The state of Hawaii is the world’s largest island chain. While Alaska, Florida, and California have longer overall coastlines, Hawaii offers 750 miles! The sights are amazing. And if you thought there were only eight islands, well, there are actually 137. We haven’t visited them all—and never will—but five are favorites.

We are toiling away at our new home spot on the west side of Hawaii Island in the Puna District. The Big Island (Hawaii County) has 27 islands with a total population of about 190,000. As much as we’d like to lie in the sun or surf here or perhaps while visiting Kauai, there’s so much to do on the homestead.

Believe it or not, we are making progress. The catchment tank, tool shed, and bathhouse are completely accessible.

Unfortunately, that’s about five percent of the job in front of us. We want coconuts, so we are clearing around all the best trees—the tree on the right is an avocado! Behind the trees is the orchard, where the unwanted brush and trees are eight to twelve feet high. Once those are gone, the electricity meter reader can come back and check us out. Right now, they can’t get to our meter.