Editing Pāhala, Hawaii

{{Short description|Census-designated place in Hawaii, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
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|official_name          = Pāhala
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|native_name            = 
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|settlement_type        = [[Census-designated place]]
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|subdivision_name  = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Hawaii]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Hawaii|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawaii]]
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|area_total_km2         = 1.66
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<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of               = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
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|population_total               = 1403
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|elevation_footnotes    =  <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m            = 
|elevation_ft           = 920
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type       = [[ZIP Code]] <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
|postal_code            = 96777
|area_code              = [[Area code 808|808]]
|blank_name             = [[FIPS code]]
|blank_info             = 15-59750
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|blank1_info            = 362938
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}}

'''Pāhala''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i County]], [[Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i]], United States. The population was 1,403 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2017}}
Pāhala was created by a [[sugarcane]] [[Sugar plantations in Hawaii|plantation]]. The area selected to house the [[sugar refinery]] had several key features: 
* a flat [[plateau]] on a sloping mountainous region
* direct access to a water well
* a strategic central location to sugarcane fields
In [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], ''Pāhala'' refers to the ashes of leaves from the hala tree (''[[Pandanus tectorius]]''). Long ago, when cracks were found in the sugarcane fields, workers would stuff them with hala leaves and burn them.

For years, Pāhala consisted of a manager's house, several plantation homes, a general store, and the sugar refinery. Many of the sugarcane workers were housed in small camps in and around Pāhala and in camps situated throughout the outlying sugarcane fields. Many of these camps were self-sufficient. They consisted of eight to twelve plantation dwellings with a small store. Some camps had specialty shops such as a [[blacksmith]] or a simple [[barber]]shop. As time passed some installed gas stations.

In 1881, the first public school in the district of Ka{{okina}}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 Pāhala and called Pāhala High and Elementary School. In 1959, as [[Territory of Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i Territory]] became the state of Hawai{{okina}}i, the last class of the Pāhala High School held commencement ceremonies. The school then became Ka{{okina}}ū High and Pāhala Elementary School. It is the second oldest public school in the state of Hawai{{okina}}i, behind Lāhaināluna School in [[Lahaina, Hawaii|Lāhainā]]. Still in use today at Ka{{okina}}ū High is Kapono Building, the oldest public school building west of the [[Rocky Mountains]]. The only other public school in the district of Ka{{okina}}ū is Nā{{okina}}ālehu Elementary. Nā{{okina}}ālehu once had a high school. Today, students attend grades kindergarten through 6th grade in Nā{{okina}}ālehu.

As time progressed, Pāhala became the focal town of the northeastern side of the district of Ka{{okina}}ū; Nā{{okina}}ālehu became the other focal town to the south of the district. Businesses from outer camps migrated to Pāhala to set up shop. With social and economic changes came the demands for convenience. Soon, more stores opened up. A bank and gas stations were built. For leisure, a town hall or "Club House" was built and used by the plantation and the community to hold meetings and parties. In the early 1940s Pahala Theatre was built.

By the early 1960s, [[C. Brewer & Co.]] had decided to phase out all of the camps and move homes and other structures to Pāhala. At this time C. Brewer explored other alternatives to diversify into, eventually settling on [[macadamia]] nuts. Considered a weed in their native Australia, macadamia trees flourished into a new niche market for Hawai{{okina}}i.

The early 1970s demonstrated how influential the world's economy can be to Pāhala. The 1970s brought about [[1970s energy crisis|fuel shortages]], and [[Developing country|developing nations]] began to produce cheaper sugar. During the 1970s C. Brewer 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. Shleser also proposed that [[Hawaii County, Hawaii|Hawai{{okina}}i County]] pass a bill that would require 25% of all vehicles on the island to be retrofitted to use ethanol by 1985. Doc Buyers, however, decided against it.{{Citation needed|date=June 2017}}

[[File:Kau High and Pahala Elementary School.jpg|thumb|left|Ka{{okina}}ū High and Pāhala Elementary School, April 2018]]
By the late 1970s, with sugar's looming demise, C. Brewer instead decided to expand its macadamia nut operations. They began to phase out sugarcane fields that encircled Pāhala, converting them to grow macadamia trees.

By the mid 1980s it was apparent that sugar had seen its heyday. Honu{{okina}}apo's mill had closed in 1972 and its workers transferred to Pāhala. But other sugarcane 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 {{convert|1|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, which would then sell for $0.60. [[United States Congress|Congress]] had proposed bills that placed huge [[tariff]]s and taxes on imported sugar. But economically, even those measures could not stave off the inevitable.

In the 1990s, it was all too evident that sugarcane had lost its lustre. C. Brewers' investors were getting older and demanded Doc Buyers cut their losses and liquidate. In 1994, Buyers made a last-ditch effort to keep the mill running. But it required all workers to take drastic pay cuts; most would have had to accept [[minimum wage]]. The workers refused. That sealed the fate of the sugar legacy in Pahala. The last sugarcane was hauled and processed at the mill. Over the next two years the mill was dismantled and sold as parts to other manufacturing plants around the world. The sugarcane plantation and mill shut down in April 1996.

Many who lived and worked in Pahala moved on to other jobs around the island. Some took jobs in the hotel industry. Some commute up to five hours a day to and from jobs at resorts along the [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]] coast. Some moved to [[Maui]] and [[Kauai|Kaua{{okina}}i]] and worked at sugarcane 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. Many in the younger generation have chosen not to return.

Still, 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 Hawai{{okina}}i, the manager homes in Pahala were mostly purchased by local people who have stepped up to the new economy and have such jobs as doctor, bakery manager, fisherman, policeman, painting contractor and other jobs important to the community. Some new people have also moved in, restored the historic homes and established their roots, and now call Pahala home.

There has also been a movement to preserve the shoreline near Pahala, called the Ka{{okina}}ū Coast, which is the longest uninhabited coast in Hawai{{okina}}i. Its {{convert|80|mi}} now include {{convert|235|acre|ha}} of oceanfront park, for which the community raised more than $4 million to purchase and set aside forever. Another {{convert|750|acre|ha}} along the coast called Kawa is likely to be preserved. Inland, more than {{convert|115000|acre|km2}} have been added to [[Hawaii Volcanoes National Park|Hawai{{okina}}i Volcanoes National Park]], which now circles Pahala in the mountains above the village.

==Geography==
Pahala is located in the southern part of the island of [[Hawaii (island)|Hawai{{okina}}i]] at {{coord|19.204109|-155.479005|type:city|format=dms}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> [[Hawaii Route 11]] forms the southeast border of the community. The highway leads northeast {{convert|52|mi}} to [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]] and southwest {{convert|12|mi}} to [[Naalehu, Hawaii|Nā{{okina}}ālehu]]. The main entrance to [[Hawaii Volcanoes National Park|Hawai{{okina}}i Volcanoes National Park]] is {{convert|23|mi}} to the northeast of Pahala on Route 11.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.2|km2|order=flip}}, all of it land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1559750| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pahala CDP, Hawaii| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=June 2, 2017}} {{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Climate==
Pahala has a [[Tropical savanna climate|dry-summer tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|As]]) with hot daytime temperatures and mild nighttime temperatures year round and a summer dry season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mindat.org/climate-As.html|title=Tropical dry savanna climate}}</ref> Precipitation peaks during the month of November.

On April 27, 1931, the temperature reached 100&nbsp;°F (37.8&nbsp;°C) in Pahala, which is the highest temperature recorded in Hawaii.
{{Weather box
|location = Pahala
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F=93
|Feb record high F=90
|Mar record high F=93
|Apr record high F=100
|May record high F=93
|Jun record high F=89
|Jul record high F=92
|Aug record high F=92
|Sep record high F=90
|Oct record high F=90
|Nov record high F=90
|Dec record high F=91
|year record high F=100
|Jan high F=78
|Feb high F=78
|Mar high F=78
|Apr high F=78
|May high F=79
|Jun high F=80
|Jul high F=81
|Aug high F=82
|Sep high F=82
|Oct high F=81
|Nov high F=80
|Dec high F=78
|year high F=
|Jan low F=63
|Feb low F=62
|Mar low F=63
|Apr low F=64
|May low F=65
|Jun low F=67
|Jul low F=67
|Aug low F=68
|Sep low F=68
|Oct low F=67
|Nov low F=66
|Dec low F=67
|year low F=
|Jan record low F=50
|Feb record low F=52
|Mar record low F=50
|Apr record low F=50
|May record low F=51
|Jun record low F=54
|Jul record low F=52
|Aug record low F=59
|Sep record low F=56
|Oct record low F=58
|Nov record low F=55
|Dec record low F=48
|year record low F=48
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch=5.37
|Feb precipitation inch=4.22
|Mar precipitation inch=4.11
|Apr precipitation inch=3.19
|May precipitation inch=2.38
|Jun precipitation inch=1.87
|Jul precipitation inch=3.57
|Aug precipitation inch=3.28
|Sep precipitation inch=4.04
|Oct precipitation inch=4.67
|Nov precipitation inch=6.53
|Dec precipitation inch=5.64
|year precipitation inch=
|Jan precipitation days=12
|Feb precipitation days=11
|Mar precipitation days=13
|Apr precipitation days=12
|May precipitation days=10
|Jun precipitation days=7
|Jul precipitation days=7
|Aug precipitation days=8
|Sep precipitation days=9
|Oct precipitation days=11
|Nov precipitation days=11
|Dec precipitation days=11
|year precipitation days=122
|Jan humidity=
|Feb humidity=
|Mar humidity=
|Apr humidity=
|May humidity=
|Jun humidity=
|Jul humidity=
|Aug humidity=
|Sep humidity=
|Oct humidity=
|Nov humidity=
|Dec humidity=
|year humidity=|date=November 2013}}

==Economy==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2017}}
Pahala's main industries include one of the world's largest macadamia nut growing orchards, cattle and horse ranching, small independent Ka{{okina}}ū Coffee farms, and the Ka{{okina}}ū Coffee Mill & Visitor Center. Ka{{okina}}ū Coffee has won many international coffee tasting competitions.

A former sugar plantation town, Pahala is the district hub for education and health services, including a pharmacy, hospital, clinic, preschool and public school as well as a library.

Plantation houses, from small cottages to large homes and the former plantation manager's manor, have been restored around the village, serving local families and visitors to Hawai{{okina}}i Volcanoes National Park and Punalu{{okina}}u Black Sand Beach. The village has a post office, swimming pool, two food stores, fire station and gas station. Fisherman sell their catch and farmers sell their produce on the roadside in the village. There is a Catholic, an Assembly of God, and a Baptist church, as well as a Buddhist Hoangwanji and a Tibetan Buddhist temple up the mountain in Wood Valley.

The Ka{{okina}}ū District's regional newspaper – the ''Ka{{okina}}ū Calendar'' – with offices in Pahala, is online daily and printed monthly.

Pahala hosts the annual Ka{{okina}}ū Coffee Festival and Ka{{okina}}ū 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.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 1403
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
[[File:Kau High and Pahala Elementary School - Gymnasium and Shelter.jpg|thumb|left|Ka{{okina}}ū High and Pahala Elementary School, April 2018]]
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,378 people, 443 households, and 334 families residing in the CDP.  The population density was {{convert|1,635.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 487 housing units at an average density of {{convert|578.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the CDP was 8.78% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.07% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 47.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 10.45% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 32.51% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|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.

==See also==
{{Portal|Hawaii}}
* [[List of census-designated places in Hawaii|List of census-designated places in Hawai{{okina}}i]]
* [[Hawaii Volcanoes Wilderness|Hawai{{okina}}i Volcanoes Wilderness]]
* [[Wood Valley Temple]]

==References==
{{Reflist|22em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pahala, Hawaii}}
*[https://kaucoffeemill.com/ Ka{{okina}}ū Coffee Mill]
*[http://kaucoffeefestival.com/ Ka{{okina}}ū Coffee Festival]
*[http://royalhawaiianorchards.com/ Macadamia Nuts • Royal Hawaiian Orchards • The Heart Healthy Nut]

{{Hawaii County, Hawaii}}
{{Authority control}}

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