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Everywhere you look, there are changes throughout Hamakua – it has been 10 years since the sugar industry left this Big Island’s windward coast. What served as a microcosm of this change is a recent kumiai (community associatiton) gathering. In the earlier days, what made up the base of the population were Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Filipino laborers; presently, we see small farmers, urban escapees, second-home buyers and early-retiring baby boomers.

Realtors, who always have an understanding on the population changes well before us, the common people, are quick to acknowledge that most of those moving into Hamakua Coast Hawaii real estate are from the West Coast of the continental US combined with islanders who have fled Honolulu and Maui.

Honoka’a, for instance, was a depressed economic area – its sugar mill was closed – ten years ago. At present, Honoka’a is home to more than 2200 people who enjoy its elevation and the mild weather it offers. Above anything else, restaurants, cafes, galleries and theatres are starting to characterize this once-depressing area. The Honoka’a economy has long been tied to agriculture–where once sugar was king, now banana, sweet potato, rambuttan, mangosteen, macadamia nuts and taro fields dominate the locality.

Currently, the Hamakua coast is all about diversity – entrepreneurial farmers are trying eucalyptus farming as well as hardwood stands of mahogany and teak. There is even an effort by the Hawaiian Sturgeon and Caviar Company to raise sturgeon for caviar. Truly, the Hamakua Coast and its Hawaii real estate are making a comeback.