Hāmākua coast, Hawaiʻi Island
USA · Honokaʻa / Pāʻauilo uplands
Why it ranks
100+ inches of rain, food year‑round, the best solar on the list.
What drags it down
Kīlauea, the 2018 M6.9 and Hilo's tsunami history (geo −8); hurricanes Iselle and Lane; 2,400 miles of ocean; cost of living.
Water
Pristine windward aquifers; legacy sugar‑cane chemicals in old fields.
Land prices
$15–40k est. (≈6–15 ac)estimate
(est.) $15–40k/acre ag lots; Puna cheaper but lava zones 1–2 are uninsurable. $250k ≈ 6–15 acres.
Hospital
Hilo Medical Center 30–60 min.
Buying as a US citizen
US soil — no restrictions.
Surf
+5: Honoliʻi (Hilo), Pohoiki.
The numbers behind the score
Water & food
- Water supply92
- Watershed integrity88
- Food capacity91
Climate safety
- Extreme weather63
- Wildfire + flood63
- 50‑yr climate trajectory71
- Geological hazard20
Off-grid energy
- Energy self‑sufficiency100
Out of the line of fire
- Stability / rule of law70
- Strategic exposure—
Cost
- Price per acre30
- Holding costsUS passport50
- Ownership ease (US citizen)US passport100
Access & care
- Hospital distance100
Room to breathe
- Population pressure67
Data as of 2026-10-22. Scores combine public datasets and researched figures; prices are indicative ranges, not listings. Not legal, financial or immigration advice. Verify locally before you buy.