Anahola, Kauai County, Hawaii
Very few villages retain their distinctive local flavor as with Anahola. You will find yourself amazed with the bounty of nature and the charming appeal of its community. Because of its minuscule size and unassuming atmosphere, Anahola is often overlooked by tourists driving along the highway in a hurry to get to the neighboring villages. However, for the observant and careful driver, finding Anahola is like stumbling upon a veritable treasure trove in an unlikely place.
Anahola can be found 110 miles northwest of Honolulu and about 2440 miles southwest of the city of the Golden Gate Bridge. Situated in the eastern coast of Kauai Island, Anahola is also part of the 'Coconut Coast' because of the coconut trees that line its shorelines. Around 1,932 residents gather in Anahola, where 549 households and 422 families also converge. Among those who consider Anahola their home are Native Hawaiians, Whites or Caucasians, African Americans, Asians, Latinos or Hispanics, and Native Americans.
In Anahola, roughly 44 percent of the adults are in marriage, and 36.4 percent of them have children below 18 in their household. The percentage of married couples who live together is more than non-families living together, while there is also a significant percent of households where the husband or father is not present. The common size of a household in Analoha is quite small, with about 3 or 4 members. There are more women than men in Anahola, and more children below 18 than residents who are between the ages 25 and 44.
Anahola's History
Anahola, a small, laid-back village in Hawaii has been the home of natives for the longest time. It was a place where you grew up knowing everyone and where everyone knew you. The area's early settlers arrived via boats to the then remote island, bringing with them items that are now part of Hawaiian culture.
As part of Kauai island, Anahola was part of an economic, cultural, and social hub that stemmed from the county being a primary source of sugar. The lands were so lush that enterprising foreigners and locals came to take advantage of the agricultural possibilities. Soon, the island had sugar mills and plantations that enabled communities like Anahola and many others to thrive.
Meanwhile, Anahola has had its share of controversies. This came after a large part of the vicinity has already been set aside by the government in order to make lands affordable for the natives of Hawaii. However, some of them are sold to non-natives, under the condition that they have at least a half Hawaiian ancestry. For about a hundred thousand dollars, these properties are now beyond the reach of natives who lived in Anahola almost all of their lives. Up to this day, the controversy is still not settled, and the Hawaiian natives continue to wait.
In 1991, Anahola was ravaged by floods that were caused by heavy rain. The catastrophe not only damaged properties in Anahola, but also took four lives. A lot of its survivors underwent counseling because of the trauma they underwent.
Anahola's Attractions
Anahola is famous for its beach park. Situated along Anahola road, the beach is a beautiful place to go for vacation. It features an offshore protective reef for scuba diving and snorkeling with the fishes. Here, children will have lots of fun swimming or playing along the golden sands while looking for small crabs. Because the place has large areas and shade provided by the trees, you could easily find yourself lounging or sleeping for quite some time. To provide comfort to the tourists, there are also restrooms and showers readily available, hidden unobtrusively among the palm trees.
However, Anahola Beach Park is not like the other resorts that are found in Hawaii. It is devoid of colorful pavillions that peddle souvenirs, of cottage huts, and of outdoor bars that sell chilled drinks and snacks. Yet, its pristine, albeit rugged, environment is enough to bring tranquility to mind, body, and spirit, thus making the place a perfect retreat from the troubles of the city. If you find yourself tired of the water activities, this beach park has picnic tables where you could rest and have a quiet meal. Anahola's famous mountains can be seen from far away, yet is still able to awe people who are fortunate enough to see it.
For a truly unique experience, stay at the Mahina Kai, a Japanese-inspired villa that has luxurious amenities and excellent service, which will make your stay memorable. The villa features five different types of suites, each having their own private toilets and baths. The rooms have a common kitchenette for the guests' use. You can also take your pick of the other villas owned by local residents. All are charming to stay, and the owners can be asked to tell you Anahola's history and culture.
Anahola's roads are peppered with small, roadside stalls peddling fresh leis made of colorful flowers, refreshingly flavored ice shaves, and local Hawaiian food. After all the fun activities and the sights you went to in Anahola, try and sample their local product that have tourists raving. The Anahola Granola is a favorite local dish, which soon became a hit from grocery stores to the best hotels in Hawaii. Healthy and delicious, Anahola Granola developed more products like the Maca Mania Bar, which is also a favorite of visiting tourists.
Anahola's Economy
After the 1991 typhoon that ravaged most of Kauai island, people were struggling to get back on their feet. Among those who were reeling from the typhoon's effects was Anahola, whose primary source of income comes from tourism. In addition, construction and agriculture is now in demand as people are in a hurry to recover the island's economy from the catastrophe.
In the Anahola area, the average household income is $41,302, while an average family's income is $41,302. Of these, the women are the ones who earn more with an average income of $27,000 against the males with only $25,876. However, 14.2% of Anahola's population live below poverty line. Anahola's economy is supplemented by industries that provide employment to its residents. The highest of these are the industries of arts, accommodation and food services, entertainment, and recreation; these comprise the 18.6% of the jobs in Anahola. As there are no large hotels in the area, most of Anahola's residents convert their houses into traveller's inns or bed and breakfasts in order to attract tourists.
Other jobs can be found in the education, and health and social services with share of 15.9%. Retail trade is also one of the sources of employment, with 14.5%. The administrative, management, scientific, professional, and waste management services provide 10.2% of the jobs in Anahola.
Because of Anahola's seemingly dwindling economy, its residents are now taking matters onto their own hands. To counter the meager job opportunities and the migration of some members of the community elsewhere, they have made plans to build a multi-cultural commercial and historical complex on a land leased to them by the government.
Anahola Statistics:
Population: 1,932Households: 549
Median resident age: 32.2 years
Median household income: $41,771
Median house value: $116,600
Land area: 3.8 square miles
Elevation: 40 feet
Latitude: 22°8'N
Longitude: 159°18'W
Zip code: 96703
County: Kauai
