Helpful Local Links
County and State Agencies
These are the folks you’ll end up calling, emailing, or digging through PDF archives to understand zoning, taxes, permits, and more.
- Hawaii County Planning Department
Zoning rules, building permits, short-term rental laws
https://www.planning.hawaiicounty.gov - Hawaii County Real Property Tax Office
Property taxes, exemptions for homeowners, kūpuna, and ag use
https://www.hawaiipropertytax.com - State Land Use Commission
Crucial for understanding whether your land is Ag, Urban, or Conservation
https://luc.hawaii.gov - Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Grants, inspections, and ag land resources
https://hdoa.hawaii.gov - Hawaii Dept. of Health – Wastewater Branch
Septic permits, cesspool transition info
https://health.hawaii.gov/wastewater
- Hawaii County Planning Department
Where to stay when visiting or house hunting?
There aren’t many hotels on the east side, but you can always stay at our AirBnb:
- Hosted 1 Bedroom “Sunrise Suite” in Hilo
Meet the author and his wife and enjoy the comfortable Waiakea Uka - https://airbnb.com/h/hilosunrisesuite
- Grand Naniloa Hotel
Only major chain hotel in Hilo, a Hilton. Where we stayed when house hunting. - https://www.grandnaniloahilo.com/
- Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Only other large hotel. Better restaurant than Hilton. - https://www.hilohawaiian.com/
Cultural Learning and Respectful Presence
You don’t have to be Hawaiian to honor Hawaiian values—but you do need to learn. Start here.
- ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Dictionary
Get familiar with the language
https://wehewehe.org - Merrie Monarch Festival
The heart of hula and cultural celebration in Hilo
https://www.merriemonarch.com - Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
Resources on land, culture, and sovereignty
https://www.oha.org
Growing Food, Raising Animals, and Homesteading Support
You don’t need to go it alone. These groups, programs, and websites are gold for getting grounded in the land.
- UH CTAHR (College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources)
Local planting guides, soil testing, pest control
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu - Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)
Learn what to pull, what to protect, and what to plant
https://www.biisc.org - Hawaii Seed Exchange
Community-driven seed swaps and heirloom plant resources
Facebook: Search Hawaii Seed Exchange
Lava Zones, Hazards, and Emergency Planning
These links are essential if you’re buying land, managing risk, or just want to be prepared when nature gets loud.
- Lava Zone Maps (USGS)
Make this part of your pre-purchase checklist
https://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/1992/2193/mf2193.pdf - Hawaii County Civil Defense Alerts
Sign up for SMS/email alerts for weather, eruptions, etc.
https://hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense - Tsunami Evacuation Maps
Know your zone
https://www.hawaiitsunami.org
Living Like a Local: Utilities, Connectivity, Day-to-Day Life
These aren’t flashy resources—but they’ll make a big difference in how smoothly you adjust to life on the Big Island.
- Big Island Craigslist
For rentals, tools, secondhand gear, odd jobs
https://bigisland.craigslist.org - Hawaii Home Grown Food Network
CSAs, markets, and locally grown produce
https://www.hawaiihomegrown.net/ - Hawaiian Telcom Fiber Map
Check broadband availability before you buy
https://fiber.hawaiiantel.com - Hawaiian Electric (HELCO)
Electric rates, service requests, and outage info
https://www.hawaiianelectric.com - Starlink Internet
Game-changer for off-grid properties
https://www.starlink.com