Aloha!
I've lurked here for a while, have appreciated all the tips and experiences. We have visited BI five times now and know we've barely scratched the surface. We want more.
My husband's employer finally agreed that he can work from anywhere - so of course we are looking at Hawaii. We've stayed in Kailua-Kona, merely touched base in Hilo and we enjoy Kohala, but for more time would prefer to be able to offer time to the island and the people. How do I coordinate this? Where is the best area for either offering kokua and/or learning more about the culture? Waimea or Hilo? Kailua Kona or ? I've looked around and found lots of potential places, Hawi is lovely and yet uncertain of options for my time.

Before John hits me with real estate tips (have learned a lot from you TT via years on another forum) - renting is our only option at this point - we are up for almost any area.
It's time to get this party started so that we can sing along with John Keawe "Hawaii Island is my Home" - and yes we do know better than to think we can plop down and just join hands and sing Koombaya.

I think you can find opportunities to volunteer anywhere. What are your areas of expertise and interest?

Good question Haoleboy - guess my best answer is that I'm a not quite 'Jill of all trades', but I have plenty background in office - I can paint, pull weeds, donate time at Food Bank - looking for a good need that I can fill. Can't do heavy physical stuff, but have lots of time and experience working with people in various settings. I can dig around, but thought some of you might have a notion.
In my spare time it's music and a very clumsy attempt to learn the language.

I remember you on that "other" forum! Don't worry, I wouldn't hit you with real estate advice, I never do. I only answer questions on this forum, I don't use it for marketing. I think the most local experience would be in Hamakua, Hilo and Puna. I'd recommend to check out all three before putting down a security deposit on any rentals though.

Yes, we have those areas prime on my search function currently - Pahoa, Leilani Estates, and north of Hilo - but we will begin with short term rental, test the waters - it makes sense for us and then we can determine longer term.

Leilani estates is the nicest subdivision in Puna. I have built several homes there during the real estate boom, I own a house there and I also own an acre of vacant land. I have a very informative file on LE, I put it together a couple of years ago, e-mail me privately and I will send it you.

I would suggest checking out http://hamakuatimes.com/ for volunteering opportunities in my area. It's a free rag, and they do a pretty good job of posting what's happening locally.

Too bad the editor seems to be stuck in Berkley 1967.

Thanks for tossing a few more stepping stones into the path - one link leads to another. Much appreciated.

Preserve Hawaii regularly posts about volunteer opportunities on all of the Hawaiian Islands...everything from data entry to beach clean-ups. I'm also very interested in contributing my time and energy since I won't be working and my husband will be working from home. I volunteer now, but with babies or pets typically, it will be a nice change when we move to Kona to do some other things.

http://preservehawaii.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Preserve- ... 4134395431

Honu0612, mahalo - there is certainly no shortage of need and that link is great. I'm trying to figure out the where we want to be with the where can I do something useful. At the moment I'm more than a little overwhelmed.
You must be bouncing off the walls right now in anticipation!

I think with the need being pretty much everywhere you really need to try and figure out where you'd like to live. We've been to the BI 3x and love Kona, that's why we picked it. The folks here have great info about the different areas of the island to help you all decide. And of course you could always rent and try to figure it out once you move.

And yes we're super excited with anticipation of moving...just 18 more days!

We miss the BI!!!

Your boss does'nt give you vacation time to visit Big Island?

[quote="Kona Dave"]We miss the BI!!! [/quote]

Yes I get vacation but my wife has been unemployed since April and we do not have the money. Then when she goes back to work it takes almost a year for us to catch up financially. Then my wife gets laid off again. She works for a non profit organization that seems to run out of money around April every year and she gets hired back in October when their big grant comes through.

Then tax time comes and we have to deal with the tax implications of taking unemployment without withholding taxes being taken out. That is a big hit and that is a set back financially.

Its hard to pay the mortgage under these conditions.

On a good note my wife landed a temporary job working at a local hospital. Hopefully it will last or they will hire her permanently. Then we can get back financially and start our annual trips back to the BI.