Honoring Our Living Treasure,
​Akiko Masuda

On May 29th, ​Akiko Masuda went to meet with Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter to discuss Hakalau School and the plans to create the Hakalau Learning Center. Instead, she was honored as our Living Treasure by Mayor Kim, Rep. Nakashima, and Councilwoman Poindexter and members of the Wailea-Hakalau community.

Akiko Masuda, surprised and delighted at the recognition ceremony on the Mayor's Lanai on May 29th. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hanson.

From Left to Right: Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter, District 1; Representative Mark Nakashima; Akiko Masuda; and Mayor Harry Kim. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hanson.

Akiko is a blessing to the Wailea-Hakalau community and the island of Hawai`i. She is steadfast in her commitment to honoring the ancestors and our kupuna; demonstrating the power of giving, gratitude and respect; and sharing both Hawaiian and plantation culture and values with newcomers. Her generosity and love for the people and the aina is evident in all she does.  She listens then acts, leading by example with her spirit of Aloha, humility and integrity. She is rooted to Akua and is of service to all man/womankind.

Updates as of July 18, 2019

Yesterday:

• Updated Timeline. Note: This section will be enhanced over the next few months as we add articles from the newly available digitized archives of the: Hawaii Herald (1986-1923), Hilo Daily Tribune (1895-1923), Hilo Tribune (1902-1906), Hawaii Tribune Herald (1916-2011).  Your perception of the way things were will change as more facts are added. The current update features new content for the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s 1990s and 2000s. 
• New page features John M. Ross School in Ninole.
• ​Updated and reorganized Hangouts and Memories to include a story about the Honohina Hongwanji by life-time Ninole resident, Robert Nishimoto and more information about Nishiyama Bus Service and Garage.

Today: ​​

• Updated Calendar of Events​​​​
• Updated Hakalau Farmers Market
• Updated and reorganized Hakalau Jodo Mission Today and added new photos and content 
• Updated Hakalau Neighborhood Watch with additional information about crime prevention and disaster preparedness
• ​Updated Hakalau Reunions to include a video from the 2018 Reunion

Tomorrow:​​​

• Updated Arsenic Remediation includes a 1967 aerial photo of the poison shed, a 2014 aerial photo of a cliff failure near the site of the former poison shed, and an update on requirements and current status of remediation efforts.
• Updated  Cliff Failures with updated background information and both aerial and ocean-based views of the cliffs between Kolekole and Mile Marker 20 in Ninole--new photos added 
• Updated Ninole Development (Mile Marker 19) with new pictures

New Year's Resolutions for hakalauhome

New Year's Resolution #1:  Expand historical information about the former Hakalau Plantation using newspaper sources. 

​New Year's Resolution #2: Track and explain the sale of lands [within the Hakalau Kuleana* to sugar interests after the Great Māhele and the Reciprocity Treaty of 1875.

​New Year's Resolution #3: Quantify and describe the demographic changes over time in the Hakalau Kuleana*.

* For this website, the Hakalau Kuleana is defined as the area within the boundaries of the former Hakalau Plantation from the Kolekole River in Wailea to the Poupou Stream in Ninole. This is approximately from the 14 Mile Marker to the 20 Mile Marker.

Why we created hakalauhome.com

Creating hakalauhome.com is our way of showing our respect for those who came before us, to build upon the history and share it broadly, and to showcase the collective effort of residents of Hakalau today.

More