Vehicles

At the end of November last year, I was going into Naalehu one day and the transmission on the Ford Escape gave out.

I was able to get it back to the Holowai property, mainly be coasting down hill.

I only paid $2500 for the Escort three years ago, and I figure that it will cost at least that much to fix the transmission – also the back window is busted, the front suspension needs work, the radio does not work any longer, and because of the busted back window, there is mold covering the ceiling. Yuck!

So, I figure it is time for a different vehicle.

When I returned from the mainland, I rented a vehicle for the first two days, thinking to use it for transportation to drive to Hilo and other places to look at used cars. They gave me a truck!

I searched on line ads and found some vehicles to look at.

I went back to the used car lot in Hilo where I bought the Ford Escort. They had two trucks – a 2004 Chevy Colorado, four door, four wheel drive with 186,000 miles on it for $9800.00 or a 2018 Honda Ridgeline with 196,000 miles on it for $8900.00. Both out of my price range of what I wanted to spend.

They did have a Mazda sedan for $5K that I thought strongly about buying, but I told myself that I needed a truck – something to haul stuff in!

I looked into a Ford Explored in Oceanview ($3500), and a couple of trucks in Mountainview ($6,000 and $5,800). There were even a few other all wheel drive SUV’s in and around Pahoa. There was a 2006 Ford F150 in Hilo for $5,900, but it had 206K miles on it.

Alanah found an ad on-line for a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport with 103K miles from an individual in Kona – he wanted $3900.

So, I drove in to Kona to look at it on the last day I had the rental truck.

I test drove the Explorer Sport and convinced the guy to sell it to me for $3K.

The four wheel drive function does not engage, but I figure that for $3K I have a truck! Even if it is only a two wheel drive truck!

If it lasts for two years, it will be money well spent!

And when it no longer runs, . . .

TTFN

I have Returned – January 2024

After spending the holidays on the mainland, I went through the typical travel exercise and flew to Kona!

After waiting at the gate in Phoenix,

I flew to Las Vegas, where I waited again so that I could fly to Kona. There was snow on the moutain to the west of Las Vegas. This is how I like to experience snow . . . from a distance!

The usual welcoming committee was there at the airport to greet me with a lei.

I don’t think they have aged a bit since I was here last!

I have arrived during a rainy spell. As expected, everything is overgrown

Especially out on Holowai Road in front of the gates.

I brought with me an old electric lawnmower. I took it apart and packed it into one of my checked bags. – Two bags fly free! – Using my generator, I mowed the grass in front of the Holowai property in the rain, on my first full day back.

Everything was much the same as I left them. The yucca type plant I had rescued from the dump didn’t seem to have grown any, but yet it also hadn’t died!

It must have rained quite a bit because the wheelbarrow has quite a bit of water in it! The poincianas in the planter seem to have stopped growing and are losing their leaves.

The tarp I had put up over the car was still hanging in place. That was surprising that it had not been blown down,

The rain has helped my hibiscus, as it is flowering!

The next day, the rain had stopped, so I ventured over to the Ahi property.

It too was overgrown with tall grass.

Using the lawnmower and the generator, I mowed the grass on Ahi Road and in the driveway.

Unfortunately, as I tried to mow more of Ahi Road as it approached my property, the lawnmower quit.

The Ahi lot had lots of tall grass.

On both sides of the driveway, as well as over near the shower.

There were also mushrooms growing on the driveway at Ahi.

I don’t think I’ll try to eat them!

The macademia nut tree in the garden against the front hill is doing well,

As is the breadfruit tree.

The two Norfolk pines at the top of the driveway seem to be surviving.

So, for the next few days, I returned to the tried and true method of cutting the grass by hand.

At least, I trimmed the grass on both sides of the driveway. Now it looks a bit more civilized!

I even cut all the grass at the top of the hill where the lawnmower would not go.

I’ll tackle the rest of the property and the weeds at Holowai later. For now, I have more pressing things to take care of!

TTFN

Holowai House

Footings – November 2023

I am working on footings for a scaled down version of the house. Tried to get a building permit for a 24 x 24 structure with concrete block columns in the corners. It was to be one level, but built 8 feet above ground being supported by these columns.

Hired an architect and an engineer to draw the plans. Plans rejected by the County of Hawaii Building and Planning Department many times. If you ever come to visit, I could tell you all about it!

My neighbor at Ahi hired a guy to build a 24 x 40 “agricultural building”. No permits required! No inspections! Contains a kitchen and a bathroom. No septic system!

The neighbor on the other side has two 2 story houses on his lot and both use an unpermitted open cesspool! No permits!

So, I am building a 16 x 26 “agricultural building”!

First corner footing poured.

I have set up my concrete mixer powered by my generator next to the pile of gravel/sand I separated from the load of 2 1/2″ minus when I was here last time.

I haul water in the back of my car in order to mix the concrete.

Forms set up for second footing, with rebar in the forms.

Second corner footing poured.

The structure will have four foot of block walls in each corner going both ways. Then in the middle on the long sides, there will be two 16″ square columns.

Two footings are now poured.

Forms for third footing are being set up.

Even though it rains once in a while, I still need to continue. So I have set up a tarp over my mixing station.

I am still being visited by the different birds.

I will get the four corners poured, along with the footings for the columns on each of the long sides. Then I will need to address the solid rock in the middle of the structure!

I have installed some rebar in the third corner footing, as well as the footing for the intermediary columns on the long side of the structure.

Rebar in the fourth corner footing

One of my neighbors over on Ahi Road has set up his Thanksgiving decorations!

Third and fourth corner footings poured.

All four corner footings poured, as well as the footings for the middle columns along each long side!

Next step was to strip the forms.

Meanwhile, I keep feeding the birds,

who come to the feeder even when it rains. Thus the little roof over the top of the feeder!

It is time for me to return to the mainland for the holidays.

TTFN

Gazebo floor

Ahi lot – November, 2023

After spending three weeks on the mainland doing chores (like removing all the shingles from the roof of the house and replacing them with new) I returned to the Big Island at the end of October.

I pick up where I left off when I was here before in pouring the floor of the Gazebo at the Ahi lot.

Working on the floor in the gazebo at Ahi. I can pour eight squares each day.

Then the next day, adjust the forms so I can pour another eight.

The last four squares.

This is my major accomplishment each day.

But hey, . . .I’m supposed to be retired!

TTFN

October 5, 2023

Thursday

I left Kona and the Big Island behind and flew to Honolulu on Oahu.

We flew past Haleakala on Maui

Then we passed Kahoolawe

as well as Lanai and Molokai

Then we approached Oahu

flying past Ewa Beach.

Then circled back, to land at Honolulu.

Alanah had come from Arizona and we spent the next four days in Honolulu.

We went to Ala Moana Park and mingled with the banyan trees

and spent time just sitting on the beach.

We saw a bit of sunset

and built some sand sculptures.

It was a relaxing four days before returning to Arizona.

TTFN

October 3, 2023

Tuesday

I have rebuilt my little table. It used to have three legs made out of pipe. The neighbor’s cats would jump up on it and knock it over. I have added a stiffer frame around the top as well as four wooden legs and a bottom shelf.

Just in time for me to leave and go back to the mainland on Thursday.

Tomorrow I will start the process of putting things away and getting the place ready for me to leave.

I did my laundry and hung it up under the kitchen gazebo.

I will put away all my tools, tie a tarp over the chipper, clear out the refrigerator, and then in the evening I will take down the solar panels so they do not blow off when I am not here! Thursday morning I will disconnect the batteries and wipe out the refrigerator.

TTFN

October 2, 2023

Monday

At the trash transfer station, they have a thrift store. Salvageable items arer gathered from the stuff left at the transfer station, and people drop off items here instead of the transfer station. Then they resell them. They have quite a selection of books – all free – at no charge – take all you want! So, I do!

My pile of sand/gravel (2 1/2 inch minus) has been moved from the roadway in front of the gates!

Birds come not only to the feeder, but also to the makeshift fountain that I have set up!

After backing into a tree, I have replaced the back window of the Ford Escape with a piece of metal roofing. While not exactly waterproof, at least it will keep out the neighbor’s cats!

TTFN

October 1, 2023

Sunday

I will be leaving for Arizona on the fifth, so I am trying to wrap things up here.

Even with the planning and strategizing about what needs to be done, I still find time to feed and watch the birds.

A different type of bird has come down to the feeder. 

These little birds are colorful, alittle larger than the red crested cardinals, and
I get the feeling that their temperament is calmer. I do not know what kind of bird these are. I have seen them in the trees above the lanai.

At least, they have a calming effect on the others. The red crested cardinals with the darker red heads do not seem to be as interested in chasing others away.

I still continue to move the sand and gravel from the roadway, separating and sifting it as I do so.

TTFN

September 30, 2023

Saturday

I have been remiss in writing in my journal on a daily basis. I’ll try to catch up.

These are the highlights of the past few days:

I have been able to pick quite A few guavas. Either this is not the best time of year, or I need to fertilize the trees, or maybe they just need more water than they have been getting, but they don’t seem to taste as good as before. But they are still good, and I do enjoy them.

I have been concentrating on moving this pile of sand/gravel (2 1/2″minus) from the roadway. I will be going back to Arizona in about a week and I don’t want to leave it out here.

I have been separating it by size. I have tried to put the smaller rock and sand in a pile at the first bend in the driveway. I will use this material later to create concrete.

The larger rock has been put into a pile at the end of the driveway. I will use this to fill in around my foundation and to build a building pad. Maybe I’ll just use it to spread out in the driveway. Who knows what the future holds.

I,ve also been continuing on with the squares in the floor of the gazebo at Ahi.

The stairs in the yard at Holowai have been really great! But, they need to be longer. I have poured another step at the bottom.

At the top of the stairs, it is kind of rough, so I have started to extend the steps upwards a couple of steps.

I even took some time out to wash a few clothes and hang them out to dry.

wnwh

This will make it easier to go up and down – especially at night.

TTFN

September 22, 2023

Friday

I formed and poured the third step at the entry to the shower at Ahi.

I also poured 8 more squares in the gazebo floor – 4 in row 2, and 4 in row 4. This finishes rows 2 and 4, along with rows1, 3, and 5 finished the other day. Only about a dozen more rows to go!

I planted the yucca that I rescued from the transfer station.

It has been sitting in a wheelbarrow of water. I figured it needed to be in dirt. I had this old trash can with a hige split down the side. I cut it in half and wired it together to close the split.

My poincianna seeds that I planted the other day have sprouted. I had planted about a dozen in this wooden planter, and it looks like two of them have sprouted.

TTFN