Kohala (Hawaiian pronunciation:[koˈhɐlə]) is the name of the northwest peninsula of theisland of Hawaiʻi in theHawaiian Archipelago. Inancient Hawaii it was often ruled by an independent High Chief called theAliʻi Nui. In modern times it is divided into two districts ofHawaii County:North Kohala andSouth Kohala. Locals commonly use the name Kohala to refer to the census-designated places ofHalaʻula,Hāwī, andKapaʻau collectively. The dry western shore is commonly known as theKohala Coast, which has golf courses and seaside resorts.[2]
The area was named after the dominating geological featureKohala Mountain,[3] the oldest of Hawaiʻi Island's five major volcanic mountains. The current districts cover the north and western sides of the mountain,20°7′55″N155°47′38″W / 20.13194°N 155.79389°W /20.13194; -155.79389. It was one of the five ancient divisions of the island calledmoku.[4]
Kohala's natural habitats range across a wide rainfall gradient in a very short distance, from less than 5 inches (130 mm) a year on the coast nearKawaihae to more than 150 inches (3,800 mm) a year near the summit of Kohala Mountain, a distance of just 11 miles (18 km). Near the coast are remnants ofdry forests, and near the summit is acloud forest, a type ofrainforest that obtains some of its moisture from "cloud drip" in addition to precipitation.
This precipitation allowed the northeast coast to be developed intosugarcaneplantations, including one founded by ReverendElias Bond to fund his church and girls' seminary.[5]
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TheKohala Historical Sites State Monument includesMoʻokini Heiau, aNational Historic Landmark. KingKamehameha I, the first King of the unified Hawaiʻian Islands, was born in North Kohala west ofHāwī, at the ancient site called theMoʻokini Heiau. Theheiau is a living spiritual temple, and not just an historic artifact of the Hawaiian culture.
The originalKamehameha Statue stands in front of the community center in Kapaʻau, and duplicates are found atAliʻiolani Hale inHonolulu and in theU.S. Capitol building's statue gallery.
TheBond Historic District is in the North Kohala District, with structures from the Bond family's 19th-century missionary and homesteading period on the peninsula. The Bond District has three sections:
Points of interest in Kohala includeHapuna Beach State Recreation Area,Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, andLapakahi State Historical Park.[6][7]
Major thoroughfares in Kohala includeAkoni Pule Highway (Hawaii state route 270), which provides access toPololū Valley.[8] TheHawaii Belt Road connects the southern end of the Akoni Pule Highway toKona in the south andHāmākua to the east. The Kohala Mountain Road (250) provides a link betweenWaimea and the Kohala CDPs of Halaʻula, Hāwī, and Kapaʻau.
Kohala has two small airports.Upolu Airport is onUpolu Point at the island's northern tip.[9]Waimea-Kohala Airport is south ofWaimea.[10] Waimea Airport is served commercially by Mokulele Airlines.[11]
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