Pāhala, Hawai'i

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Pāhala is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 1,378 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Economy
4 Demographics
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Pāhala is located at 19°12′15″N, 155°28′44″W (19.204109, -155.479005)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.2 km² (0.8 mi²), all land.

[edit] History

The town of Pahala was created by the sugar plantation. The area selected to house the sugar mill had several key features:

- a flat plateau on a sloping mountain region.

- direct access to a water well

- a strategic central location to sugar fields.

In Hawaiian, the meaning of, "Pahala" is the ashes of leaves from the Hala tree. Long ago, when cracks were found in the sugar fields workers would stuff them with Hala leaves and burn them.

For years the town of Pahala consisted of a managers house, several plantation homes, a general store and the sugar mill. Many of the sugar workers were housed in small camps in and around Pahala and in camps situated throughout the outer lying sugarfields. Many of these camps were self sufficient. They consisted of 8 to 12 plantation dwellings with a small store. Some camps had specialty shops such as a blacksmith or a simple barbershop. As time passed some installed gas stations.

In 1881 the first public school in the district of Ka'u was established in Kapapala. The humble campus consisted of just two buildings. Some years later the school and its two buildings were relocated to Pahala and called Pahala High and Elementary School. In the 1940's the name of the school changed to Ka'u High and Pahala Elementary School. Ka'u High is the second oldest public school in the state of Hawai'i. Still in use today at Ka'u High, is the oldest public school building west side of the Rockies. The only other public school in the district was Na'alehu Elementary and Intermediate School. It once had a high school but it was decided to phase that portion out. Today, kids attend grades Kindergarten through 8th grade in Na'alehu. After completion of these grades they are then bussed to Pahala for high school.

As time progressed, Pahala became the focal town of the north eastern side of the district of Ka'u. (Na'alehu became the other focal town to the south of the district) Businesses from outer camps migrated to Pahala to set up shop. With social and economic changes came the demands for convenience. Soon, more stores opened up. A bank was built. Gas Stations as well. For leisure, a town hall or "Club House" was built and used by the plantation and the community to hold meetings and parties. Also a Theatre was built.

By the early '60's C Brewer had decided to phase out all of the camps and move homes and other structures to Pahala. At this time C Brewer explored other alternatives to diversify into. Macadamia Nut became that new crop. Considered a weed in its native Australia, Macadamia Nuts flourished into a new niche market for Hawai'i.

The early '70's demonstrated how influential the world's economy can be to Pahala. The '70's brought on gas shortages. Third world countries began to produce cheaper sugar. It was during the '70's C Brewer was proposed the perfect opportunity to diversify. A gentleman by the name of Bob Shleser had proposed to Doc Buyers (then CEO of C Brewer) the idea and technology to convert the Pahala Sugar Mill to produce Ethanol fuel from sugarcane. Bob also proposed the idea that the city and county of Hawai'i pass a bill that would require 25% of all vehicles on the island would be retrofitted to use Ethanol by the year 1985. This proposal would have been monumental had it been carried out. For whatever reason, Doc Buyers let his short sightedness get the best of him and at the last minute got cold feet and decided against it.

By the late '70's with sugars looming demise C Brewer instead decided to expand its Macadamia Nut operations. They began to phase out sugar fields that encircled Pahala and convert them into Mac Nut fields.

By the mid '80's it was apparent sugar had seen its heyday. Honuapo's mill had long closed in 1972 and its workers transferred to Pahala. But other sugar plantations around the island began to close as well. Still, the Pahala Sugar Mill continued to produce record tons per acre, but at a steep price. At the time it cost $1.50 to produce .60 cents of a pound of sugar. A huge losing proposition. Congress had proposed bills that placed huge tariffs and taxes on imported sugar. But economically, even those measures could not stae off the inevitable.

In the '90's, it was all too evident, sugar had lost its lustre. C Brewers' investors were getting older and demanded Doc Buyers cut their losses and liquidate. In 1994, Doc made a last ditch effort to keep the mill running. But it required all workers to take drastic pay cuts; most would have to accept minimum wage. The workers refused. That sealed the faith of sugar legacy in Pahala. The last sugarcane was hauled and processed at the mill. Over the next 2 years the mill was dismantled and sold as parts to other manufacturing plants around the world.

Many who lived and worked in Pahala moved on to other jobs around the island. Many took jobs in the hotel industry. They commute 5 hours a day to and from the Kohala coast. Some moved to Maui and Kaua'i and worked at sugar plantations there. Others moved to the mainland to try a fresh start. Many old timers that have generations of family ties to Pahala had passed on. The younger generation have chosen not to return.

Still, there are those that have remained. There are those that have found their roots and figured out a way to remain in Pahala. New people have moved in, established their roots and now call Pahala home.

The face of Pahala may have changed but the heart of it remains.

[edit] Economy

Pahala's main industries include macadamia nut orchards, Ka`u coffee farming, flower growing and ranching.

Plantation houses, from small cottages to large homes and the former plantation manager's mansion, have been restored around the village center which is the campus of the regional high school, a library, and swimming pool. The village has a post office, restaurant, public gym and several stores. There is a hospital and medical clinic, a Catholic and Buddhist church and a Tibetan Buddhist temple just up the mountain. Pahala Plantation Cottages www.pahala-hawaii.com are open for visitors to stay among the houses in the village. The Ka`u Calendar is the district's newspaper and is published in Pahala, www.kaucalendar.com

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,378 people, 443 households, and 334 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 633.4/km² (1,635.9/mi²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 223.8/km² (578.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 8.78% White, 0.07% Native American, 47.68% Asian, 10.45% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 32.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.31% of the population.

There were 443 households out of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.51.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,243, and the median income for a family was $31,548. Males had a median income of $25,375 versus $21,023 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $11,450. About 17.9% of families and 24.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.8% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.