Homesteading in Hawaii

A picture gallery of our land project, 3 acres in Ocean View, Hawaii, starting 2003.

Mats is back on Maui. Time to pack up the house in Olinda where we lived for 18 years.

The 20 foot container is arriving. The angle of the driveway and tight curve on the road made it very difficult to park. Maira was concerned about the driver getting it backed into the driveway, he thusly commented that he "could park this thing on the roof" . It turned out to be more of a challenge then he expected!!!!!!

Plan "A" First he tried to back in from above...

...that did not work.

Plan "B" Then he tried from below...

Oops! That was not working either.

Wow, now he is really Stuck! It's time to call in the boss and tow the trailer to the left, unhooking the wheels from the embankment.

Plan "C" the boss arrives to the rescue. Now they try to park on the side of the road with the back facing upwards ...

It's just not working...... the tires cannot be on the road

Literally Two hours later....... Mats watches as Plan A, B, and C failed and plan "D" as in Desperation worked! The driver backed the container into the neighbor's back yard, which made it a bit further for everyone to carry things.

Finally we could start loading. Maira had been pre-packing boxes for months.

Packing frenzy in the kitchen. This is just the last minute items that were in use up until moving weekend.

Amazing how much stuff one can accumulate in 18 years... Pictures are finally coming off the wall. At least a hundred boxes have already been packed and loaded.

The last night in our living room, only outdoor furniture left to sit on. Time to watch one last movie.

Our trusty old fire place, last chance to enjoy it, and burn some trash...

The container is full, with George's help we managed to squeeze in the matress and almost everything.......

But wait a minute, I forgot to pack the miro-wave oven! We found an old sleeping bag, stuffed it inside and managed to shove it in above the matress! Quick, close the door! No room for Maira's flower pots :( Knowing her, she'll find a way to get them to the Big Island.

The container is leaving for Big Island, full to the max with our stuff. Oh and Maira did manage to find a place to pack all the flower pots and the 2 very large planters in the trunck of her car along with other "things" that did not fit in the container.

Here is our home, empty.

The "living / TV room".

The bedroom.

What now ? End of an era. We had many good memories here...

In the downstairs bedroom inhabited by both Feleicia and Stephanie at different times, Mats' contemplates over a beer, about all the work he did to create a comfortable place for all of us to live in over the years.

Venus takes one last walk around the yard and a fairwell to the lanai.

My koa tree. I planted it about 15 years ago.

Angel and Mats walking around our little garden.

The towering eucalyptus trees. They are beautiful, but scary, especially when the trade winds blow.

Our little cottage in the forest. Tomorrow I am on an airplane with two cats, Miso and Venus, heading for our new home. Maira will come one day later with the last cat, Angel.

We are now on the Big Island. Here is Angel, making himself at home on the gravel. It did not take him long to be outside.

Tiger seems to enjoy herself too. All the cats love to roll on the gravel / lava rock.

The container arrived safely, time to unpack...

Calling upon our friends...

Here comes the love seat... Gotta have that!

Done! Thanks to..... (from left to right) Marcus, Mike and Gaiery. Mats of course is above and Maira was behind the scene directing traffic and taking picutes.

Maira screams, Hellpppppppppppppp!

So this is it, now we just have to sort it all out.

The empty container leaves, kicking up a little dust and rock as it ascends the driveway.

We brought some old kitchen cabinets, a quick make shift kitchen. The caveman back there is painting the steel column, trying to make the living space less industrial. Can't find the electric shaver.

Home, sweet home. It will look better once Maira puts her designer touch to it. See next set of picutes for May2010 coming soon, maybe in June.

We bought a fairly new stainless steel range and fridge at a neighborhood estate sale. Maira lined the back of the counter/cabinets with some nice brown faux leather fabric, until I get something nicer built.

Here is the fridge and all of Maira's dishes, glasswear and kithen items, she has to unpack these boxes !

The Bedroom, still living out of a suitcase. No dressers for clothes yet. The bed frame is made of old milk cartons and plywood. It works. We sold the other bedframe, just could not get it into the container. Plus Maira's going to want me to make a new bedframe and headboard someday.

This picture was also taken before the second container arrive, our "one week of zen" before all the stuff is packed inside.

Look, running water and a new vanity in the bathroom, with a custom built vanity top made my yours truly! Time to celebrate with another beer! Still need to make a backsplash.

Mats' Office, before the furniture arrives. Maira will organized it once the shelves are up.

Armed Shop cat with an attitude.

Another shop cat hiding above the rafters.......................... Two months later and Venus is still up there!

My shop is starting to get functional and organized, but there is still much to be done !