Living in Hana (home, school, dangerous)

[ruprick]

Sock it to me. There are not many threads on living there--likely because it is such a small, isolated community & there is not a large sample size to pull from.

I have a job opportunity, savings, etc. I'm more interested in what my two school-aged children should expect and what our lifestyle will be like. Yes we are considering home schooling, but it's not an attractive option.

I see it rains a ton. Google street view looks amazing in the area. Two hours from any big box store will be an adjustment, but the quiet lifestyle sounds enticing. Do the locals take the south highway to the bigger cities in order to avoid the tourists on the road to Hana?

[hothulamaui]

how old are the kids? I would think teens would have a hard time, not much to do other than the beach. I would also add at least an hour to your drive to the big stores on town. it is a very quiet life in hana.

[ruprick]

Elementary age kiddos. They love sports & dance. I didn't think about life as a teenager and how that dynamic changes things.

Three hours to Costco? You just rained on my Hana parade.

[hothulamaui]

sorry it really is a l-o-n-g road, no one realizes how long it until you drive it. it is a very quiet place I think less than 1500 people live there. what kind of job were you offered? does it pay well enough for you to live there or would you have to dip into your savings?

[Jungjohann]

Originally Posted by ruprick

Do the locals take the south highway to the bigger cities ?

BBUUUUUWWWHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

got coffee comin out my friggin nose!!!!

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Ruprick, you need to do a LOT more research before making this decision to move. Hana is very small and very isolated, and there is no "south highway" (it's a very treacherous rural road). Nor are there really "bigger cities". This is a major decision to move your family and kids to this very remote area of a little teeny rock in the middle of the ocean. I strongly suggest that you visit first before making this life-changing decision.

[ruprick]

Originally Posted by Jungjohann

BBUUUUUWWWHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

got coffee comin out my friggin nose!!!!

what a helpful, productive reply. Not obnoxious in any way, shape or form. I hope your nose is OK and your caps lock button survived the barrage.

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

Ruprick, you need to do a LOT more research before making this decision to move. Hana is very small and very isolated, and there is no "south highway" (it's a very treacherous rural road). Nor are there really "bigger cities". This is a major decision to move your family and kids to this very remote area of a little teeny rock in the middle of the ocean. I strongly suggest that you visit first before making this life-changing decision.

You're right, I should totally fly there next month and painstakingly research the lifestyle change for me & my family. Oh wait, I'm already doing that. As for the "south highway" sorry for the semantics, but a previous thread seemed to indicate that driving the south road was a real option for people wanting to avoid the tourists. (https://www.city-data.com/forum/maui/...d-volcano.html)

I understand the skepticism and reluctance to offer optimistic or even realistic advice to those of us posting on this board. But some of us have done our research, are flying out to spend time in the area, don't have aloha stars in our eyes, but just want to make the right decision for our potential move.

[hothulamaui]

the "other road" is very narrow and fairly dangerous, very costly for a tow truck driver to come if you have an accident or break down. it just isn't a feasible option. good luck.

[ruprick]

Originally Posted by hothulamaui

the "other road" is very narrow and fairly dangerous, very costly for a tow truck driver to come if you have an accident or break down. it just isn't a feasible option. good luck.

Cool. South road ruled out.

[MauiPartTimer]

It sounds like maybe you've never been there and you didn't say where you live no, but it's hard to really overstate how remote Hana is. We own a place on the island and will eventually live there full time, but Hana, lovely as it s, would be a HUGE life-style adjustment that I don't think my wife and I would have an easy time with.