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Hilo Termite vs. Bowman Termite: Which of these Hilo Termite Control Companies is Better?

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Two of the biggest termite control companies in Hilo are Hilo Termite & Pest Control and Bowman Termite & Pest Control. They have both been serving the residents of Hilo for a number of years and quite a number of homes over this time. Clearly both are good companies, but they each have their individual pros and cons so this article will review both of these companies to see how they compare to each other.

Category 1: Number of Years in Business

One good sign is that a company has been around a long time. Word about bad companies eventually gets around, so either you hear about them and can avoid them or they eventually go out of business, so if a company has been around a long time it is a good sign.

On this measure, Hilo Termite wins. Hilo Termite has been in business since 1963, which is a very long time, while Bowman Termite was started in 2001. This might not seem like a long time, but this is Bowman’s second termite control business, he started his first business in 1978 and did so well that a corporate entity decided to buy him out. So Bowman has more experience than its 2001 start might indicate.

Category 2: Size of Business

The bigger a business and the more employees it has, the better able it is to serve you. On this measure Bowman and Hilo Termite run almost neck and neck and based on the number of employees that they each have they will be able to serve you well. Bowman Termite has 26 employees, while Hilo Termite has 28 employees, so either has the team to get big jobs done. One difference is that all of Hilo Termite’s employees serve the Big Island, while Bowman’s workers serve Maui and Oahu too.

Category 3: Services Offered

Both Hilo Termite and Bowman Termite offer a full range of termite and pest control services from fumigation to ground treatments and inspections. Both companies offer free estimates for their services, so either should be able to meet your needs.

Category 4: Customer Reviews and Ratings

Neither Bowman Termite or Hilo Termite have much in the way of reviews and ratings of their service on their websites or on yelp or yellowpages. Since they have been in business for so long the absence of negative reviews is a good sign for both companies as word would get out if they did a poor job.

Category 5: Quality of their Website

This measure is more subjective, but I would give the edge to Bowman Termite. The reason is that they provide more information on the termite control problems that you may be facing and how they can be solved.

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Top Five Termite Control Problems and Solutions in Hilo Hawaii

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hilorainbowIf you own a home in Hilo, you probably know that termites are a big problem. Left untreated they can destroy your property value and even completely destroy your home, given enough time. The point of this article is to address the top termite control problems that you are likely to run into, here in Hilo, and how you can resolve them.

Problem 1: Drywood Termite Infestation

Drywood termites are a common problem in Hilo. These nasty critters fly through the air in big swarms and attack just about anything made of wood, including your home. The most harmful species is the Cryptotermes brevis which is also known as the West Indian termite.

Often these critters can infest your home and you won’t even know until they have done significant damage and you start to see the tell tale signs of their sawdust like droppings.

Because they don’t come from the ground like subterranean termites, they need to be treated differently and the two main ways of solving drywood termite problems are store bought treatments or fumigation (also known as tenting).

The advantages of store bought treatments are price, convenience and quick results. But the disadvantages are that they only produce localized results, they may miss the source of the infestation, they are temporary and they involve working with harmful chemicals.

Tenting or fumigation has a number of disadvantages, but it is the only way to completely erradicate a termite infestation. The biggest disadvantage is cost and the inconvenience of having to vacate your home. But it’s biggest advantage is that it will kill just about every single termite in your home.

Problem 2: Subterranean Termite Infestation

Subterranean or ground termites are an entirely different beast. As their name implies they attack your home from the ground, rather than the air. They are quite a problem because they can attack your home for years before your notice anything. Some signs you have a ground termite problem are sagging floors, warped walls and mud tunnels.

Solving ground termite problems involve treating the soil around your home with chemicals that kill or repel ground termites. Also bait stations may be installed around your home to kill existing termite colonies and prevent new ones from getting started.

Problem 3: The Inconvenience of having your home tented

Having your home tented is a big inconvenience and can be a big problem. Unfortunately if you have a really bad termite infestation, this may be unavoidable. However, one alternative is spot treatment, which consists of locating the termite colonies in your home and applying chemicals like orange oil to kill them. If you have a light termite infestation, this may be a viable solution.

Problem 4: Not knowing you have a problem

Not knowing you have termites is one of the biggest problems of all. Termites can silently cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home without you even knowing it. When it comes to termites, simply knowing that you have them and not letting a small problem turn into a big problem can make a huge difference.

To solve this problem, you either need to learn the signs of a termite infestation and keep a watchful eye or you need to have a termite control company perform an inspection. An inspection can be really cheap insurance against termite damage.

Problem 5: The termites keep on coming back

Just because you take care of termites one time, doesn’t mean that your termite problems are solved permanently. Without sufficient preventative measures they will eventually come back.

One of the solutions is to keep your eyes open for them. Another is have a termite control company perform periodic inspections and maintenance. Sure, you will have to spend a little money each year, but this will catch problems before they start and you won’t have to worry so much about having to pay a gigantic bill when what would have been a little job turns into a big one.

Other Termite Control Articles

 

Who are the Best Termite Control Companies in Hilo Hawaii?

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Having lived in Hilo for a long time, I know that termites can be an enormous problem. Left unchecked, they can completely destroy your home or shave tens of thousands of dollars off your home’s value if you try to sell it. So if you own a home in Hilo, it is not a question of when you will call a termite control company, it is only a question of when you will call one.

Everyone knows that termite control is not cheap and everyone also knows that if it is done poorly a lot of things can go wrong. So choosing the best termite control company in Hilo to treat your home is imperative. Here is a list of some of the companies that have a long and successful history of providing termite control services in our rainy little town.

1. Hilo Termite & Pest Control: Has been in business since 1963, when it was started by Shizuo Ono. It is one of the larger firms in town and it provides a full range of termite and pest control services in Hilo, including Sentricon for ground termites, tent fumigation for drywood termites and termite inspections require for home sales. It is a member of the Better Business Bureau and it provides free estimates.

2. Akamai Pest Solutions: Serving the Big Island since 2003, is a newer company and it distinguishes itself by being the first to offer Orange oil treatment for drywood termite control which means that no tenting is required. It offers treatments that are pet and child safe, so it can be a good company for those with young keiki.

3. Mason Termite and Pest: Provides same day and emergency service. It is also open for the longest hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Sunday.

4. Will Kill Pests: Is owned and operated by Will Lee, who has been in the termite control business for more than 13 years, hence the name of their company. They have been in business since 2005 and are quick to respond to calls.

5. Bowman Termite: Is operated by Bruce Bowman who has been in the termite control business since 1978. By providing excellent service it has grown to become one of the larger locally owned termite control companies providing quality service in Hilo of course and on the neighbor islands.

If you are looking for a termite control company you might also like to read: How much does Termite Control Cost in Hilo?.

Drive from Hilo to Pahoa About to Take Longer

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The drive from Hilo to Pahoa is about to take much longer. The DOT is changing the speed limit from 55 to 45 miles per hour between Shower Drive and Ainaloa Boulevard.

Highway 130 is one of the most dangerous roads in Hawaii because it is a two lane highway with a lot of streets and driveways that enter it without stoplights.

The change is slated to take effect on May 1 and will hopefully make the road a bit safer. At least now you will only be going 45 miles per hour when someone decides to pull out in front of you and forces you to slam on your brakes.

Since 45 is a lot slower than 55, the drive will take longer. But if this reduces the number of accidents it is well worth it and will save lives. Also, accidents can bring traffic to a standstill, in which case moving at 45, sure beats moving at zero miles per hour.

So how do you think this change will affect you? Leave a comment below and let everyone know.

Kapena Masese Lyrics and Meaning

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What do the lyrics of the catchy Kapena tune, Masese mean? Growing up in Hilo, I heard this song all da time, but I never knew what it meant.

It turns out is it a Fijian song written by Sakiusa Bulicokocoko who lived in Hawaii and performed with Kapena way back in the 1980s.

The Masese Lyrics Sung by Kapena Go Like This

ao sara ra rao wara lao wako yao
ao sara ra rao wara lao wako yao
ao sara ra rao wara lao wako yao

masa esa eh masese
masese masese masese
oi masa esa e masese
masese masese masese
oi oi masa esa e masese
youngona youngona youngona
oi younga ona ah youngona
tavako tavako tavako
oi ta vah aka o ta vako

ao sara ra rao wara lao waka yao
rana wako yao rava wako yao
i sara ra rao wara lao
a laolaca lavical yao
eiu masese wara gu

Kapena kapena kapena
ka pa ena a ka pena
kapena kapena kapena
ka pa ena ka pena

What does Kapena Masese Mean?

Some people say that the song itself doesn’t have a true meaning. That it is primarily a play on words that are strung together in a way that sounds good.

But here is what the words translate to from Fijian to English:

  • au sa rarawa rarawa ko’au = i’m a big disappointment
  • kapena = captain (in Hawaiian)
  • masese = matches to light your smokes
  • rarawa vakalevu ko’au  = i’m so sad or i’m really bummed
  • tavako = tobacco (which you light with your masese)
  • youngona = kava or awa (in Hawaiian)

The beauty of the fact that the song itself doesn’t have a truly coherent meaning is that we get to choose what it means to us.

For me, Masese means that life sucks so I am going to get my matches, light a cigarette and then I’m going to drink kava with my friends. We start to talk story and listen to some tunes and everything that sucked so bad about life fades away for the evening.