Why we created hakalauhome.com
Feedback and pictures from the 2017 Hakalau School and Community Reunion reminded me why Ken and I created hakalauhome.com…
In September 2013, Akiko Masuda asked us if we would be willing to open our home to former residents attending the Hakalau reunion, as an example of one of the newer homes in the area. We readily agreed. Ken has a personal interest in the history of Hakalau since his father was the Harvesting Superintendent from 1954-1959, and his family lived in Wailea during that time. Any chance to talk with folks who grew up here was an opportunity not to be missed.
On the day of the open house, about 25 people visited our home and encouraged us to join them for the bus tour of old stomping grounds. What a tour that was! Ken was delighted with memories shared by individuals who remembered his family, having delivered milk and the newspaper to his home, or having played baseball with his older brother Roger. Of course, there was also Ken’s fellow cub scout pack member, Cal, whom we had met in 2011 at the showing of Aloha Buddha at the Hakalau Jodo Mission.
Former residents share a love of Hakalau and work diligently to share pictures, stories and maps to reinforce their memories. Ken and I learned a lot from these folks and, gladly, have maintained contact with many. The key lesson was that culture can be passed from one time to another and one group to another. The values from the plantation community that former residents shared are gifts to us:
Creating hakalauhome.com is our way of showing our respect for them, to build upon the history and share it broadly, and to showcase the collective effort of residents of Hakalau today.
Aloha,
Susan Forbes
In September 2013, Akiko Masuda asked us if we would be willing to open our home to former residents attending the Hakalau reunion, as an example of one of the newer homes in the area. We readily agreed. Ken has a personal interest in the history of Hakalau since his father was the Harvesting Superintendent from 1954-1959, and his family lived in Wailea during that time. Any chance to talk with folks who grew up here was an opportunity not to be missed.
On the day of the open house, about 25 people visited our home and encouraged us to join them for the bus tour of old stomping grounds. What a tour that was! Ken was delighted with memories shared by individuals who remembered his family, having delivered milk and the newspaper to his home, or having played baseball with his older brother Roger. Of course, there was also Ken’s fellow cub scout pack member, Cal, whom we had met in 2011 at the showing of Aloha Buddha at the Hakalau Jodo Mission.
Former residents share a love of Hakalau and work diligently to share pictures, stories and maps to reinforce their memories. Ken and I learned a lot from these folks and, gladly, have maintained contact with many. The key lesson was that culture can be passed from one time to another and one group to another. The values from the plantation community that former residents shared are gifts to us:
- Engage in collective effort
- Look out for each other
- Honor hard work
- Show respect for those who came before us
Creating hakalauhome.com is our way of showing our respect for them, to build upon the history and share it broadly, and to showcase the collective effort of residents of Hakalau today.
Aloha,
Susan Forbes