Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Once the Big Island frontier, these days Puna is the fastest-growing district in the state.
It has some of Hawaii's most affordable land, in subdivisions that were marked out more
than 50 years ago and sparsely settled - until now. The northern half of Puna is becoming
one unending suburban subdivision, with the population poised to almost double within a
decade. Most agree Puna faces an infrastructure crisis, not to mention an identity crisis.
The fast food/chain store shopping-mall erected at the terminus of Pahoa's historic down-
town in 2010 - protested by some - is indicative of the schism.
