A southeastern Hawai'i community full of potential
On the island of Hawai'i’s southeastern coast, the community of Hawaiian Paradise Park - known to locals as “HPP” - is as full of potential as it is of mango trees and undeveloped land. Originating as grazing land for cattle due to its otherwise unfertile soil, Hawaiian Paradise Park now offers residents abundant greenery, a naturalistic character and distance from big-city action. “There are over 8,000 lots, and some of them are low enough where you can put in wells," says Denise Nakanishi, a Realtor with Real Broker LLC. This is notable due to the absence of a public sewer system and reliance on catchment water. "You’ve got bigger lots, and homes are usually newer than what you can find in town in Hilo. There’s also new shopping and restaurants in the area." Nearly 15,000 residents call Hawaiian Paradise Park home, counting retirees, Hilo commuters and the environmentally conscious among their number. Healthcare, food services and retail form the backbone of this city’s largely services-based economy. Though HPP may not have strong cell coverage or paved roads, this community’s immersion in nature helps shape its appeal.
HPP's affordability compared to other parts of Hawaii attracts a diverse mix of residents, including families, retirees, and individuals seeking a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Many residents appreciate HPP's blend of natural beauty, space, and community spirit.
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Vintage homes and vacant lots alternate along HPP's rural roads
First developed in the 1950s, Hawaiian Paradise Park is defined by grid-patterned and numbered avenues with ranch-style homes and vacant lots throughout. Though much of HPP’s housing dates from the 1960s to 1990s, homes built as recently as the 2020s are among this city’s more expensive properties. It’s common to hear roosters crowing from chicken tents kept on certain properties, and many of HPP’s lots remain vacant and open for construction. HPP retains a rural feel both due to this semi-agrarian atmosphere and the absence of modern amenities like public sewage, trash collection or paved roads and its reliance on catchment water. “Anything grows there, and, if you’re at the top of the subdivision, you get more rain," Nakanishi says. "As you go down toward the ocean, you have more sunshine and ocean breeze, as the vegetation is less thick there. You can have farm animals, and you can even do a second dwelling, which you couldn’t do for a long time.” This city’s HOA charges around $300 yearly for road maintenance, while trash collection runs on a self-haul system. Hawaiian Paradise Park has a median sale price of $515,000, nearly in line with that of nearby Hilo, although newer beachfront properties can sell for up to $1.75 million and plenty of properties sell for far below the local and Hilo averages.
The area receives ample rainfall, supporting its lush environment but also requiring residents to manage challenges like mold and road maintenance.
The subdivision's roads vary in condition, with some paved and others remaining unpaved, affecting accessibility during heavy rains.
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Waterfront views from Maku'u Point and Paradise Cliffs
Hawaiian Paradise Park feels true to its name with its abundant shrubbery, many small green spaces and expansive waterfront. Rocky crags like Maku’u Point and Paradise Cliffs offer scenic views of Pacific waves, and many private residences have black sand back yards formed by volcanic activity. HPP has several public shoreline access points, although there are no sandy beaches in the area; instead, tidepools and cliffs are the main attractions of the shoreline. Within HPP, small green spaces like the Awapuhi Labyrinth and the Historic Puna Trailhead allow for jungle strolls and turtle encounters along the way.
Oceanfront housing in Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) offers dramatic views of the rugged Puna coastline and the vast Pacific Ocean.
While the coastline is rocky and not ideal for swimming, it’s perfect for tidepooling, whale watching, and enjoying the raw beauty of the lava-formed cliffs.
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Small shops and eateries along the Keaau-Pahoa Road
Hawaiian Paradise Park is almost entirely residential, although it is home to a few small businesses. Keaau-Pahoa Road serves as the main commercial thoroughfare, with eateries including a smash burger food truck, a Thai food shack and a tiki bar. The Nanala Sunset Farmers Market is open evenings the second and fourth Monday of every month, selling fresh produce and garden plants. The nearest grocery store is the Malama Market in Pahoa, 7 miles down Keaau-Pahoa Road.
While HPP offers a rural lifestyle, it's conveniently located near the towns of Keaau and Pahoa, where residents can access shopping, dining, and other services.
Stop by Countryside Cafe in nearby Keaau for a hearty lunch and dinner menu.
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Career-centered education at Keaau High School
All of Hawaii’s schools belong to the Hawaii Department of Education, a singular school district that receives an A-minus rating from Niche. HPP’s students may attend Keaau or Keonepoko’s schools. Keaau High School and Pahoa Intermediate-High School each receive C-plus ratings from Niche. Keaau High, the larger of the two schools, has a robust Career and Technical Education department and an expanding number of extracurriculars; the school is currently building a new gym for after-school sports.
Established in 1999, Keaʻau High School is a public high school located in Keaʻau, Hawaii, serving grades 9 through 12.
Keaʻau High School's campus spans 55 acres and includes facilities such as sports stadiums, a cafeteria, and specialized classrooms for various educational programs.
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Environmental considerations in HPP
Though public energy is available, lack of access to other public utilities means that many residents opt for solar panels and lithium-ion home batteries for energy. The city also encounters volcanic smog in the wake of volcanic eruptions, the last of which occurred in 2018, and its low elevation means high humidity and heat. Crime data for the city is not readily available.
The area is known for its lush vegetation, with many properties featuring tropical plants, fruit trees, and ornamental gardens.
The community stretches from Highway 130 down to the Pacific Ocean, offering residents both inland and oceanfront properties.
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Access to Hilo and healthcare
Hawaiian Paradise Park is generally regarded as an outer-ring suburb of Hilo, which sits 16 miles up state Routes 130 and 11. This highway is known to experience heavy traffic, and HPP residents must drive in order to collect their mail, buy drinking water, fill propane tanks for gas appliances and haul their own trash in addition to commuting to work. Hilo is both an employment and healthcare center; it is home to both the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and The Queen’s Health Care Center.
HPP is located just 20 minutes east of Hilo.
Residents of Hawaiian Paradise Park are never far from the conveniences in nearby Hilo.
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Written By
Jacob Adelhoch
Photography Contributed By
Paul Peck
Video By
Anne Sheridan
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Rachel Nack,
an experienced agent in this area.
GreatSchools:
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