The journal
Notes for Big Island buyers.
Practical, unvarnished guidance from Donna Bowles on buying land and building a life in Hawaiian Paradise Park, the Puna district, and across the Big Island. New posts land as questions from real buyers do.
November 6, 2026 · Island living · 4 min read
Kona, Waimea or Puna: finding your place on the Big Island
Sunny coast, rolling ranch country, or rainforest retreat. Donna Bowles compares the island's distinct regions for buyers deciding where to settle.
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November 6, 2026 · Puna life · 4 min read
A day in Puna: markets, bakeries and the coast near Lot 381
From the Maku'u Farmers Market to Tin Shack Bakery and the warm ponds at Pohoiki, here is how a Saturday can unfold on Puna's quiet side.
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November 6, 2026 · Buying land · 5 min read
Buying land in Hawaiian Paradise Park: the basics worth knowing
More than 8,800 lots, a rural Puna address, and a genuinely blank canvas. Here is what buyers should understand about Hawaiian Paradise Park before making an offer.
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