My first search was the Big Island, like you say, plenty room, race track, not a bad call. I'm very familiar with all the islands, having worked and lived on them (Kaui, Maui, Big Isle) many times over the years. Maui's to crowded, up country is nice but real expensive for the kind of place I'm looking for. Big Isle's OK, but to get a 'nice' place for the money, you pretty much gotta be out in the sticks, or Hilo side (rains a lot). Found some great prices in the Puna area, drug dealers could be a problem, better lock the doors. I hear Volcano area has some really cheap land, and it should be open again as soon as the latest lava flow and sulphur emissions get under control (it's currently under an evacuation order or something like it). That could have something to do with the cheap land prices...
Yard maintenance is a piece of cake, grass don't grow on a lava field. I hear the 'water cachement' systems work pretty good too if you keep the tank clean enough, no city water, sewer, cable, etc.