of the front yard for a nice effect at night. These are propane-fired, connected to the house gas supply.

Obligatory Tikis, Part II

Tikis at the opposite corner of the front yard (killer view behind).

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