Intentional community on Maui

Hello everyone, I am new on here, I have been farming since I was a kid on my grandfathers farm and a licensed builder for many decades. My wife and I had a place on Maui for many years until for family reasons we had to leave. We bought a few acres on the Big Island to retire too but unfortunately breast cancer ruined that plan. And now the fact is I don't want to go there without her, but it's time to start a new chapter. Maui is the only place in this whole world I have visited that I felt at home (and I have been all over) but it is so expensive property wise that its not really an option for most. I did some exploring and found a 360 acre patch of land that has been for sale for a few years and I recognized it as a place I had looked at quite a few years before when it was for sale previous. It is in upcountry near Kula and I was thinking if enough people were to get together we could purchase it as a group and subdivide it into individual parcels it would come out to approximately $19,000 per acre including costs associated with the purchase. It is farmable land at a good elevation with a great tourist economy to sell whatever you grow or make to. My wife did not like this idea when I broached it to her before her death but that was because in her view there were just to much of a chance no-one would see the opportunity. I am including some info on it, its fertile land, out of the path of tourists but close enough to them, the islanders are very nice, grow coffee, chocolate, fruits, animals etc. But I feel I need to put it out there.

James Berry wrote:Hello everyone, I am new on here, I have been farming since I was a kid on my grandfathers farm and a licensed builder for many decades. My wife and I had a place on Maui for many years until for family reasons we had to leave. We bought a few acres on the Big Island to retire too but unfortunately breast cancer ruined that plan. And now the fact is I don't want to go there without her, but it's time to start a new chapter. Maui is the only place in this whole world I have visited that I felt at home (and I have been all over) but it is so expensive property wise that its not really an option for most. I did some exploring and found a 360 acre patch of land that has been for sale for a few years and I recognized it as a place I had looked at quite a few years before when it was for sale previous. It is in upcountry near Kula and I was thinking if enough people were to get together we could purchase it as a group and subdivide it into individual parcels it would come out to approximately $19,000 per acre including costs associated with the purchase. It is farmable land at a good elevation with a great tourist economy to sell whatever you grow or make to. My wife did not like this idea when I broached it to her before her death but that was because in her view there were just to much of a chance no-one would see the opportunity. I am including some info on it, its fertile land, out of the path of tourists but close enough to them, the islanders are very nice, grow coffee, chocolate, fruits, animals etc. But I feel I need to put it out there.

I'm interested and I can build affordable structures which are perfect for that climate (termite proof!).
I got married on Maui and have been there several times. Kula was really nice.

Dave, thank you for saying something!! I was hoping someone else would show an interest. I know it’s tricky putting this out there without already owning the land, i was looking at various corporations that could be utilized for such a mass purchase in order to protect all of the investors and then dissolved after the land was subdivided. I think it would be awesome if we were to find enough people to accomplish this. A lot of people don’t think out of the box i.e: out of the Continental US when they think of these opportunities

James Berry wrote:Dave, thank you for saying something!! I was hoping someone else would show an interest. I know it’s tricky putting this out there without already owning the land, i was looking at various corporations that could be utilized for such a mass purchase in order to protect all of the investors and then dissolved after the land was subdivided. I think it would be awesome if we were to find enough people to accomplish this. A lot of people don’t think out of the box i.e: out of the Continental US when they think of these opportunities

I've been looking at Puna on the big island because its so much cheaper and they allow a lot more freedom there with regards to construction, but anywhere rural on the islands would probably work. I love Maui and I could keep really busy there but I would need to because the cost of living is higher.

Building affordable housing and food systems is not hard once you're outside the box they love to keep most of us in.

I have lived in Haik’u on Maui, outside of pahoa on hilo side of the big island and have a place in ocean view closer to Kona side. I don’t know if you have ever gotten deep into puna, but if not born and raised there let’s just say there is not a lot of aloha for outsiders. Honestly, the cost of land is less expensive on the big island I agree but the quality of the land available is questionable, Kona side all lava and it’s a hardscrabble existence trying to grow, Hilo side most plots larger than I acres are gone and the land available are called spaghetti lots as they are usually around 70’ wide by 300’ deep.
This is why I prefer Maui and making a large purchase and dividing it up. Less hardcore on Maui, more fertile land available, more services and people willing to help, and honestly it does not cost a lot more to live on Maui than other places unless you want to buy at the stores instead of living off of the land, plenty of wild chickens and eggs, plenty of boar, plenty of fruit, waters are more stable for fishing, share a cow if you want etc.

What is the topography like along with water resources?
How was the land used previously?
Are there any restrictions on how we use the land?
Any chem trails in the sky above?
I am sure that I will have more questions as they come to mind?
John

The land is rolling, never been used before except for maybe grazing, should be minimal restrictions as it’s agg land, chem trails in the sky? If you are referring to a condensation trail from jets then yes, it’s how people get to any airport they are all over the place in the world, if you are a believer in a Chem trail conspiracy theory i would appreciate you not joining in with us if it goes further. I am hoping to build a community where we are all level headed people working toward a cohesive goal of a functioning community where we are living with the natural resources like wind and solar for power and we  help each other i am not really down with conspiracy theorists it usually just ends badly when someone spouts off something with no reality in the world and others call them an idiot, it just does not make for good neighbors

Aloha James,

You ve posted a great idea. It is challenging to buy something on Maui these days... But things do happen. Being creative is key!

Lets connect and talk it over. Jakkevaneyck@gmail.com

May there be enough people to join!