ʻŌʻōkala, Hawaii
 | |
  ʻŌʻōkala, Hawaii | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Sea of Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 20°1′3″N 155°17′14″W / 20.01750°N 155.28722°W |
| Highest elevation | 371 ft (113.1 m) |
ʻŌʻōkala is an unincorporated community on the island of Hawaiʻi in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaii, United States. The community has some local businesses such as a sugarcane farm, along with a shutdown dairy farm.
Geography
[edit]ʻŌʻōkala is located on the windward side of the island of Hawaiʻi, along the Hamakua Coast, which is known for its dramatic sea cliffs, deep gulches, and fertile lands. The community is situated near the ocean but elevated above sea level, which provides it with a cooler, wetter climate compared to the leeward side of the island.[1]
ʻŌʻōkala is served by Hawaii Route 19, a major coastal highway connecting it to Hilo to the south and Waimea to the northwest. Public transportation is limited in the area, so most residents rely on personal vehicles for commuting.[2]
History
[edit]Like many towns along the Hamakua Coast, ʻŌʻōkala has roots in Hawaii's sugarcane era. It was part of the once-thriving sugarcane plantation network that shaped the island's economy and demographics throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. With the decline of sugarcane production in the 1990s, many such communities transitioned to other forms of agriculture or became largely residential.[3]
ʻŌʻōkala is not tracked as a separate census-designated place (CDP), so exact demographic figures are not available. However, it is a small rural community. According to a report by Point2Homes, the estimated population is 490.[4]
Because the community has borne multiple names, the United States Board on Geographic Names officially designated the community "ʻŌʻōkala" in 2000.[5] It also has a post office with the ZIP code 96774.[6]
Environmental concerns
[edit]During 2017 the community groups Kupale Ookala and Center for Food Safety sued the Big Island Dairy for violating the federal Clean Water act.[7] In April 2018, the Hawaii Department of Health issued a public warning after water in a gulch near ʻŌʻōkala tested positive for contamination.[8] The source was determined to be runoff and wastewater discharges from the nearby Big Island Dairy facility.[9]
Following investigations and public pressure, Big Island Dairy entered into a consent agreement with the state. The agreement required the company to cease operations, pay fines, and carry out environmental remediation.[10] The dairy ceased its operations in 2019.[11] In 2020, the Hawaii Department of Health ended its enforcement for the dairy.[12] In 2021 a Hawaiian couple bought assets from the shutdown dairy, with hopes of supporting sustainable agriculture.[13]
Economy
[edit]The economy of ʻŌʻōkala historically relied on the sugar industry, but following the industry's closure, it transitioned to smaller-scale agriculture and residential use. Currently, many residents work in surrounding towns or are involved in small-scale farming and services.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Ookala | Hawaii Life Vacations". vacations.hawaiilife.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ Rand McNally. The Road Atlas '08. Chicago: Rand McNally, 2008, p. 30.
- ^ "UHM Library Hawaiian Collection HSPA - Plantations - Kaiwiki Sugar Co". www2.hawaii.edu. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "Ookala, HI Household Income, Population & Demographics | Point2Homes". www.point2homes.com. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: ʻŌʻōkala, Hawaii
- ^ USPS – Cities by ZIP Code
- ^ "Center for Food Safety | Press Releases | | Community Groups Sue Idaho-based Big Island Dairy for Polluting Hawaii Waters with". Center for Food Safety. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "WARNING: Contaminated Water in Gulch Near ʻŌʻōkala". Big Island Now. April 13, 2018.
- ^ "Warning Issued in O'okala After Dairy's Waste Spills into Gulch".
- ^ Salmons, Stephanie (March 29, 2019). "DOH, Big Island Dairy sign consent agreement". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ "Center for Food Safety | Press Releases | | Victory! Polluting Industrial Dairy on Big Island Shutting Down". Center for Food Safety. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "Hawai'i Department of Health ends enforcement against Big Island Dairy in 'Ō'ōkala". health.hawaii.gov. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ The Associated Press (September 21, 2021). "Hawaii couple buys assets of defunct dairy on Big Island". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "UHM Library Hawaiian Collection HSPA - Plantations - Kaiwiki Sugar Co". www2.hawaii.edu. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
External links
[edit]
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