More information on living in Vava'u Tonga

Some background on us. My name is Charlett 41 and my husband is Barry 52. I am an accountant by trade and Barry is a mechanical insulator. We are both Jack of all trades having built a couple of houses in our spare time and we also do our own gardening and make our own cheese and sausages etc. We also are big foodies. We do not do any drugs but we do like our beer ... which we also make! 

I have been in Vava'u since November 11th 2014 and my husband will be coming as soon as our house in Manitoba Canada sells. We both hope that will be soon.  In the meantime Barry left here yesterday after Christmas holidays to return to Manitoba. I will be starting a business here in the next month or so ... a nail salon ... and I am busy meeting with the locals to find construction crews to start building on our properties in the next couple of weeks.

This is currently a third world country.  It is not as bad as some places in Africa but there are still many homes that are in less than good shape. This is not Hawaii or Tahiti but think pre-vacation spot. I am sure with the influx of new people and vacationers the area will improve soon.

I have been here for 2 months now and cannot imagine going back.

It is possible to get everything that you need here but it is not cheap for imported goods or to import those goods. I am currently working with the Governor to see if the duty and taxes for landing can be reduced for Cocomo Village owners.

There are currently two Cocomo Village owners here now. My husband and I are on the Northwest side of Hunga Island on top of the cliffs in Cocomo Village and there is a young family on the southeast side that is the Sea Breeze division. They are living on the property as they build but I am living in Neiafu while my water catchment and temporary house is being built and then I will move up there.

Just please remember that there is nothing in Cocomo Village there at the moment. There are only 2 trucks and one tractor on the island. There is a crew of 4 locals that are clearing the road by hand using machetes and chainsaws. The roads in some areas are little more than dry river beds that the trucks converse. I am only telling you this because it is raw and ruff right now and many people have come to look at these properties expect wonderfully groomed roads and decent cars and possible amenities.  These people are shocked to find jungle! 

The road to the northwest Cocomo Village is almost complete so there is a way to get materials to the properties and I expect that the southeast road will be complete by summer. You can bring a truck if you like but the two trucks that are there are for the locals. They will accept $10 per trip to take you to your property.  I am bringing 2 quads and a trailer for myself. We will use the village trucks to haul big things though. There is also a barge that you can hire to take things to Hunga Island. 

Personally I have just finished clearing our property and the view is breathtaking, the slope is only about 12 degrees, easy to build on, there is lots of breezes to combat the heat. Once the house is built and I have my own transportation to the local village and back it will cost very little to live there.

Banking and cash. There is nothing on Hunga Island or Cocomo Village except for people, a clinic and the church. On the main land the biggest town is Nieafu. It has about 6,000 people even though there are about 20,000 combined on all the islands. In Neiafu there are 3 banks, Westpac, ANZ and MFB I think. Don't quote me on the names right now. I use Westpac.  They do not have debit cards at all and only a few of the restaurants have machines for credit cards but they will charge you 5% to use them. I opened an account and converted my money to use here.

In Neiafu there is are plenty of cars and trucks and paved roads.

My boat is not good to use here. It is made for recreation on smooth waters not for traversing the ocean so I am looking for a boat or a boat maker here. Apparently there was a boat builder here but I cannot find him. That is not unusual though given the time of year.

There are many gas stations on the main land at about $2.60 per litre. I don't know what that converts to in gallons.

Food alcohol. Beer available here is limited to Heineken, Stein lager, fosters, and the local brands. At a restaurant beer can range from $5 to $7 or you can buy it at the Chinese stores for $3 each. And please remember that this is all Tongan dollars or TOP. US conversion is about $.51 to the TOP so half all these for your real cost.

Local food is cheap. Fish is $8 per kilo on average. The market carries anything grown but some things you may not be able to get. Apples are imported but mangos grow everywhere and if it is not fenced in it is available for all within reason. If you start stripping the trees the locals will get upset. Chicken and steak are only available frozen from the Chinese stores and for some strange reason there is no pork available even though there are pigs everywhere. And I do mean everywhere!  So if you know a butcher bring that person along too! :)

There is a small clinic on Hunga Island and I was told the doctor’s house is nearly complete but I do not know if they found a doctor for that island yet. Neiafu has both a hospital and a clinic. Everything is free for the locals but we foreigners have to pay. I person I know had some sort of infection that swelled his foot up like a balloon and had to go to the hospital. He told me that the appointment and the medication cost him $15 TOP.  I was told that the cost to have a baby is about $50 but anything that is life threatening or serious needs to go to New Zealand.  I don't know how much that costs though.

Government here runs very slow and because the offices are so small you can't ask to talk to a supervisor to try and get a different answer. Also, do not depend on the Internet for all the information you need for visas and such. They are all incomplete but the government employees will not tell you the information beforehand.  I will be glad to help when I can but I am still trying to get my business licence.

Theft on Hunga? So far if you leave it out and tempting it might disappear for a day or two and return with a bushel of pineapples! But that is just a rumor I heard! Lol. My first week here I "misplaced" my tablet and was very upset about it. The next morning I found it on my front porch. I do lock my door but the lock is a joke. I am sure I could break into my apartment if I really wanted to but the locals here are too nice to think about it. Hell even their prison only has a 4 foot fence around it! So long as the inmates are back by curfew all is good.

I don't know much about the local police other than they do not carry guns and they may or may not show up if you call them.

Hunga Haven.  The owner of Hunga Haven are Barry and Cindy Beer and ironically they are also from Manitoba Canada! But he is down in Hunga lagoon with a few other resort areas.

Shipping I have been told is about $3500 US from California.  But there is a 15% duty on everything that comes in and a 15% tax on the cost of shipping and the deemed value of the items that are being shipped with some exceptions but not many.

One of the services that we will be providing on the island is to general contract the building of your home as well as watch it while you are not there for security and maintenance.  Let me know if that is something that would be interesting to anyone.

Wow... I am typed out! Hopefully next time I will have an Internet connection so this doesn't have to be typed on my phone!

Char