BIL 365 Draft 01 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1.3 KEEP KOHALA, KOHALA There has been a long history of change in North Kohala, from the original subsistence farming and gathering practiced by the Native Hawaiians, to the sugar plantation days, to the post- plantation era. The district continues to evolve today, and long-time residents have recognized and adapted to the changes, although at times with some reluctance. ' The phrase "Keep Kohala, Kohala" was expressed may times by man community members Y throughout the punning process. What does it mean to "Keep Kohala, Kohala"? The Kohala community generally believes that "Keeping Kohala, Kohala" means maintaining the Kohala Lifestyle. This lifestyle was, to a large extent, created by the sugar plantation and ranching. Villages were created around sugar mills and ranching headquarters. People were segregated with minimal interaction between ethnic groups. In these times, people grew crops and raised animals in designated areas. It was a lifestyle of sharing, and a system of exchange and bartering developed. Neighbors helped each other harvest, and generally looked out for each other. Within the various camps, there was a strong sense of community, as people were more concerned about the camp as a whole, than their personal needs. People made short-term sacrifices for the long-term good. People also made use of the natural resources around them -mango trees in the gulches, fish in the ocean, pigs in the mountains, and other resources they could gather from the streams or valleys. As time went by, the camps began to intermingle. Inter-racial marriages took place, which began the evolution of Kohala's unique ethnic and cultural mix. Eventually, the Kohala Sugar Company began to break down its camps and offer plantation workers residential lots. After years of living on the plantation, residents became small land owners. The North Kohala community began to arise. With this move to ownership of the land, the people took with them their household goods, as well as their animals. They used their houselots for raising their animals and to grow their vegetables. They continued the system of sharing, bartering, and using the natural resources. This way of living continues today in Kohala.