Pahala, Hawaii Pahala, Hawaii Post office in Pahala Post office in Pahala Location in Hawaii County and the state of Hawaii Location in Hawaii County and the state of Hawaii Pahala (Hawaiian: Pahala) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States.

Pahala is positioned at 19 12 15 N 155 28 44 WCoordinates: 19 12 15 N 155 28 44 W. Climate data for Pahala Pahala was created by a sugarcane plantation.

In Hawaiian, Pahala refers to the ashes of leaves from the hala tree (Pandanus tectorius).

For years, Pahala consisted of a supervisors house, a several plantation homes, a general store and the sugar refinery.

Many of the sugarcane workers were homed in small camps in and around Pahala and in camps situated throughout the outer lying sugarcane fields.

In 1881, the first enhance school in the precinct of Ka u was established in Kapapala.

Some years later the school and its two buildings were relocated to Pahala and called Pahala High and Elementary School.

In 1959, as Hawaii Territory became the State of Hawaii, the last class of the Pahala High School held commencement ceremonies.

The school then became Ka u High and Pahala Elementary School.

Ka u High and Pahala Elementary School is the second earliest enhance school in the state of Hawaii, behind Lahainaluna School in Lahaina.

Still in use today at Ka u High is Kapono Building, the earliest enhance school building west of the Rocky Mountains.

The only other enhance school in the precinct of Ka u is Na alehu Elementary.

As time progressed, Pahala became the focal town of the northeastern side of the precinct 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.

In the early 1940s Pahala Theatre was built.

Had decided to phase out all of the camps and move homes and other structures to Pahala.

The early 1970s demonstrated how influential the world's economy can be to Pahala.

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 town/city and County of Hawaii pass a bill that would require 25% of all vehicles on the island would be retrofitted to use ethanol by the year 1985.

They began to phase out sugarcane fields that encircled Pahala, converting them to expanded macadamia nuts.

Honuapo's foundry had long closed in 1972 and its workers transferred to Pahala.

Still, the Pahala Sugar Mill continued to produce record tons per acre, but at a steep price.

That sealed the faith of sugar impact in Pahala.

Many who lived and worked in Pahala moved on to other jobs around the island.

Many old timers that have generations of family ties to Pahala had passed on.

There are those that have found their roots and figured out a way to remain in Pahala.

In fact, unlike many other places where the larger plantation homes were purchased by outsiders coming to live in Hawaii, the manager homes in Pahala were mostly purchased by small-town people who have stepped up to the new economy and have such jobs as doctor, bakery manager, fisherman, policeman, painting contractor and other jobs meaningful to the community.

Some new citizens have also moved in, restored the historic homes and established their roots and now call Pahala home.

There has also been a boss to preserve the shoreline near Pahala, called the Ka u Coast, which is known to be the longest uninhabited coast in Hawaii.

Inland, more than 115,000 acres (470 km2) have been added to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which now circles Pahala in the mountain peaks above the village.

Pahala's chief industries include one of the world's biggest macadamia nut burgeoning orchards, cattle and horse ranching, small autonomous Ka`u Coffee farms and Ka`u Coffee Mill & Visitor Center.

A former sugar plantation town, Pahala is the precinct core for education and community services, including a pharmacy, hospital, clinic, preschool and enhance school as well as a library.

Plantation homes, from small cottages to large homes and the former plantation manager's manor, have been restored around the village servicing small-town families and visitors to Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Punalu`u Black Sand Beach.

The Ka'u District's county-wide newspaper the Ka`u Calendar with offices in Pahala, is online daily and printed monthly.

Pahala hosts the annual Ka`u Coffee Festival and Ka`u Coffee Trail Run, Science Camps of America for teenagers each summer and many family reunions and weddings, as well as NGO, company, music and dance retreats.

In the CDP the populace 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.

Islands, municipalities, and communities of Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States

Categories:
Census-designated places in Hawaii County, Hawaii - Sugar plantations in Hawaii - Populated places on Hawaii (island)