Survive a tropical storm or hurricane with an off-grid home on Maui - and come out smiling.
Disclaimer - it's not about building materials, but more about lifestyle.
During this past Hurricane Lane event that happened in Hawaii in August, it was a good feeling knowing we were completely prepared in so many ways. Strong winds knocked down trees, which knocked down power lines, causing loss of electricity for thousands of homes. In at least one location a water line was busted when the roadway collapsed, resulting in no water service to a number of homes in Haiku. Power and water loss are serious concerns for homeowners if they extend beyond a day or two.
Living off the grid means you provide your own source of power and water, which frees you from the inconvenience of going without when the public service goes down. How does that work?
- Your own power source: Photo-voltaic solar panels harness the power of the sun and that energy gets stored in batteries on your property. Special equipment like an inverter and a charge controller will convert the power from the batteries and run it through the household system like it's coming from a normal utility provider. It's a closed system that's all contained at your house or garage, and not connected to any other source of power or other homes... completely independent and you're in control. You can be mindful of the input and the output and learn to live with a natural cycle of the sun, by using power during the daytime when the sun is shining, and avoiding any heavy usage after dark. It makes you appreciate the electricity in your home, and not take it for granted. When you have no loss of power, you can stock up a freezer with enough food for months. The food in your fridge won't spoil. Stay tuned in on TV and radio about what's happening in the area.
- Your own water source: A couple of options are either a well, or rain water harvesting. A holding tank, or catchment tank, will store the water from either source, and a pump will deliver the water to your house, just like the public utility. You can control the water pressure, and you can control what additives are put into your water. You can decide how much storage you need or want and build accordingly. Again, this is a closed and independent system, that will stand up against most weather events. No need to fill up a bathtub with water when there's a storm on the horizon. Thousands of gallons of water will be right there when you need it. A redundant system with multiple tanks and pumps is even better, for those occasions when one tank is not enough. Read about the benefits of a water catchment system on Maui.
- Your own food source: Being off the grid is a lifestyle that appeals to farmers too. When you're out in the country you don't want to drive to town every day, so you add some fruit trees and gardens to your landscape. Maybe you'll have backyard chickens too. It's all part of being independent and living a healthy active life, in tune with nature. Knowing what you're eating is becoming more important. Growing at home means your food is fresher and healthier and you don't have to drive anywhere to get it. With many perennial crops and trees, there will always be food on the table on short notice. We can always eat coconuts, right!? Again, you embrace the natural cyle and eat what's in season instead of food that's been shipped around the world. Leave a smaller footprint.
Leave your footprints here at 707 Puniawa Rd - Haiku Maui HI - off grid living in style
In Haiku Maui there are some communities where county services just don't reach, and homeowners have learned to provide for themselves. I am not talking about only the simple shacks in the jungle either, but some very high-end homes and estates. Being self sufficient and independent is a way of life for many homeowners.
These amazing Haiku off-grid homes for sale showcase what self sustainability is all about. These are all multi-million dollar homes and estates!
The gardens at 707 Puniawa Rd, Haiku HI
- 707 Puniawa Rd - 9.6 acres with house and cottage, caretakers quarters, 2 swimming pools
- 700 Hoolawa Rd - 12.5 oceanfront acres with house and cottage, huge barn and cabins
- 624 Huelo Rd - Balinese style home on 1 acre overlooking ocean cliffs and coastline
- 525 N. Honokala Rd - 3 acres with house and cottage, workshop and pottery studio
460 Hoolawa Rd - oceanfront building lot of 2 acres
What about building your own dream home in Haiku? Check out these vacant lots for sale that are also off the grid:
- 460 Hoolawa Rd - 2 oceanfront acres towering above the crashing waves, ready to build
- 400 N. Honokala Stream Rd - 3.6 acres of old Hawaii with rock walls and taro paddies
- 549 Burns Rd - low priced .7 acres in a new small subdivision out in the country
Not all of these are my own listings, but I am familiar with them since it's my neighborhood and I work with many buyers and sellers for off-grid properties. You will be in good hands with me representing you.
Thanks for reading my Maui blog...
Buying or selling real estate on Maui? That's what I do. Let me help YOU.
Georgie Hunter R(S) e-Pro, Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers
127 Hana Hwy. #G, Paia HI 96779
E-mail or call/text: 808 283-0635
Comments(3)