Kekaha, Kauai County, Hawaii
As popular as Hawaii is, with its roster of tourists and Hollywood celebrity guests, there is no question that there are still lots of things that could be said, not to mention, discovered, about this whole tropical state. While some deem that they may have already explored the expanse of Hawaii, there remain remote areas and villages that have their own distinct beauties yet have the same appeal to travelers. One of these areas in Hawaii is Kekaha.
Located in the far southwest portion of the Kauai island, the city of Kekaha has earned the reputation as the most "western" in the country. However, contrary to common belief, Kekaha possesses and retains a history and a culture that are uniquely Hawaiian.
Populated by about 2,000 folks, Kekaha serves as home to a number of people with diverse backgrounds. Just like other cities and counties in Hawaii, the dominant constituents of Kekaha are Asians with a population slice of roughly 44 percent. The rest of the dwellers in Kekaha are comprised of Hispanics, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Whites, and Native Americans. On the other hand, Kakeha has about more than a thousand households under its shelter, consisting of families with two or three members, in average. When it comes to gender, the discrepancy between the number of females and males is very small, with the former being larger than the latter.
Kekaha is well known for the friendly people and dry climate, perfect for those days at the beach. Aside from the beach and water activities, the city also offers mountain-based trips and engagements to travelers and nature lovers.
Kekaha's History
Mostly, the histories of places and regions in Hawaii revolve around the economy or the produce of each area. With the Kauai island, this would have to be sugar. The Kekaha Sugar Mill, which is considered to be the core of the agricultural field during the twentieth century, was shown to be a major player in the city's modernization and progress at the time. This influence was especially evident in the financial and real estate (housing) industries, transportation, and utilities. The establishment of such sugar mill also assured residents at the time of employment. As a matter of fact, many generations of families in Hawaii have been involved and had jobs in the aforementioned sugar mill. That is why when the sugar industry experienced a decline in the later years and finally ceased operations in the year 2000, many locals were believed to have suddenly found themselves without work.
An interesting bit of Kekaha history also had something to do with the place's successful sugar produce. In the early quarter of the 1900s, Hawaii was able to witness its own exciting train robbery in Kekeha. A slow-running train carrying loads of sugar was hijacked by a disguised gunman, who was able to escape with the train and thousands of dollars stolen from the financial officer on board. Eventually, the money was found close to a house of a certain fisherman, who was keen on watching Western movies. Not long after, his suspicious actions led to his capture and sentence for the train robbery.
Kekaha's Attractions
Being in Hawaii usually means a good soaking up of the sun and in Kekaha, the conditions are no different. Kekaha has lots of beaches and sandy shores to satisfy the delight of beach bums of the world. One prime spot in the city, located in the west side, is called Kekaha Beach Park. This beach is famous especially for its south shore, which extends for miles; no wonder the beach park is even dubbed as the "longest white sand beach" in the tropical state. The beach park also allows for fantastic views of the private Forbidden Island, named Niihau, where important government and military officials usually gather.
Though this site is flocked by tourists all the time, this beach park is not the only reason for the increasing number of guests in Kekaha. Excursionists absolutely love the secluded and relatively less known beaches in Kekaha -- beaches that make the island seem unexplored and unspoiled by the pollution that commercialization brings. In Kekaha's waters, people can do almost everything they enjoy, from sunbathing and swimming to surfing and shore fishing.
Aside from beaches, Kekaha is home to some trails leading to some of Hawaii's canyons and mountains. Via Kekaha, travelers could find their way to Kokee, where the area of Waimea Canyon is located. Here, they could live the outdoor life -- camp, hike, mountain bike, and fish for trouts. For those who would like to take food supplies to their families, they could prepare on a Saturday and head early to Kekaha's Farmer's Market for a good dose of fresh food shopping.
Kekaha's Economy
Based on history, Kekaha has mostly relied on the growing industries for its performance in the economy. The twentieth century saw the booming of the sugar businesses and this lasted for almost a century, until the year of 2000, the time when the sugar mills terminated their operations. Though many generations of families depended on these industries for their jobs, many locals also did not take that long to find themselves engaged in another booming industry of the city -- tourism. Like other towns and cities in Hawaii, the growth of the tourism industry paved the way for many opportunities to emerge in recent years. Some locals became employees of establishments like beach resorts while others started their own shops, cafes, and restaurants that cater to tourists.
With tourism as its primary driving force in the economy, it could be said that the city of Kekaha is doing well, compared to its neighbors in Hawaii. This is pretty apparent in the income of Kekaha's households and families. The estimated income of a family in Kekaha amounts close to $50,000, while the estimated income for a household in this census-designated place is pegged at $41,103. In addition, only a small portion of the Kekaha's population can be categorized as living beneath poverty conditions. Roughly 10.9 percent of families or 11.2 percent of the whole Kekaha population is striving to survive with very limited means. This includes mostly those people belonging to the 18 years old and below range and the aging bracket (65 years and above).
Kekaha Statistics:
Population: 3,175Households: 1,073
Median resident age: 40.4 years
Median household income: $41,103
Median house value: $163,000
Land area: 1.0 square miles
Elevation: 10 feet
Latitude: 21°58'N
Longitude: 159°42'W
Zip code: 96752
County: Kauai
