Ōōkala is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...

on the island of

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Hawaii County Hawaiʻi County (; officially known as the County of Hawaiʻi) is a county in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coextensive with the Island of Hawaiʻi, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a wh ...

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. The community has some local businesses such as a sugarcane farm, along with a shutdown dairy farm.

Geography

ʻŌʻōkala is located on the windward side of the island of Hawaiʻi, along the Hamakua Coast, which is known for its dramatic sea cliffs, deep gulches, and fertile lands. The community is situated near the ocean but elevated above sea level, which provides it with a cooler, wetter climate compared to the leeward side of the island. ʻŌʻōkala is served by Hawaii Route 19, a major coastal highway connecting it to Hilo to the south and Waimea to the northwest. Public transportation is limited in the area, so most residents rely on personal vehicles for commuting.

History

Like many towns along the Hamakua Coast, ʻŌʻōkala has roots in Hawaii's sugarcane era. It was part of the once-thriving sugarcane plantation network that shaped the island's economy and demographics throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. With the decline of sugarcane production in the 1990s, many such communities transitioned to other forms of agriculture or became largely residential. ʻŌʻōkala is not tracked as a separate census-designated place (CDP), so exact demographic figures are not available. However, it is a small rural community. According to a report by Point2Homes, the estimated population is 490. Because the community has borne multiple names, the

United States Board on Geographic Names The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is a Federal government of the United States, federal body operating under the United States Secretary of the Interior. The purpose of the board is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geogr ...

officially designated the community "Ōōkala" in 2000. It also has a post office with the ZIP code 96774.

Environmental concerns

During 2017 the community groups Kupale Ookala and Center for Food Safety sued the Big Island Dairy for violating the federal Clean Water act. In April 2018, the Hawaii Department of Health issued a public warning after water in a gulch near ʻŌʻōkala tested positive for contamination. The source was determined to be runoff and wastewater discharges from the nearby Big Island Dairy facility. Following investigations and public pressure, Big Island Dairy entered into a consent agreement with the state. The agreement required the company to cease operations, pay fines, and carry out environmental remediation. The dairy ceased its operations in 2019. In 2020, the Hawaii Department of Health ended its enforcement for the dairy. In 2021 a Hawaiian couple bought assets from the shutdown dairy, with hopes of supporting sustainable agriculture.

Economy

The economy of ʻŌʻōkala historically relied on the sugar industry, but following the industry's closure, it transitioned to smaller-scale agriculture and residential use. Currently, many residents work in surrounding towns or are involved in small-scale farming and services.

References

External links