How to Dig Holes on the Big Island

[@hrobert745]

Hope see more about putting in fencing: Best/cheapest fencing to keep pigs out and dogs in,fence posts, gates, height of fence, etc.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You just need a strong fence, 5' tall should do unless you have a jumper. Because we are so rocky, I did make a fence with my fence posts made of a section of wire fencing made into a 3ft diameter cylinder and filled those with rocks. We have lots of rocks and it worked well.

[@hrobert745]

Homesteadin' Hawai'i thanks for your replies!

[@santadam]

Jack hammering in slippahs, only in Hawaii! Great vid to watch as many of us newbies wonder about this in the Puna District.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Only in hawaii

[@kd5txo]

I've just discovered your videos and I'm delighted to have your practical advice because I'm planning on moving out to Puna for retirement. Your nice, humble and down-to-earth approach is refreshing to see. Thanks for your efforts. Mahalo nui loa!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo for the.kind words. I hope your transition works out well for.you.

[@builders8117]

Is it legal to use a couple 4th of sticks of dynamite to loosen up the rock? the blast force wouldn’t need to be extremely powerful just enough to break it up and then from there you could build up the soil with compost and plant some trees so they could put the roots down to break up the rock even more

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

No. Not that I know of. But in the jungle you can get away with almost anything

[@lmo7724]

Doing the same thing in Puna. You’re right about telling the drillers exactly where to dig, I hired a guy who didn’t measure and wasted an entire day (jackhammer and compressor rental was approx $350/day) drilling unnecessarily due to mismeasurement. Huge waste of money, time and effort.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Best to plan out those heavy machinery days for sure.

[@kumarsah3907]

Thank you for this video, this is hard work,. I am looking forward to anything you can share as to how to grow trees in Puna, without digging the ground..

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I'll be planting trees without digging really soon. Stay tuned.

[@gregoryhall2105]

Thanks for the information. I've got a mound of Lava in my front yard that I want to break up and use the rock as a filler for a low spot. Would love to have someone come in and bust it out for me, but that's not always available.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Yeah, when you can't dig, mound, the trees out here like it better that way anyway.

[@treasurehuntingscotlandmud9340]

Good video

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Mahalo

[@10kamonth92]

5:42 because that’s what she says! 🤣🤣🤣

[@apoc1211]

Thanks man

[@Malini108]

That's so helpful to see what to expect after 2 years. Also the footage of actually digging the hole. Damn! Looking forward to the videos about planting trees w/o digging holes. I want to ask- what was your main reasons for putting in a fence?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Fence is for my mom's crazy dogs. I got some tree planting coming up. I'll be sure to do a no dig planting video. It's so much easier.

[@marianapires1246]

We have the same issue in Arco de Sao Jorge, Madeira island. Our village is literally at the bottom of a volcano crater 😅

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Rocky ground just needs different solutions

[@PunaSquirrel]

Aloha from Nanawale🤙🏼 Were you able to rent the Hilti or will I have to buy one. Mahalo nui.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You can rent at home depot

[@carriewh]

Glad to come across your video, thank you. We have property in the desert of Colorado on the Rio Grande River. Not only do we have to deal with desert/sand and tumbleweed but part of our property is literally rock solid lava. We’re getting ready to build our totally off grid home but first we need to put up a fence across our 10 acres to keep the cows out, yes keep the cows out! So… I’m trying to find ways to get deal with the lava to get the fence (and house) built.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

People out here get a tractor with a drill or jackhammer implement to make fence post holes in the lava. For my fence posts, I make a round cage out of fencing about 3ʻ diameter and fill it with rocks. One of the most solid fence posts I have.

[@nateschneider2361]

Do you recommend just building a really wide mound on top of existing rock bed, then planting in the middle. Do trees drown in holes dug into the rock bed?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You got it right. Best to just make a big mound and plant into that. Water will drain better and you dont have to break into the rock. Just keep expanding out each year to stay ahead of the roots and dripline.

[@maryreynolds8568]

Thank you for this video. We live in the Texas Hill Country, on limestone bedrock, which is solid rock about 6" down. I thought it might take a jack hammer, and you have helped us a lot. A neighbor has a one-man auger, but I don't think that's going to work once it hits the rock. Ugh.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

The auger is best for dirt. If you are making a bunch of holes you may want to rent an excavator with jackhammer implement

[@maryreynolds8568]

@@HomesteadinHawaii Thank you. I thought so.

[@chriswinslow6389]

Great video bro. About to "try" and dig two 6'deep holes for power poles. Any advise for going that deep?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Get a backhoe with jackhammer attachment. 6' is deep!

[@francismeowgannou5322]

I'm in a very similar situation except I'm on sand stone bedrock and construction rubble. Do you find you can only grow certain type of trees? I've been focusing on building up.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

So far everything o have planted has worked out fine, but sometime my bananas fall over cause their roots don't dig in well enough

[@francismeowgannou5322]

@@HomesteadinHawaii Thanks for the reply. I hope my food forest in canada will one day be as lush and plentiful as yours!

[@JasonEngman]

Doing heavy work in slippahs, that's how we do it here!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You know it!

[@crispyspice2017]

Eagerly awaiting learning how to plant a tree without digging into the rock ☺😬

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Got to do that. I'm going to get a tree to plant this week and make a video.

[@helloykity]

Hey, does the sub soil consist only of lava rocks? Or is there also clay beneath? Im interested in Cob building technique on Hawaii some day.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

There has been cob buildings constructed on other islands (molokai) forget about it on Hawaii Island. Soil is too young. But at the same time is cob really the appropriate construction material for the tropics?

[@robertbautista]

I would like to have your personal advice about our plan to move there in Puna. Will it possible to contact you privately?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Sure. [e-mail]

[@jungleoffgrid7818]

Good work, Homesteadin' Hawai'i! Subscribed! And thank you for your replies, much appreciated. What can you say about drilling holes in this type of rock (not bluerock) with a heavy rotary hammer drill and a large diamond bit for posts? I've heard this is being done in Puna, and I actually have seen a fence done this way I think, a long time ago, in Orchidlands someplace, before I paid attention to how to build stuff. What would be the pros and cons of drilling holes for the posts?

[@jungleoffgrid7818]

I think I got an answer to my question after searching: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2m3i4CMid2Lg5Y Seems a lot quicker than making holes with a jackhammer. But what are the disadvantages of such a fence?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

What are you drilling holes for? Hammer drill should work. No matter what it's not going to be easy. Cons- too much work Wood rots in hole Pros- secure posts

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It's all really why you want it in the first place. T-posts and ag wire are completely fine materials to use though. But what they are doing in that video is not going to be easy.

[@TheIan818]

I want to buy a jack hammer to start digging the fence post holes in my lava rock. I will be using t-posts, what size/rating jack hammer do you recommend? Thanks!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I would just rent one from home depot. But I might also think of hiring a machine operator with jackhammer implement to do it. It is not an easy job

[@TheIan818]

@@HomesteadinHawaii thanks, I am just waiting in limbo at my airbnb for more dozer/excavators to meet me for estimates (they are busy). So I was thinking how can I use this time productively. Buying a generator and jack hammer to dig holes now and in the future seem like a good idea. I just want to start the holes in the front. Maybe for the rest I will hire a machine operator. I understand it is not an easy job, but I am pretty tough. And determined. Do you think the $200 jack hammers at Homey Depot are effective at digging some t-post holes in lava? Thank you.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

@@TheIan818 The ones you rent for $200 are. You will need the big jackhammers and unless you plan on doing it for a living, it's best to rent. Buyin a generator Is a worthwhile investment. Honda 2200 would be my choice, lasts forever

[@TheIan818]

@@HomesteadinHawaii thank you!!!

[@DRiceArizona]

I thought we had it bad with our caliche here in the area north of Phoenix. Well okay, we do have it bad. Not quite as bad as solid rock though, but pretty close. Your place looks good.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I laugh when people say they have rocky soil.

[@paulrabena57]

Is there an auger with a special tip that you could attach to a tractor's pto to dig post holes ?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I've only seen backhoes or Bobcats with jackhammer attachments. No way to auger through this stuff.

[@lmo7724]

Paul Rabena I needed a ground rod drilled, found a guy who used a diamond-tipped drill bit and compressor. After about an hour of drilling lava, the drill bit broke. He had to buy a new one. Took almost 8 hours to drill 6 feet for the ground rod.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

@@lmo7724 Must've been bluerock. Ouch!!

[@tecate9408]

Iron spirt you got!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Got to with the ground we got

[@woodyahh2110]

Core drill is the way to go Just a little bigger diameter then your post and a can of spray foam and your good to go

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

What! Spray foam?! I core drilled my my main fence holes but if I could of filled it with spray foam! It would’ve been so much easier setting the posts. I’m gonna try that. Thanks

[@woodyahh2110]

@@HomesteadinHawaii Just make the holes tight A cement slurry works good to I've got a lot over in hawaiian shores that needs some recon. What trees to keep or cut it all down Basicly mark what to keep Let's chat

[@kennethhudson8013]

How do people anchor their homes

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Floating slabs or piers on top of base rock

[@kennethhudson8013]

@@HomesteadinHawaii how deep do have to go?

[@adriantam2573]

How about blue rock..

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Backhoe with jackhammer

[@adriantam2573]

@@HomesteadinHawaiidamn so no hand held kind yeah lol 😂k thanks

[@jacobgreen6939]

We have the same you tube channel name

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Good luck with it

[@missmothertrucker]

Hey shot Makayla here my channels life happens by the mile LOL shameless plug. But it’s a tracking channel anyway as I told you when I sent you a message before you laughed at me LOL I am going to be looking for 5 to 10 acres on the big island for me and my two brothers we’re gonna put three small homes on it of course illegal as hell non-permitted. And I was at Homesteader for years. My brother though I’m wanting to send him about 6 to 8 months ahead and you said a lot of people on the island rent out little dry cabins or at least that’s what we call them. And you said you have one you rent every once in a while I would be interested in renting one for my brother for about eight months until we find land where he could be there really going out looking at things for me and so forth and he could maybe take a Pirma culture course on the island I’m going to be taking one hear on the mainland. But not much will transfer to the islands except for the basic concept. And I know I will be needing your help and needing to hire you for certain things. And I will be working here for the next six years because I make really good money as a truck driver Waymore than I can make on the island doing local. But I will be going back-and-forth to Hawaii a couple times a year as we build our Homestead. Anyway if you can shoot me a message or text me my number is 405-287-5356 if you know someone or if you are interested in renting out that little outdoor room you have to my brother I will be paying the rent on it And he’ll be in it for about a year may be a little more and we will know it’s a composting toilet and all that as long as he has a place to shower lay his head and charges devices he’s good. Anyway big guy let me know or if you know someone who does thank you sir and you have a blessed day

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Iʻm not laughing at you, just wish I could have landmates to get 20 acres with too! I tried having people at my place, it hasnʻt worked out too well. There is a fb page for puna called rentals in lower east side puna that might be able to help. It can be tough starting out but those who persevere make it.

[@lavawurx808]

😂😂😂😂