Papa Bay House Book

The combination can be changed and the directions are in the manual.

Entry gate pad operates on a 9 volt battery that should be replaced periodically.

Solar gate control box. Can make adjustments to gate operations by following instructions in manual. Battery will need reoplacement at some point, however has worked just fine for past 2+years. Any problems call Ed Koga at Absolute Electronics (808)322-3965

Enclosed concrete 6000 gallon capacity water tank. Buy water and use only for drinking and cooking. It is spring water delivered from Nahalehu (Charlie's (808)-929-7384 (May, 2006 $185.00 for 6000 gallons), and reputed to be best water on the island. Tank installed by Pacific Gunite 808-968-6059

Guage and open/close valve at drinking water tank. Can close valve if need to work on other part of system.

This valve is in the ground covered by a plastic lid and can be opened to completely drain the drinking water tank if ever necessary.

This is the pump and pressure tank for the drinking water tank under the house next to the fireplace . It is plugged in and can be turned off by unplugging whenever necessary. There is a small faucet at the kitchen sink from which this water flows.

This is the main household catchment water tank of 15000 gallons capacity. It collects all of the rainwater from the roofs of the main house and covered lanai. This water is used for all household needs except drinking and cooking and flows from all other faucets in the house and connected to the house outside. Even if not used as potable water, this tank should be "doused" regularly with "Shockit," a bacteria killing solution available at any hardware store. Adding rain gutters to the sides of the tank roof and directing into the tank will increase volume of catchment water. Both water system pumps installed by Paul Gibson (808) 939-7004 or (808) 939-8085

This is the pump and pressure tank for the household water system. It is plugged in and can be unplugged when necessary. The valves are set to transport the water in this tank to the house. By closing one valve and opening two others, it is possible to feed water from the irrigation tank into this tank or bypass this tank and feed directly into pump if necessary.

This is the overflow pipe for the main tank.

These are the controls for the hot water system. The upper is for the solar panels and the lower one is for the hot water heater itself.

This is the on/off control for the electrical element of the hot water heater. We have had in go on from 6AM to 8 AM and then again from 6 PM to 8 PM. at times. You can set it for on/off times to suit your own needs. For the most part, it is not needed at all as the solar collectors provide more than enough hot water for normal use for two people without using the electric heater at all. A real money saver on electricity. Try it without the heater for a while and then you can set the timer to suit your needs.

This is a 4000 gallon tank that collects rain from the roof of the workshop. This water is used for irrigation, if necessary and has a valve for connecting a fire hose so in event of fire a fire engine can draw water from this tank directly. There are several faucets on the property away from the house connected to this tank. It has been used only when new plantings are put in to get them started without having to handwater.

This valve is below the main tank and by opening the valve water from the irrigation tank is sent to all of the faucets away from the house. Otherwise, the irrigation water flows only to the faucet in the enclosed garden area.

 

On the side of the covered lanai is a connection for a water truck filler hose if there is ever the need to fill or add water the main water tank. The water truck can carry up to 6000 gallons per load, May, 2006, price $185.00. This is also a good way to "douse" the tank by mixing the "Shockit" in a bucket of water and pouring into this pipe connection. Then flush some from the hose to get it all into the tank. Good time to do this is just before a rainstorm which will flush the lines for you.

All work on deck, lanai , foundation, and catchment lines (2005-6) done by: Peter Hendershot: 808-328-8630.

For any construction needs, he is the best and can recommend other electricians for you.

There is a motion detector in the ground at this location that opens the gate automatically whenever a vehicle is headed out. If necessary, you can step on the ground next to the stake and it will cause the gate to open.

 

Access door for spa controls. Make sure they are on and then check that the circuit breaker in the main electrical panel is on. Then fill the tub with hot water and activate the spa jets.This was installed by Richard Clark (808) 939-9349

There is a spa tub in the master bath. In order to prepare it to operate, it is necessary to open the access door on the outside wall and make sure the switches are on and then check the main breaker box in thehallway and see that the breakers are on. Then the spa is ready for use and the everyday controls are on the side of the tub.

This plug is for the antennae booster under the house which provides local channel TV reception.

There is a triple plug underneath; one for the TV antennae booster, one for the Mosquito magnet, and the third as a spare.

 

The two water blasters are for engaging the coquis if you are able, and willing to participate in the neighborhood coqui eradication program. John Sullivan, one of the neighbors is the leader of the effort with the support of County and State officials. Contact John and he can explain it all. his # is 808-328-8027 and he lives above you on Uloa St. When using citric acid, mix a water/acid solution of at least 16% acid in a plastic container and then, using a funnel, fill the water blaster. It will hold about 90 ounces. Pump the handle 15-20 times and you are ready for action. Coquis will expire with 5-10 minutes after contact with the citric acid solution. John, and others, can teach you how to find them. It can actually be sporting after a couple of pre-dinner cocktails at sunset. Good hunting!!! More information available if you need it, especially on the Internet.

 

 

The TV antennae brings in several local stations, including PBS to the TVs in the bedroom, living room and lanai. The DISH Network satellite is directed to the living room and bedroom TVs and each has a receiver.

If you want to acivate the TV in the lanai for satellite TV you will need to order a third receiver or move one of the existing ones to the lanai and connect to satellite wire.

To activate the system as it is now configured, just call DISH network at 1-800-333-3474 to set up a new account and they will activate your system as it is now configured.

If you want to reconfigure the system at all, call Sateo Inc., the local DISH representative at 329-3635, they will send out someone to reconfigure it for you. If you can get Kimo, (960-6779) if he still works there, he installed the present system and is familiar with it.

When heavy rainstorms come through the area, the satellite system will go bonkers, so it is nice to have the local channels available through the antennae.

There are two Mosquito Magnets under the deck. They work well, reducing the mosquito population substantially. They attract mosquitos by emitting a human-like odor, draw the mosquito in and frazzle it.

You have to replace the propane tanks periodically. A mosquito cycle lasts 6 weeks so you want to have them running throughout the cycle. The tanks can be refilled at the small service station across from the Aloha theatre in Kalekekua or the gas place around the corner from Costco. believe Ocean View has a refill service also.

You also should clean out the bin of mosquito ashes periodically .

Mac nuts should be picked up from the ground after falling. Do not pick from tree, they will fall when ready. Once a week is a good schedule. Use a mac cracker apparatus to split the green husk and remove the brown shelled nut which should be air dried in the shade for about two weeks. Spread out on screened trays for full air exposure. Then deposit the nuts in water so that they can sink or float. The floaters generally are no good so toss them. The sinkers should be air dried again for a few hours or more, then placed in the oven in trays or racks (pizza tins work well as there are holes in the bottom which allow for better air circulation. Bake at 175 degrees (lowest setting on present stove; 100 degrees is better) for about 16 hours, yeah, 16 hours. Then allow to cool before starting the nut cracking process.

There are several types of mac nut crackers avaialable on the web. If ready, the meat of the nuts should be very firm and free of the shell when cracked. They should be very dry. If first few nuts are too soft, put the unshelled ones back in the oven for more drying. When the nuts are cracked you can seal them as such or roast them for a bit in the oven at a higher temp and, if desired, salt them. As soon as they turn a little brown in the oven, take them out. Too long and they will turn bitter and all your work for naught.

Given the price of macnuts in the stores, if you like nuts, it is well worth the effort. There is a third macnut tree up from the house just starting to produce. You might want to clear the area under that tree and lay out a tarp so you can easily harvest the nuts. Periodically blow the leaves away from under the trees to facilitate the harvesting which will last from spring into November. Good eating!!!

 

 

 

Coconut trees are dangerous. Do not linger below them and do not work under them without a hardhat. You can pick up all you want of fresh coconuts just after they fall. Just split them with an ax, drained off the milk through a strainer for drinking and then scraped out the meat. You have to dry the meat to make it useable in cooking, etc. Usually better to shred it and a dry in oven.

Pineapple: to keep a ready supply, every time you harvest one, cut off the top and replant it. It will produce in about 18 months. There is a ton of info on the web about all of the processes for growing, harvesting, etc. different fruits, veggies, nuts etc. in Hawaii. Just about anything you stick into the ground here will grow very well. There is sufficient rainfall and th e "soil" is very rich.

Good gardening!!!