Forever...
Lives on the voice of Kekaha
2010 E Ola Mau Na Leo O Kekaha. All right reserved. ®
Updated - July 17, 2010
The “pre-history” of this organization is steeped in the sugar-plantation community efforts which formed the Kekaha Community Association (KCA) in the mid-‘30’s which served as a vehicle to coordinate programs and activitities for the family members of the community. In it’s several decades of existence, KCA sponsored athletic teams and community events and built a community swimming pool and coordinated a movie theater for revenues.
(“Forever Live On the Voices of Kekaha”) A Community Organization Established: January, 2008
With the advent of the 21st Century, million-dollar dwellings that are primarily vacation-rentals have dotted the coastline where the community-built swimming pool once stood on the corner of Kaumuali’i Highway and Alae Street in Kekaha. The once-insulated and isolated plantation town has become the 4th largest community on the island of Kaua’i. The municipal land-fill for the entire island is it’s closest “neighbor”. Further down east is the Pacific Missile Range Facility, the vanguard of the free world in terms of strategic defense mechanisms for surface, subsurface and space technology. Kekaha is at the foothills of the Kokee Mountains, the crown-jewel of our Beloved Kaua’i. Kekaha is also surrounded with the presence of GMO seed companies: Pioneer Seed, Syngenta, and Monsatto.
Kekaha is also the hometown of the largest group of “transplanted” native Hawaiians originating from the island of Ni’ihau. Kekaha has two language-immersion schools that conducts classes in the Hawaiian language. Kekaha is surrounded by ceded lands that were previously leased to American Factors for growing sugar. Today, those lands have been leased to ADC by the State of Hawaii for the continuation of agricultural activities.
(PNN)-- Mayor Bernard Carvalho has told multiple reliable sources that will be announcing the new landfill site on or before April 15 and, according to many, that site is likely to be the one across the highway from the current landfill in Kekaha.
According to reports the previously selected “Umi” site in Kalaheo was “mis-scored” when the fact that it is currently in long term agricultural use by Kaua`i Coffee was not considered and Carvalho has told many community members that he will have an announcement of the new scoring results by April 15.
“Discussions continue in regards to the next steps on the landfill siting. The Mayor is hoping to issue a statement on this matter later this month” according to county spokesperson Mary Daubert who would not confirm the date or the selection of Kekaha..
“Kekaha Mauka” was announced as the site ranked second by a task force earlier this year and a source close to the current process who asked not to be identified told us that it is likely to be the one “selected” on the 15th.
But anyone who thinks that the Kekaha community will be up in arms over environmental justice concerns had better think again.
“I don’t really have any objections” community leader Bruce Pleas told PNN “ as long as the ‘host community benefit (HCB)’ is sufficient and the community buys in”.
Although he thinks that there could be some new more innovative ways to deal with the current and new site he doesn’t think most of the people of Kekaha will object since they have already bought into the concept of being paid by the county for hosting the current landfill. >> continue more
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An annual highlight was the yearly 4th of July Celebration that brought throngs of islanders to the remote town of Kekaha in the far-west portion of the island of Kauai for the fireworks display that climaxed the festivities. With the wane of sugar production, the aftermath of 2 hurricanes that hit the town, the theater was closed down, the swimming pool was destroyed, all athletic programs and community events ceased and the the plantation era came to an end with the 20th Century.
With these factors and considerations, residents of Kekaha have taken on the responsibility of being “pro-active” in forming a new community organization: E OLA MAU NA LEO O KEKAHA.
is apparent that the community needs to establish a new identity in bringing to the table the by combining the “old time residents” with those who have recently moved into the community with no previous ties to the plantation history. More so, the opportunity has risen to bring the members of the Hawaiian community to the forefront to help establish that new identity and a new foundation for the community.
It is strongly felt that the values of the ahupua’a system and it’s concepts should be seriously considered. The customs of the host culture should be emphasized in living a lifestyle that will “malama the aina”. We can “kokua” one another and. in caring for one another, we can provide a framework for our community that prioritizes the protection of our finite resources and the well-being of our residents. more....