Tag: big island

Makoa Kabin on Big Island


I spent the summer of 2025 at Makoa Kabin in Fern Forest, Big Island.

Way down a dirt road in a quiet little forest, Makoa Kabin is a peaceful retreat from the world. It is surrounded by beautiful tropical forest, and at night the coqui frogs lull you to sleep.

While the Kabin has everything you need to enjoy a nice vacation, the life it offers is one that is much different than city life. The bathroom and kitchen are open air. Given the year-round nice weather, this is not as crazy as it may sound to someone from the mainland. It allows for the peaceful forest to be a bigger part of your stay.


However, the Kabin is off grid. This means it uses solar panels and a battery backup. You’ll hear the inverter kick on to charge the battery during sunny days, and you’ll hear it kick on at night to shunt battery power to the motor in the fridge.

This means being more mindful. When living off grid, it makes sense to avoid opening the fridge at night, and to avoid watching TV and having all the lights on after dark. It’s better to go to bed at sunset and wake up at sunrise, following the rhythm of nature.

For some, following the rhythm of nature can seem hard at first. However, studies show that it’s actually really good for us to wake up with the sun and go to sleep when it gets dark. It helps re-set our circadian rhythms so that we can get better sleep.


The Kabin allows you to stay with your pets, so here you can see a picture of my duck Sizzle in the kitchen. She enjoyed the view and watching the chickens who live at the Kabin as they dug in the grass looking for bugs and worms.

I spent a lot of time on the deck just watching and listening to the forest. It was peaceful, and exactly what I needed after the first half of my year. The caretaker Jeanette was kind, thoughtful, and very patient with feathers being all around the yard.

Although staying at Makoa Kabin requires mindful use of electricity and water, I believe its charm outweighs any restrictions you might feel living closer to nature. I’d recommend a stay there.

The Big Move to the Big Island


The State of Hawaii (or the Kingdom of Hawaii, depending on who you ask) is made up of 137 islands, islets, and shoals. However, there are seven islands which are generally recognized as the main islands:

Hawaii (also called the Big Island), Oahu, Maui, Niihau, Molokai, Kauai, and Lanai.

Though I have family on Maui, I have been living on the most populated island for the last seven years. Oahu was our home, and the town of Wahiawa was such a charming, wonderful community that we hated to leave.

However, Oahu is an expensive island. Not as expensive as Maui, perhaps. But, more than I can afford right now.

In search of a more affordable place for the flock and myself, we made the move to Hawaii Island, nicknamed “The Big Island.”


Hawaii Island is very large, which means land is more affordable. This isn’t without risk. After all, this is the island with the volcano on it. However, there should also be many rewards.

For the ducks, I am excited to spend time at less crowded beaches and rivers. It’s been very scary to have dogs sicced on us, have people attack us, and generally be subject to the lack of Aloha on Oahu. It’s the city island. You can’t go anywhere on the island and be alone. It’s expensive and crowded, and though many people there are kind, many aren’t.

For me, I am excited to have more job opportunities, more affordable housing, and a slower lifestyle like I lived in Guam.

I loved my garden in Wahiawa. I loved the weather and my bedroom and my job at the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. But, change is a normal part of life, and you have to admit, it was unusual for me to stay in one place for seven years…

Here’s to the next adventure!


All the foster peeps were adopted, and it’s just Catarina La Pata Mascota, Chaos Duck, Amelia DuckPond, Betty DuckPage, Lucky Ducky, and Sizzle with me now.