Category: Living in Kamuela (Waimea) Hawaii

General information about living in Waimea and the Big Island generall, especially in the South Kohala and Hamakua Districts

Waimea’s Schools

Posted on by Judy

Waimea’s Schools: What Parents Need to Know

Updated April 2026. Originally published March 2020.

Waimea’s schools are limited — which is not surprising given the town’s population size. Here is an honest overview of what’s available and what to realistically expect.

The Schools

Waimea offers a surprisingly diverse range of school options for a small town:

Note that there is no public high school in Waimea — students in the public system must travel to Honokaa or Konawaena for high school.

Honest Assessment

I know people whose children attended the public schools and went on to become doctors and veterinarians. I know more people whose children attended the private schools and have gone on to professional careers. The education necessary to get into good colleges is available here — but I would not rank Waimea’s schools highly in terms of breadth of educational opportunity.

The private schools send graduates to elite universities, but students may find themselves underprepared for the breadth of coursework they encounter there, where many classmates will have taken AP classes in subjects that simply aren’t offered at smaller schools.

A friend who has taught in Waimea schools for many years offers this useful guidance: children with special needs are generally better served in the public school system. Exceptionally bright or ambitious children will likely need supplemental educational opportunities — tutoring, online courses, or mainland summer programs — to stay engaged and on track, regardless of which school they attend.

The Bigger Picture

Waimea is, as one of my clients recently described it, a “windy, cold, little mountain town.” Many people find it one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Others find it too isolated, too limited, or simply not the right fit. With respect to schools, the word “little” is key — given the pool of potential students to draw from, it should not surprise anyone that resources are limited and even the private schools face constraints in what they can offer.

If schools are a primary consideration in your decision, spend time here first. Talk to parents. Visit the schools. And read my post on What You Need to Know Before Moving to the Big Island for a fuller picture of life in Waimea.

Judy S. Howard, Esq. is a Realtor Broker with COMPASS in Waimea, Hawaii, and a licensed Hawaii attorney with over 30 years of experience. She can be reached at judy@livinginwaimea.com or 808-885-5588.

The Real Pros and Cons of Living on the Big Island

Posted on by Judy

Updated May 2026. Originally published 2019.

People fall in love with the idea of living in Hawaii. The reality is more nuanced — and more interesting. Here is an honest assessment from someone who has lived on the Big Island for most of her life.

The Pros

Water

Long before I became a realtor, I practiced water law in Colorado. I was appalled by how reliant Colorado was on non-tributary aquifers that were being consumed with no plan for what would happen when they ran out. The Big Island’s situation is fundamentally different. Our fresh water aquifers are replenished by plentiful rainfall, filtered naturally through lava before entering the ground. In the wetter parts of the island the aquifers remain full and robust.

That said, water supply is more precarious in the dry, sunny areas that many people move to Hawaii to enjoy. There are limits on how much water can be transferred from wet areas to dry ones, which in turn limits development in those areas. If you’re considering a property in a drier part of the island, understanding the water supply situation is an important part of your due diligence.

Natural Beauty and Climate

We have some of the world’s most beautiful coastlines and beaches, a huge variety of micro-climates, and weather that most mainlanders can only dream about. The Big Island alone contains eleven of the world’s thirteen climate zones — from tropical rainforest to alpine desert. Whatever your preference, there is likely a corner of this island that suits you perfectly.

Food

The local food scene is extraordinary. The Big Island has thriving local food producers — from grass-fed beef to honey, goat cheese, macadamia nuts, coffee, tropical fruits, and some of the most wonderful strawberries and vegetables you will ever taste. If you love fresh, locally grown food, you will be very happy here.

The People

The best thing about the Big Island is the people. We are diverse, and we live on an island. We cannot share this island if we are not respectful of one another — and most people here understand that instinctively. People smile at each other, help each other, and know how to get along with people they may not agree with.

This is not a place for racists, and especially not white nationalists. If you are coming here expecting to find a community of people who look, think, and act like you do, you will be disappointed and unwelcome. If you come with an open heart and genuine respect for others, you will likely find more community and connection here than anywhere you have lived before.

The Cons

Isolation

The Big Island is exactly that — an island. You cannot get in your car and go on a road trip. Your family and friends may not visit as often as you’d like. Travel to and from Hawaii is expensive and time consuming. For people who thrive on spontaneous travel or who have deep roots on the mainland, this isolation can become genuinely wearing over time.

Cost of Living

Everything costs more here, if you can get it at all. Gas is over $6 per gallon. Electricity is equally eye-opening. Hawaii residents pay between 39 and 41 cents per kilowatt-hour — more than twice the national average of about 17 cents. For a typical household using around 500 kilowatt-hours per month, that works out to roughly $200-$215 per month in electric bills. The good news is that rooftop solar pays for itself in 4-6 years at these rates, and Hawaii leads the entire nation in rooftop solar adoption with 43% of single-family homes having panels installed. If you’re building or buying here, solar is worth serious consideration. Groceries, building materials, and everyday goods are significantly more expensive than on the mainland because nearly everything is shipped in. Don’t assume your mainland budget will translate.

Services and Repairs

Getting anything fixed here — an appliance, a car, a roof — is a major undertaking. Replacing broken appliances with anything but the most generic brands and models is time consuming and expensive. The supply chain challenges that the rest of the world discovered during COVID have always been a fact of life here.

Medical Care

Healthcare is a genuine concern. The basics are reasonably well covered, but anything beyond routine care will likely require a trip off island. Primary care physicians are hard to find, specialists are scarce, and the situation has been getting worse rather than better. If you or a family member has complex medical needs, this deserves very careful consideration before you commit to moving here. I discuss this in more detail in my post on What You Need to Know Before Moving to the Big Island.

Schools

The public schools try hard but are under-resourced. The private schools are expensive and, as I discuss in my Waimea Schools post, have their own limitations. This probably isn’t the ideal place for families who want the broadest possible academic opportunities for their children.

Politics

I wish our State and County political leaders were far better at anticipating needs, protecting assets, and ensuring that every resident has a fair opportunity at a good life. They are not. In the meantime, the wonderful, self-reliant people of the Big Island make life work despite their clumsy political representatives — which is itself a testament to the community here.

Is the Big Island Right for You?

If you are reasonably healthy, willing to extend to others the same respect you would like to receive, and love being outdoors, active, and eating great fresh food in a clean and beautiful environment — the Big Island may be exactly right for you.

If you need easy access to specialized medical care, crave urban amenities, or want the widest possible educational options for your children, it may not be the right fit — and it’s better to know that before you move than after.

I’m happy to share more about the realities of life on the Big Island. Just get in touch.

Judy S. Howard, Esq. is a Realtor Broker with COMPASS in Waimea, Hawaii, and a licensed Hawaii attorney . She can be reached at judy@livinginwaimea.com or 808-885-5588.

Hawaii is paradise because of its people and the Hawaiian culture!

Posted on by admin

The Hawaiian People and Their Culture Make Hawaii a Unique Paradise

Updated April 2026. Originally published 2019.

When I wrote this post in 2019, the peaceful gathering at the base of Mauna Kea had just captured the world’s attention. Thousands of kia’i — protectors — stood together to defend a sacred mountain, demonstrating a unity and cultural strength that moved people around the world. In my nearly 60 years on this island, I had never seen anything quite like it.

Seven years later, the TMT controversy continues. No construction has resumed, and management of the mountaintop is being transferred to a new oversight authority that includes representatives of both astronomical observatories and Native Hawaiian communities. The National Science Foundation dropped support for the TMT in June 2025 in favor of a different telescope project in Chile, putting the TMT’s future in serious doubt. The protectors have not wavered, and the legal victories they have won along the way speak to the strength and resilience of a people who know their rights and their history. Civil Beat

What the Mauna Kea movement showed the world — and reminded those of us who live here — is something that has always been true: the Hawaiian people and their culture are extraordinary.

A Culture That Has Endured

In the past, aspects of Hawaiian culture were commercialized and trivialized. The result was a distorted image of Hawaii that did a disservice to the people, the land, and the history. The Mauna Kea movement helped set the record straight for a global audience.

This is not a theme park. This is a place of extraordinary natural bounty and deep cultural significance. The land, the people, and the culture here deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.

The fact that the Hawaiian people thrived on these islands for centuries — managing complex agricultural systems, navigating vast stretches of open ocean, developing a rich oral tradition, language, and spiritual practice — speaks to remarkable ingenuity and adaptability. The fact that their language was banned in the late 1800s and is now not only surviving but thriving, taught in immersion schools and spoken by a new generation, speaks to a resilience that is genuinely inspiring. It is also worth acknowledging, particularly for those considering making Hawaii their home, that Hawaii’s inclusion in the United States was the result of an unlawful overthrow of a legitimate government in 1893 — driven by greed and racism dressed up as sanctimonious good intentions. This history matters. The strength and resilience of the Hawaiian people today is all the more remarkable in light of it.

What This Means for Those Moving Here

If you are considering moving to Hawaii — or even visiting — understanding and respecting the culture is not optional. It is essential.

Come with an open heart and a genuine willingness to learn. Treat the people you meet with kindness and respect, and most will repay you with the aloha these islands are known for. Many people who move here say that while the place is beautiful, it is ultimately the people they fall in love with. I hear this again and again, and I agree.

In Waimea specifically, Hawaiian culture is woven into everyday life — in the Hawaiian language charter school Kanu O Ka Aina, in the work of the Paniolo Preservation Society, in the ranching traditions that stretch back generations. Coming here with curiosity and respect for that history will enrich your experience immeasurably.

A Few Practical Notes

Finding places to stay while you explore has become more challenging since Hawaii County tightened vacation rental regulations, but bed and breakfasts remain available. The State of Hawaii maintains a helpful newcomers guide at ehawaii.gov for those considering a move.

And if you want to understand a little more about what life here is like — the beauty and the challenges — read my post on What You Need to Know Before Moving to the Big Island.

Judy S. Howard, Esq. is a Realtor Broker with COMPASS in Waimea, Hawaii, and a licensed Hawaii attorney with over 30 years of experience. She can be reached at judy@livinginwaimea.com or 808-885-5588.

Bringing your pets

Posted on by Judy
Kate, my kelpie

Bringing your pets with you, whether to live here permanently or on an extended visit, is not simple, but it can be done. I waited about 11 months, spent more money than I ever want to total, and went through quite a bit of work to bring in Kate, who was born in Oklahoma.

I don’t regret a moment of the hassle it required, or the money, but if I hadn’t been set on getting another kelpie, it would have been a foolish thing to do.

Puppies are more challenging to import than adult dogs with a history of rabies vaccinations.

Bringing in an adult pet, up to date on rabies vaccinations, is not too bad. But a puppy has to be 4 months old before it can receive its first shot, and then the shots must be spaced at least a month apart, and the blood for the titer should not be drawn until so many days after the last shot, and on and on it went. (Kate was about 5 weeks old when I bought her.).

I have clients who are flying in with their dog and cat from California in a week. I haven’t discussed the process with them yet, but I gather it has been one of the least challenging aspects of their move, because their pets are adults, and have received rabies shots annually. With a record of rabies shots, few vet visits would be required-perhaps only one to draw blood for the rabies titer, and a second for a certificate of health right before the flight. They also have a shorter trip, which should help. They, like Kate, will fly directly to Kona, where a vet will meet their pets and complete the paperwork necessary for their release to my clients.

Many owners in the Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea Resorts bring their small dogs with them when they come to stay.

Quite a few people who own second homes at the Mauna Lani and Mauna Kea resorts bring their small dogs with them every time they come. Not all condominium projects allow pets, but many do, especially single, small-ish dogs. Once you’ve got the system established, it can be pretty easy to bring along your small dog.

Do it yourself, or hire help?

Because I was relying on Kate’s very kind breeder to do the leg work in Oklahoma, I hired a local pet importation coordinator to make sure all the paperwork was completed properly and on time. I don’t think I would do that again, unless I was very, very busy.

There is no doubt in my mind that going through the process of getting your pets certified as rabies-free is far better than consigning them to quarantine once they arrive here, but it does require checking off a number of boxes. Here is a link to the Hawaii Department of Health, Quarantine Branch, setting out the requirements: http://www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa/ai_aqs_info.htm. It sounds like it has become easier for animal owners to comply with the requirements since I brought in Kate, which is a good thing! http://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/aqs-info/

If you want to wait until you arrive to adopt a pet, there will be many lovely animals in need of a new home.

If you don’t have a pet yet, and are considering a move to Hawaii, there are lots of dogs and cats in need of good homes here. There are humane society shelters in several locations on the Big Island, and I have adopted some wonderful pets (including a very silly lamb) from the Waimea Shelter. The breeding of the dogs may sometimes be a bit questionable, but hybrid vigor is on display, and it’s fun to try to guess the breeds of one of our local dog’s ancestors. If you get really curious, you can submit a swab for DNA analysis.

I brought in Kate specifically to work sheep, but I have two dogs that I took in just because they needed new homes that actually do a much better job with the sheep than Kate is ever likely to. Breed matters, but frequently mutts can be a delightful surprise!

Photo voltaic In Hawaii

Posted on by Judy
Photo Voltaic in Hawaii-no utility lines here!

Photo Voltaic in Hawaii? You have options!

Interested in photo voltaic in Hawaii? Hawaii is well situated for those wishing to turn the sun’s energy into electricity. Even if you chose to live in an area which is frequently cloudy-like my home-you can live a fairly normal life without being tied into the electrical grid. Or, if you live in a spot that is served by HELCO, the electric company, you may be able to tie into the grid. Here’s where to find more information about tying into the grid: https://www.hawaiielectriclight.com/products-and-services/customer-renewable-programs

Living off grid

I have been living off grid for over twenty years. The technology has improved a great deal in that time. I have a basic system, and an excellent photo voltaic technician, and the experience is almost invisible on most days. I don’t use as much power as some other households might consume, and every once in a while I am completely stumped when my system stops working, but I am happy living off grid

There are much fancier systems, in much fancier homes! Some seem as though they would require an electrical engineering degree (or an on-site technician) to keep working properly. I think that in any off-grid home, the occupant must have an interest in at least the general theory of how the various components operate.

Grid tie ins

HELCO has gone through several iterations of its grid-tie in program, with each becoming less generous than the previous one. I recently sold a small house in Luala’i, Waimea, that had 20 photo voltaic panels and a monthly utility bill of $22. That home had the benefit of an older contract with HELCO, and the occupants could use almost any conceivable amount of electricity and still not owe more than the base amount.

At times, HELCO suspends new contracts altogether. This seems silly, since Hawaii has set of goal of 100% clean energy by 2045 http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/

There is a plausible explanation, however. There was such a rush to photo voltaics that the remaining customers were left shouldering too great a share of the overhead costs. I don’t think the utility chose the best solution-discourage photo voltaic-but that is the path they have chosen.

Ready? Not so fast!

Many people dream of building a home in the middle of some gorgeous pasture, with views to the ocean and space to roam. Photo voltaic systems play a part in many of those dreams. Some think they might rent out cottages on the land to generate some additional income. Hawaii has recently clamped down on vacation rentals, see https://livinginwaimea.com/2019/03/30/hawaii-county-restricts-vacation-rentals/

There are also other restrictions on land use in agriculturally zoned areas, see https://livinginwaimea.com/2018/10/12/hawaii-county-agricultural-land-use-restrictions/

Photo voltaic in Hawaii, yes! Maybe with a few more draw backs than you would like, but it is definitely feasible in Hawaii. Generating income from vacation rentals on agricultural land, nope. Building multiple dwellings on agricultural land, almost certainly not. Getting the benefit of the very low assessed value on agricultural lands without actively engaging in an agricultural, probably not for long! The County audits use, and will change your property tax classification if it does not find agricultural use. See https://livinginwaimea.com/2019/03/29/kohala-ranch-property-taxes/