A Big Island couple whose home was destroyed by Hurricane Lala found it made more financial sense to buy a new house than rebuild, highlighting how construction costs have outpaced home prices.

• Hurricane Lala tore the roof off the couple's ocean-view home in August, and water damage ruined almost everything inside; only some clothes were saved.
• Rebuilding quotes came in around $900,000, nearly twice what the couple originally paid for the house, so they chose to buy a new home instead.
• They dealt with a long, frustrating back-and-forth with their insurance company, which took two months to pay out the claim.
• Their coffee farm was also damaged, with floodwaters reshaping the land, blocking normal access, and destroying around 300 trees, halting harvesting until the land can be cleared.
• The family has been leaning on community and family support to get through the rebuilding process.

Outlook: The couple hopes to move into their new home by the end of the year, while their coffee farm recovery remains on hold until the land can be cleared.