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Courses Of Action
<br />• The County shall assist the further development of diversified agricul-
<br />ture in Hamakua and continue to cooperate with other appropriate
<br />agencies to provide the necessary services to assist agriculture. For
<br />example, the County can protect prime agricultural land from urbaniza-
<br />tion through zoning. Capital improvement programs should be tied into
<br />enhancing agricultural areas.
<br />• Although there is potential for limited visitor facilities in this area, the
<br />County shall allow development which will not detract from the natural
<br />beauty of the area.
<br />NORTH KOHALA
<br />Profile
<br />Population 1960 1970 % Change
<br />North Kohala 3,386 3,326 - 1.8
<br />Hawi 985 797 -19.1
<br />Kapaau 937 237 -74.7*
<br />Makapala 353 201 -43.1
<br />Other 1,111 2,091 88.2
<br />*Note: The above data shows a substantial decline in Kapaau. Part of this drop is attributed to a
<br />change in the statistical boundary of this village.
<br />Population in North Kohala has declined only slightly in ten years. A
<br />major factor preventing a more substantial decline is development in South
<br />Kohala, particularly the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.
<br />Sugar, cattle, and macadamia nuts are the major agricultural products.
<br />On smaller acreages truck crops are grown. The Kohala Sugar Company is the
<br />major source of income and employment for this district. During 1968, this firm
<br />had 564 employees and an annual payroll of $3.9 million. Prior to the mergers
<br />of C. Brewer's plantations on the Hamakua coast which formed the Mauna
<br />Kea Sugar Company and the Pepeekeo Sugar Company, the Kohala Sugar
<br />Company was the largest sugar planter and producer on the Big Island.
<br />The Kohala Sugar Company is planning to phase out their sugar opera-
<br />tions. Slightly over 500 employees will be directly affected by this action. Sup-
<br />port services both within and outside the North Kohala district will also be
<br />affected.
<br />Kohala Sugar Company officials, people of the district, and governmen-
<br />tal agencies have begun studying alternative forms of economic activity.
<br />' The cattle industry which utilizes the bulk of the land area is the second
<br />most important source of income for the area. The largest tracts of grazing land
<br />extend from the top of the Kohala mountains to the seashore.
<br />There are several hundred acres of macadamia nuts in the area. Most of
<br />the acreage is owned by Castle and Cooke which transports the nuts to their own
<br />plant in Keaau for processing. This situation adds to the cost of operations.
<br />Another important source of income and employment is tourism and its
<br />related service industries. Major tourism facilities, however, are not located in
<br />North Kohala, although the area does contain many natural and historical
<br />amenities conducive to the development of tourist related facilities. There are
<br />many residents of this district who work in the adjoining district of South
<br />' Kohala.
<br />There are several sites in this district with the potential of becoming small
<br />resort areas. The Mahukona and Kohala mountain areas have been identified in
<br />the 1963 Kohala-Hamakua Plan as possible resort areas. The advent of the
<br />proposed ferry system should aid tourism development in the district.
<br />The major private landowners are the Kohala Sugar Company, Bishop Es-
<br />tate, Richard Smart and Kahua Ranch. Together with the State of Hawaii, these
<br />landowners account for 90% of the land in this district.
<br />The Upolu Airport services a limited number of flights, mostly air taxis
<br />and other smaller aircraft. There is no regular scheduled service to Upolu by
<br />the two primary inter -island carriers. With the completion of the Mahukona-
<br />Kawaihae Road, a circuit into the district was formed. Prior to the completion
<br />of this project, the North Kohala area was serviced by a single highway which
<br />wound through the Kohala mountains.
<br />Courses Of Action
<br />• The County shall aid the expansion of diversified agriculture in the
<br />district by providing direct and indirect assistance.
<br />• Resort facilities compatible with the physical, social and economic goals
<br />of the residents of the district should be encouraged.
<br />• The County shall work closely with the people of the district and with
<br />industry to plan alternative uses for the lands affected by the termina-
<br />tion of sugar operations.
<br />SOUTH KOHALA
<br />Profile
<br />Population
<br />1960
<br />1970
<br />% Change
<br />South Kohala
<br />1,538
<br />2,310
<br />50.2
<br />Waimea
<br />657
<br />756
<br />15.1
<br />Other
<br />881
<br />1,554
<br />76.4
<br />The greatest percentage increase in population of any district in the County
<br />of Hawaii occurred in South Kohala. The numerical increase of 772 persons was
<br />second only to South Hilo's 2,362.
<br />The primary economic activities of this area are cattle ranching, diversified
<br />crops, and tourism. The cattle ranching industry utilizes most of the land area,
<br />and pastures are found from the higher slopes of the mountains down to the sea-
<br />shore. Parker Ranch, one of the largest privately owned ranches in the world,
<br />has its headquarters in Waimea. In its entirety, this ranch has a total of 227,000
<br />acres, which includes acreage in the districts of Hamakua and North Kohala. As
<br />of January 1970, the ranch had 48,523 head of cattle. Other ranches located in
<br />this district vary in size of herd and land area.
<br />The cattle industry utilizes feed lot operations. This technique opens the
<br />door for the expansion of the cattle industry and silage crops. Tracts of corn
<br />and sorghum are now being grown for silage.
<br />Waimea is one of the most productive areas for vegetable crops on the Big
<br />Island. � Cabbages, celery, lettuce, daikon (turnip), peppers, broccoli and carrots
<br />are grown here. Experiments are being conducted on different crops as well as
<br />on the improvement of those presently grown.
<br />The agricultural industry, especially truck farms, has potential for further
<br />expansion. This industry, faced with competition for resources from tourism and
<br />other urban forces, needs governmental assistance.
<br />The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, which began operations in 1965, opened the
<br />door to the resort development of this area. The areas which surround proposed
<br />developments have attractions for tourists and residents alike. Hunting on the
<br />slopes of Mauna Kea and the Kohala mountains, deep sea fishing, hiking
<br />trails, historic sites, sandy beaches, and a diversity of climate are some of these
<br />attractions.
<br />There is a considerable amount of investor interest in South Kohala. Rocke-
<br />feller's resort plans call for the eventual construction of some 2,000 hotel rooms.
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