Stop 5 Honoka`a, Hawai`i
We actually stopped in Honoka`a earlier in the afternoon for lunch before heading out to Waipi`o Valley. Honoka`a, Hawai`i was located about 40 miles north of Hilo and right along the Hāmākua coast. We ventured through little shops and a supermarket along the main road of Honoka`a. This town possessed a sense of welcome and belonging. The people cared for their small, local businesses. Being located along the northeastern coast of Hawai`i made this area an instant attraction and unlike many other places we've visited, Honoka`a offered that feel of "community" the group had wondered about since we arrived on the island.
"The community is a close-knit one that has roots going back to the sugar plantation days of more than 100 years ago. The plantation is gone, but the town lives on. Honokaa residents and those living in the surrounding area have proven to be resilient. |
managing to maintain their unique and cherished lifestyles. Businesses have defied the odds by creating new markets within the community and far beyond." --Mel, the webguy
Tex Drive-In: Malasadas
After a long afternoon in Waipi`o Valley, Doug took the group to a donut shop called, "Tex Malasadas Drive-In." The shop was small, but not too crowded. As soon as we walked in, we were able to see the kitchen the donuts were mixed, formed, and fried in. The kitchen was behind a huge glass window and separated from the lobby of the shop. While waiting for our order, we looked through the glass window and saw a bit of the donut-making process. Now, these donuts weren't your original all-American glazed donuts. Malasadas (lightly roasted) donuts, were brought to Hawai`i with their respective Portuguese counterparts. |
Sugar Industry
One important thing to note about the town of Honoka`a, along with the entire Hāmākua coast, was the importance of the sugar industry. Portuguese immigrants were first introduced to Hawai`i in the late 1870's for plantation labor purposes. The first wave in 1878 brought approximately 486 plantation workers and in 1887, over 17,500 Portuguese immigrants were living on the islands (Mullins 59). The Portuguese clung to many of their national customs when they came to Hawai`i, including foods such as malasadas. Many were eager to leave the sugar plantations to start their own businesses. The Portuguese were also known for buying plots of land for truck gardening (Mullins 59). Along with many other immigrant groups, the Portuguese have made an important impact on the culture of Hawai`i as a whole and contributed to the melting pot the islands are so well-known for. |
Sources
"Aloha & Welcome to HonokaaHawaii.com." HonokaaHawaii.com. HonokaaHawaii.com & Melvin Ah Ching Productions. Web. 09 Dec. 2011. http://www.honokaahawaii.com/.
Mullins, Joseph G. "Newcomers: the Portuguese." Hawaiian Journey. New ed. Honolulu: Mutual, 1978. 59. Print.
Mullins, Joseph G. "Newcomers: the Portuguese." Hawaiian Journey. New ed. Honolulu: Mutual, 1978. 59. Print.
Banner photo by Ezra Zeitler