Ready to enjoy a Hilo bay view

Many people who vacation on the Big Island of Hawaii leave with dreams of living next to the ocean or in a home on the beach. Choosing such a location for your Hawaii home can be an extraordinary adventure. The Kona Coast? North Kohala? East Hawaii? Puna?

Once you’ve found your perfect home you’ll be spending your days enjoying beautiful Pacific Ocean views and an endless horizon, relaxing in cooling breezes coming off the water or ending the day with a mai tai on your lanai – oceanfront living makes all these experiences possible.

View available Big Island oceanfront condos, homes and land for sale

There are also some unique challenges that come with owning an oceanfront home. Before making the decision to purchase that beachfront property, future Hawaii home owners will need to factor in the additional maintenance and expense of oceanfront home ownership. After living in a beachfront home in Hilo for almost three years, these are a few lessons I’ve learned:

Salt Spray and Metal – There’s a Shelf Life

The number one issue for the oceanfront homeowner is dealing with the everyday reality of salt spray. Salt does a real job on anything metal. A metal shovel or wheelbarrow stored outside will last about one year at an oceanfront home. Same with an outdoor BBQ grill. Whenever possible, construction materials need to be selected with the corrosive effects of salt spray in mind. Lanais, for example, last longer when built using coated screws, or, preferably, the more expensive stainless steel screws. Attention (and annual rust-proofing) needs to be given to propane tanks, post and pier mounts and other outdoor brackets.

Electronics – To Warranty or Not to Warranty?

Computers, televisions and sound systems will need repair or replacement frequently if extreme care is not provided. We have learned that it is better to not turn off a personal computer when it is not in use — the heat generated while it is running helps prevent moisture accumulation and damage from salt build-up.

Extended warranty plans are a must, in my opinion. Buying a $40 two-year protection plan may save $300-$400 on repairs to an outside grill (as we discovered after about one year from the purchase of our grill, which we kept covered when not in use). It is also important to check the fine print in buying an add-on warranty, because some specifically exclude their applicability if used at an ocean side location.

Doors and Windows – Someone Has to Do It!

Salt spray is also an issue with sliding doors and, of course, makes keeping windows clean a challenge. You may have chosen a beachfront site for the ocean view, but to maintain that from inside your home you’ll need to plan for frequent window and screen cleanings. We’ve discovered that plastic outdoor furniture is also definitely the way to go.

Impact on Costs

It is probably safe to say that if you do not live in a location where salt water is a factor for you, your maintenance budget for a beachfront property will probably need to be doubled and your repair budget might need to be 2.5 to three times what it is currently.  However, if your property taxes will decrease with your move to Hawaii, the budget conscious buyer may find that this helps offset some of the added maintenance costs.

A stunning Hilo sunrise

But Is It Worth It?

Some former oceanfront property owners like to paraphrase the old joke originally applied to buying a sail boat — the two happiest days of their lives were the day they bought their ocean side house and the day they sold it.

However, from my perspective, as one who lives on the ocean, the advantages far outweigh the negatives. Spectacular sunrises or sunsets and the lulling sounds of the surf at night can and do vastly over compensate for the difficulties that go along with such a lifestyle choice. Looking up from reading a book to watch humpback whales at play or see a passing cruise ship disappearing in the distance, those are the priceless moments that oceanfront living afford.

If I can assist you in your search for an oceanfront Big Island property, please contact me. I’ll share a few maintenance tips with you as we tour the homes for sale on the ocean – our list of tips and tricks is getting longer each month!

Kona Coffee Festival

The 40th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is happening this week in West Hawaii. The video above, featuring Norman Sakata (Festival President/Chair), captures some of the events of the first days of this year’s festival, including the International Lantern Parade and the Miss Kona Coffee Scholarship Pageant.

Yesterday, the winner of the Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition was announced. From a field of 60 entrants, Buddha’s Cup Kona Coffee took the first place award. The winning coffee is grown on a farm in Holualoa, approximately 2200 feet above Kona.

To see what other events are scheduled in Kona for this week, visit www.konacoffeefest.com

Kona Coffee Council

L to R: Donna Wooley, KCC Chair, Nancy and Duke Albright

I had an opportunity last night to attend the Kona Coffee Council’s annual Dinner and Benefit Auction at the Keauhou Beach Resort. Besides having a delicious buffet dinner, I was also able to talk with some of the “insiders” in the world of Kona coffee. The Kona Coffee Council is dedicated to the protection and promotion of 100% Kona coffee and is actively involved in advocating for legislation to protect the Kona coffee name.

You can read more about the history of Kona coffee, from the introduction of coffee in the 1820′s to the current lease arrangements many farmers have with Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate charitable land trust, or, if you are interested in learning more about moving to Holualoa or living in Kona’s coffee belt, please contact me.

Lori Trumbo has been a licensed Realtor since 1974. She has worked in East Hawaii, California and is now living in Kailua-Kona and working with Clark Realty’s Keauhou office.

Shipping Your Horse To (or From, or Within) Hawaii

Maybe you are planning to move your family, horses included, to Hawaii from the mainland.

Or, your daughter’s horse has qualified for the nationals in barrel racing or western pleasure, and that means a trip to the mainland…for the horse as well as the daughter.

Or, maybe you just want to take your nice Kauai-bred Quarter Horse over to the Big Island and show those folks how a really good cutting horse works a cow.

Regardless of whether you’re going off island or out of state, you’re going to have to do more than just load old Blaze into a trailer and head off down the road.  Readers often call to see if we have information on horse transportation … so, here it is.

To/From Hawaii:  Sail or Fly?

The joys of living in paradise include the headaches of transporting horses over the ocean.  If you’re moving a horse into or out of the state, he’ll have to go by plane or boat.

The boat option means Matson Navigation, which has regularly scheduled livestock transportation between Honolulu and Oakland, and Honolulu and Long Beach, CA.  The trip usually takes six days on the water.

To book passage on a Matson livestock ship, you’ll need to work with a shipping agent.  Matson’s customer service folks can provide you with a list of shippers.  (Contact Matson customer service 866-662-4826 x5046.)

Matson provides trained livestock handlers who accompany each shipment of animals; owners aren’t allowed to travel with their horses.  The cost will vary depending on where, who, when and how many horses you are shipping, but you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $1,400 per horse.

To fly your horse to or from Hawaii, you can use either Pacific Airlift or a livestock shipping agent such as Air Equine.  Pacific Airlift flies horses twice each month–once westbound and once eastbound–between Los Angeles and Honolulu.

Air Equine works as a shipping agent, arranging passage between Los Angeles and two destinations in Hawaii, Honolulu and Hilo, on scheduled FedEx cargo flights.  They also use KLM and CargoLux for international flights.

Pacific Airlift employs a veterinarian to fly with the horses; Air Equine sends two professional grooms with each shipment of horses.  Both companies ship horses in specially made shipping stalls that accommodate three average-sized horses or two large horses.

Flying a horse from LA to Honolulu costs about $3,500.  That’s considerably more than ocean transport, but for many owners the lowered stress for the horses and the time savings are worth it.

“For a horse, flying to Hawaii is just like traveling in a three-horse trailer for six or seven hours,” says AirEquine’s customer service agent Maelani Worboys.

Hawaii Department of Agriculture requirements must be met regardless of how a horse arrives in Hawaii.  Shipping agents will make sure the arriving horses are presented for DOA inspection upon arrival in Hawaii, but it’s the owner’s responsibility to ensure the horses have the proper vaccinations, treatment for parasites, a negative equine infectious anemia certificate (Coggins test) and veterinary health certificate before transport.

Contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture or visit the DOA website for more information.  The Pacific Airlift website also has a summary of these requirements.

From Island to Island

Young Brothers ships horses to all islands, but not to all ports. (Horses can’t be barged into Hilo, for example.)  Ports for livestock delivery include Nawiliwili on Kauai, Kahului on Maui, Kaunakakai on Molakai and Kaumalapau on Lanai, Kawaihae on the Big Island and Honolulu on Oahu.  You must provide your own shipping container (a van, trailer-and-truck rig, or trailer that can be lashed down; or a specially built, palletized horse stall that can be moved around the docks by forklift.)  The container has to keep manure and urine from escaping, and has to include some method of providing drinking water.

Prices vary depending on the length, weight and height of the load.  On the Young Brothers website, look for page 56 in the Tariffs document, which contains information about shipping and cargo restrictions.

Paperwork for inter-island transport. Transporting horses by barge or ferry requires a Certificate of Livestock Ownership/Movement (form DC-44), obtained from the Department of Agriculture, and a bill of lading obtained from Young Brothers.

The Young Brothers website explains how to ship goods and crate a bill of lading, but there’s not much there about livestock.  Call their customer service number, 808-543-9311, for more information.

You can manage this all by yourself, but unless you move horses from island to island frequently, you’ll probably want to hire someone to do it for you.

Interisland shippers will handle the transport details, pick up horses from the DOA quarantine station if they’re coming from out of state, provide feed and the trailer or shipping stall, and make sure your horse loads safely and has water for the journey.  Two well-known interisland shippers are Kea Among (808-221-5449) and Ralph Fukishima (808-372-9633), both based on Oahu.

Charters and Special Deals

If several people who want to transport horses to a major event on another island, they may be able to charter a barge.  Rodeo competitors on Maui and the Big Island occasionally do this.

And, Rope Maui offers rebates on inter-island shipping for Rope Maui competitions and U.S. Team Roping Championship (USTRC) events in Hawaii.  Off-island ropers receive a $100 per horse rebate towards inter-island shipping to Maui for Rope Maui URP events and Rope Maui USTRC events.  Maui ropers traveling to other islands also receive a $100 per horse rebate towards inter-island shipping to any state-wide USTRC events.  Check the Rope Maui website for more information.

Use a Checklist

Regardless of how and where you’re transporting your horses, you’ll need to do your homework to ensure a smooth, trouble-free experience.

• What kind of insurance do you need?  Does the carrier provide insurance, or are you required to purchase mortality or some other type of insurance?
• What paperwork do you need? Health certificate and recent Coggins, Certificate of Ownership/Movement, bill of lading, anything else?
• Plan any scheduled health checks, tests or treatments well in advance, and be sure to follow the timetable.
• If you’re not accompanying your horse on the same flight or boat trip, ask about care.  Who feeds, and how often?  How is water provided?  When is the stall cleaned?  What happens if the horse colics or goes down or there’s some other emergency?
• Who handles the paperwork and the inspection destination?  When can you pick up your horse?
• If weather conditions aren’t safe, what happens?
• What should your horse wear? A light sheet, protective boots, head protector, sturdy halter with unbreakable lead-rope?
• Will your horse need an over-sized stall or special handling?

And, most important:

• Have you taught your horse to load easily and travel well, before you hand him over to a shipper?

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Learn more about Sarah Blanchard at www.tactfultraining.com

The entire newsletter in which this article first appeared can be downloaded as a PDF.