Pros and Cons of Living in Pahoa

Pahoa's core trade-off pairs genuine housing affordability and community character against real, disclosed volcanic-hazard exposure and an elevated crime picture.

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Pro: the Big Island's most affordable Tier B housing

Pahoa's cited median sale price (~$339,000) runs below the national comparison figure -- genuinely the most affordable of this project's six current Big Island Tier B markets.

Pro: a genuinely distinctive small-town community character

Pahoa's real, cited alternative-lifestyle character and role as lower Puna's commercial hub give it a genuinely distinct identity among Hawaii's relocation markets.

Con: a real, specifically-disclosed volcanic-hazard history

The 2018 LERZ eruption destroyed 723 homes in nearby Leilani Estates and Kapoho, and Pahoa town itself sits in the current USGS Lava Flow Hazard Zone 2 -- a real, disclosed, elevated risk this record does not soften.

Con: a real, disclosed elevated crime rate and poverty rate

Pahoa's crime rate runs higher than approximately 67% of Hawaii communities, and a cited ~31.6% family poverty rate is real, disclosed context alongside the area's affordability.

Key takeaways

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-28. Independent research; not financial, tax, or legal advice -- confirm current figures with a local professional before making a decision.