1990s Detail

The 1990s

The 1990s was a tumultuous decade. The sugar industry shut down. Workers for the Hilo Coast Processing Company lost 70% of their promised severance pay when the company went bankrupt. Sale of acreage in the area for "gentleman's farms" heralded the beginning of gentrification, with dramatic socio-demographic changes. Throughout this period, the community was engaged, volunteering to support each other. New arrivals stepped in as the next generation of community leaders.

Most of the information about the 1990s comes from newspapers, primarily the Hawaii Tribune Herald, accessed via Newspapers.com.

1990

The sugar industry was in serious decline and there was much debate and action related to agricultural diversification and converting sugar into other products. There were accusations that sugar interests purchased for land development, not sugar production.

Land Development Not Sugar Production

In the midst of these debates, the nation debated sugar subsides.

A series of articles published in The Advertiser in September 1990 clearly laid out the situation and the impacts.

The Future of Sugar Series

A series of articles laid out the situation.

Advertising for the sale of former cane land for "gentleman's farms" and "paradise found" were common.

1991

Akiko Masuda, Oahu dancer and dance instructor by way of Farrington High School, bought the Motonaga Garage in Wailea, which had been in business from 1935 to 1985. To get acquainted with her neighbors, most of whom were kupuna of Japanese and Okinawan descent, Akiko volunteered to do yard work for them for three hours per week. Over the years, she applied what she had learned from them to preserve both the culture and the physical environment, becoming the next generation's community leader.

1992

For years, sugar plantation workers had faced layoffs, consolidations, and dire warnings about the future of the industry. The Voice of Hakalau, the newspaper for the former Hakalau Plantation, and the annual reports voiced warnings in the 1950s and 1960s. The end was clearly in sight when, in 1992, C. Brewer announced plans to shut down both Mauna Kea Agribusiness and Hilo Coast Processing Company. Due to the 2 year growing cycle of sugar cane, the actual shut down would take place in 1994.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, August 2, 1992, p. 1, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, August 2, 1992 pp. 1 and 8, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Large properties are up for lease or sale.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, July 12, 1992, accessed via Newspapers.com

Hawaii Tribune Herald, November 11, 1992, accessed via Newspapers.com

Hawaii Tribune Herald, December 23, 1992, accessed via Newspapers.com

Community spirit continues with

Hawaii Tribune Herald, July 31, 1992, accessed via Newspapers.com.

1993

The Hakalau community continued to be engaged.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, August 26, 1993, p. 10, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, October 14, 1993, pp. 13 and 22, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, October 27, 1993, p. 8, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, November 28, 1993, p. 28, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Gentrification continued. Typically, gentrification is defined as the process of repairing and rebuilding homes and businesses in a deteriorating area, usually an urban neighborhood, accompanied by an influx of middle-class or affluent people and potentially forcing relocation of current, established residents and businesses, causing them to move from a gentrified area, seeking lower cost housing and stores.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, October 18, 1993, p. 19, accessed via Newspapers.com.

1994

The last harvest of cane on the lands of the former Hakalau Plantation (later part of Pepeekeo Sugar, then Mauna Kea Agribusiness, then Hilo Coast Processing Company) took place in 1994. C. Brewer held on to this land for a while, leasing it to small farmers and even giving free five-year leases to its displaced workers.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, September 2, 1994, p. 8, accessed via Newspapers.com.

The situation worsened when Hilo Coast Processing Company went bankrupt and workers lost 70% of their severance pay.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, December 13, 1994, pp. 1 and 10, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Sale of land was the most frequent Hakalau notice in the newspaper during this period.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, January 26, 1994, accessed via Newspapers.com.

The community continued to be engaged.
Work to improve the gym continued.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, September 8, 1994, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, February 2, 1994, p. 12, accessed via Newspapers.com

1995

Newspaper coverage of the Hakalau area in 1995 was sparse, consisting primarily of ads for real estate and land sales, obituaries, and some community activities. Here are some examples of the notices for community activities.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, September 7, 1995, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, March 1, 1995, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, October 8, 1995, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Sugar Town by Yasushi "Scotch" Kurisu was published, telling the story of the historic sugar cane communities along the Hilo and Hamakua Coast of the Big Island--from the boom years of the early 20th Century through the industry's postwar decline and virtual disappearance by the 1990s.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, November 21, 1995, accessed via Newspapers.com.

1996

New residents begin to make their mark. Akiko Masuda transformed the Motonaga Garage and adjacent properties into Akiko's Buddhist Bed & Breakfast, opening in 1996. The rustic premises appealed to tourists trying to escape from the modern, upscale B&Bs.

1997

Community engagement continues and plans for the Hakalau Gym moved forward.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, March 18, 1997, p. 14, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Every year on the last Sunday of July, the community continued to gather for kumiai.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, July 20, 1997, p. 36, accessed via Newspapers.com.

C. Brewer and its subsidiary continued to seek new business ventures using existing assets.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, October 5, 1997, p. 22, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Newspaper articles featuring the Hakalau area in 1998 were few. Notices of community meetings continued. Most coverage in the press, though, was either obituaries or ads for sale of acreage.

Having learned about mochi pounding from Wailea kupuna, Akiko Masuda strengthened and expanded the tradition, starting with a small neighborhood gathering of 23 people, mostly neighbors. Mochi Pounding at Akiko’s has grown and now welcomes the general public. Nearly 1,000 people attended in 2018. Everyone takes their turn at pounding the delicious sticky rice for good luck. New year’s crafts, food vendors, fortune telling, massage, I Ching readings, floral arrangements, plantation stories, Okinawan taiko drumming, Hawaiian entertainment & more. Mochi pounding at Akiko’s is a great cultural mix of everything that makes Hawaii so special.

Mochi Pounding in Wailea. Photo courtesy of Dave Gallegher.

1999

New residents brought new talents.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, May 27, 1999, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Land sales continued.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, December 5, 1999, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Exploration of timber harvesting began.

Hawaii Tribune Herald, February 3, 1999, p. 17, accessed via Newspapers.com.

Community activities continued, including: mochi pounding, Wailea-Hakalau kumiai, Hakalau Community Association, Hakalau School and Community Reunion.

See 2000s Detail