1. What is catchment?
Rain water running off the roof is caught in a large tank. This is filtered for household use. Proper filtration/purification is required for drinking. This is used in rural areas where county water is not available. It is expensive to drill a well through lava rock.

2. What is ripping?
A large bulldozer (D9) rips the lava rock into smaller peices. Typically necessary in the Puna, Ka'u, and other areas with younger lava flows. Soil has not accumulated in many areas. This process levels the lot for building and planting; estimate 2 or 3 days per acre. We top the ripped lot with 3 to 4 inches of cinder (pumice from the volcano). Plants grow better in black cinder. Once the cinder is evenly distributed the lot can be maintained with a large riding mower.

3. How is the weather?
The island has a number of microclimates. The east side (windward side) is lush and green. Annual rainfall is about 120 inches at lower elevations. Most days are partly cloudy or partly sunny. Rain often falls in the early morning, late afternoon or at night. But like anywhere on earth, we have times when it pours all day.
The west side of the island is dry and semi-arid. The best beaches are in Kohala and Kona. The leeward side has mostly sunny days with upslope afternoon showers. Higher elevations can be cool in the evening at any time of year.

4. How many square feet are there in an acre?
1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft. or 4840 sq. yards
1 hectare is 2.471 acres (10,000 square meters)
For international clients more familiar with hectares there are 2 conversion charts that you may find useful:
Hectares to Acres: http://www.metric-conversions.org/cgi-bin/util/conversion-chart.cgi?type=3&from=2&to=9
Acres to Hectares: http://www.metric-conversions.org/cgi-bin/util/conversion-chart.cgi?type=3&from=9&to=2

Steven M. Starnes, Realtor Salesperson Prudential Orchid Isle Properties 101 Hualalai Hilo, HI 96720 Cell: 808-333-0505 Office: 808-969-7863 Toll Free: 800-789-4753 © 2005, An independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc is a service mark of The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Equal Housing Opportunity.

EMAIL:steve_starnes@yahoo.com
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