I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Aloha,

My family and I have been visiting Hawaii for over twenty years. We fell in love with the islands and the people when we first visited back in 1989. We have been planning this move for two years now. I thought I would share our journey with all of you. Hopefully this will help some one else with a similair move. We are happy to share what costs are involved and anything else that me be helpful or of interest.

We are moving our business to Kailua Kona which ads more complications to the process. We need to hire three staff members in Kona. We will have two containers with our house and business items as well as two of my cars will be in the containers. I think of Ferris Bueller's day off and don't want anyone driving two of my cars. One has 650 horse power and the other 670. My wife keeps saying, where are you going to drive them? Our other two cars will go in the hull of the ship. Moving your stuff can be costly and we did a lot of research. Our stuff leaves Santa Barbara June 10th. The containers and extra special care for the cars costs over $20,000.

We have one way tickets for June 30th. We are keeping our Santa Barbara house and renting it out. We don't need to sell it and it has been a great investment. This is a little stressful as I have hundreds of plants. I am fine tuning the watering system. This weekend I am installing rain sensors so the system shuts off when it rains. NO MORE GOPHERS! This makes me really happy!

We are going to rent for about six months to make sure we have picked the right area. We want to live above Kona in a town called Holualoa. Compared to Santa Barbara properties are very affordable. We are looking for a home with one to two acres.

Here is the crazy part.... I am importing around 250 plants! I have 220 varieties of bromeliads and then odd ball stuff I wont be able to get there. Some of the other plants are a highly variegated bird of paradise, yellow bird of paradise, several variegated clivias, heliconias and gingers. The improting process is such that one plant to 1000 plants cost $20.00. The plants will need to be inspected here and when I land. The plants are going on the plane in six large containers.

The move is for several reasons. I have four ruptured and four buldging discs in my spine. The weather here in Santa Barbara is cool and damp. This morning it was 46. This sucks! My spine does not like the cold weather. The other reason to move is that many people have dreams and goals but fail to live long enough to enjoy or fullfill them. Life is short and you need to enjoy yourself. Obviously the weather and growing conditions are great in Hawaii.

We are going to Hawaii next weekend to secure the commercial space and housing. I have lots of cool plants in pots that I will try to offer for sale to members at a great price. I just need to find the time.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Sounds pretty cool, I wish you best luck with new residence and ofcourse with plants ;)

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

:08: Hope you have enough room for some 'nanners. :08:

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

I hope you enjoy the Big Island.

I lived there for 14 years.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

enpjoy. hopeyou have a safe move and the weather is good for ya,

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Andrew, Hawaii is a perfect match for you. Enjoy!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Congrats!
Kona is really nice. I was there with CVS/Longs when CVS bought longs for 3 weeks. I really love it there.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Andrew, you could have traded the cars for this and had some fun driving there. ;)

WaterCar Python

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Andrew:

Quite a task moving all those plants. Those "Bros" must be something special to move them. You will find that the east side of the island has nurserymen raising all types of plants and are considerably more reasonable priced than the Kona side.

As far as the King Kong cars, gas is going to set you back a great deal, currently reg is running $4.7 a gallon so I am guessing high test is going be $4.90.

Hope the move goes smoothly for you!

Charlie

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Its so great your doing your dream. Im so happy for you. Yes life is to short do what you want to do now. Have fun and many blessings your way your in my thoughts and prayers.
Greg :03:

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Congratulations and best of luck on the move.
I hear ya on the life is too short and back issues. I moved here at age 36 just a year after my 2nd herniated disc surgery. Have had no significant issues since the move despite building a house and doing lots and lots of gardening in lava. I can literally feel my back tense up as soon as I get off the plane when visiting the mainland. I hope the slower pace of life here gives you the same benefit. Best decision I ever made and hope it is for you and your family too!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Andrew, I once read that moving is one of the most stressful things that we do in our lives; in fact, it may have read that it is the most stressful. But looking forward to living in Hawaii may reduce some of that stress. I hope so.

I wish you the very best and I know that you appreciate that you can make this dream come true.

Do keep us updated and I trust that you will get settled in quickly. I'm excited for you.

Wishing you and the family the very best.

Terry

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

I'd be counting the hours, not days! Glad that your moving to a place you truely love. Gotta live your life the way that you want to and who wouldnt want to live in Hawaii! Sounds like your going to have a beautiful tropical yard there and Im sure you will enjoy the nice and mild climate!
Good idea to put rain sensors in, that will help a lot to keep your plants happy. Im sure you will make a lot of money by renting your house. Santa Barbara is a really great place to vacation so having a house there is a great investment, definitely something you would want to keep!
Looking forward to seeing some pics of your tropical yard in Hawaii!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

:pinkskirtnaner:Congrats!:pinkskirtnaner:

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Aloha! Love the Big Island. Oahu is too crowded!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Best wishes. Bye to the smog, hello to the vog.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Good luck Andrew. I'm massively jealous (of the move, not the bulging discs). I'll be hassling you for more seeds I'm sure :ha: that varigated strelitzia sounds very interesting :ha: seriously, good luck dude.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Don't forget, now, we've got an agreement that you're also looking for a place with a guest cottage! :D

You've done a lot of work planning all of this so I'm sure it will work out smoothly for you. Good luck!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Thanks Rob. I know the warm climate will make my back feel better. I have been in pain for 16 years. I will continue to be in pain but in a better place!

Thank you Terry. I will find you some cool plumerias. Yes it is stressfull. Moving our business adds another elemnet of stress.

I agree that Santa Barbara is a great investment. Owning a home in Hawaii will be as well.

James, if you can tell me how to collect those seeds I will ship them off. It's not flowering yet. It is a beauty!


Aloha Harvey,
Having a guest ohana is second on the list to the garage for the cars :ha:
Yes you will have a place to visit.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Just read this, and wanted to add my (jealous) congrats and best wishes on your move. Lots of photos when you actually do it would be great. Best of luck!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Hope you feel better. Heat and humidity is the best thing for people in general. Having health issues it is even better.

Good luck with the move etc and with the plants. From what little you said you have some interesting things, the birds especially. Don't think I've seen a Yellow Bird before or variegated one either.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

QUOTE=TommyMacLuckie;193445]Hope you feel better. Heat and humidity is the best thing for people in general. Having health issues it is even better.

Good luck with the move etc and with the plants. From what little you said you have some interesting things, the birds especially. Don't think I've seen a Yellow Bird before or variegated one either.[/quote]

52 days and counting and packing and planting and painting and fixing stuff! We leave for Hawaii on Sunday for a week to secure and office for our business, hold staff interviews, secure a home and lots of other things. Here's some photos of some of what i'm importing into Hawaii.
Variegated Heliconias




Variegated bird of paradise found at K-Mart for $16.99


Plumerias




Gingers



Variegated Clivias


Variegated Anthirium
[

And 230 varieties of bromeliads

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

You are going to make the locals jealous! Nice selection of varigates.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Thank you Mitchel. My wife thinks I'm crazy taking all these plants. Hawaii requires that any plants shipped in must be certified and inspected which I totally understand. This means I will be limited to what I can purchase and bring in. So I'm getting mine inspected and taking them along for the ride. Physically on the plane with me on June 30th. Six big rubbermaid containers.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Andrew,

I'm still growing the Dw. Nino for you. Please remind me to send it to you later this month! I just fertilized it again yesterday to try to give it a little boost. The plant you sent me is doing great! It almost has it's second leaf unrolled!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

You have fulfilled what would be my dreams. I wanna move to Hawaii!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Thank you. It has been a goal of ours for a few years. It doesn't seem real yet. We will be in Hawaii next week to wrap up several things. I think when the cars get loaded into the containers with our household items it will be more real.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Take few pictures while you are there and share with us. Must be kiiler place whan U R leaveing all that paradise behind.
Good luck there!
:nanadrink:

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

I was planning on taking pictures and posting them. I am happy to answer any questions related to the move. If it helps someone else that would be great.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

Those plumerias are beautiful! As abundant as they are here on Oahu, they ate still super expensive at nurseries.

I found out that bananas and other tropicals were actually cheaper on the mainland. Mostly because ordering online was so hassle free compared to having to get inspections and certain for everything coming in. Thankfully, most tropicals are so easy to root from cuttings.

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 58 days
 

That's one big reason I am importing so many plants. It's only $20.00 up to 1000 plants. That's cheap!

Re: I'm moving to the Big Island of Hawaii in 28 days
 

Our containers leave June 11th. It's packing mania. We have two containers. Each one holds one car and house and office stuff and two other cars will be on a flat bed down to the ship. Our one way tickets are on June 30th. We were in Hawaii two weeks ago and secured a house, an office for our business and held staff interviews. It was a week of work work work. We got everything done we set out to accomplish.

Today we were at Claire's house as she adopted our chickens. Claire and John (her husband) are the nicest people. They are so warm and welcoming. We spent hours hanging out. Taking our chickens has lifted a huge concern off of us. Her chicken coop is the huge and they love their girls. Claire also sent me home with a few bananas. Claire THANK YOU!!! Your room awaits! Here is a picture of my wife Danielle and my two daughters Haley and Kendall holding their their chickens Momi and Haleakala.