Wow! 2021 has come and gone bringing many challenges and opportunities to our community. Your Hawaiian Acres Community Association has been moving forward on many fronts trying to maintain our center and keep it functioning while adhering to county COVID-19 mandates that keep our community safe.

We've moved ahead on several projects: Our building upgrade is almost complete. New flooring has been installed, and the painting and flooring in the office is finished. Our kitchen area is the last phase of the project, and we hope to be finished with it by early February. None of the work would have been possible without the generosity of our volunteer workers. A special thanks to John Riley, Pam Everret, Leo Barnett, Gary and Valerie Mobley, Jim Walker, Vern and Cara Gunther, Alan Nelson, and Graceson Ghen. All of these community members worked at various times on the project throughout the 2020-2021 period — our HACA Board is grateful for their help and support!

After much deliberation and research, the HACA Board voted to sell two small lots at the corner of roads 5 & B. These lots were donated to HACA in the early ’80s and were each less than a quarter of an acre. Our annual tax liability for both lots is double the yearly liability of our 3-acre community center lot ($200/year). The possibility of developing these lots would be cost-prohibitive compared to what we can do for our more accessible community center property; therefore, we could not see a reason to hold these lots any longer. 

I would like to report that both lots have been sold: one sold in July and the other is in closing. The sales proceeds will be deposited into our special playground account to be used exclusively for these enhancements. Please see our Financial Reports on the HACA website.  

Picnic table installation will start in January, and we are waiting on final details for new slides and a freestanding climbing wall. If anyone would like to volunteer to help install these units, please let us know.

Our Hawaiian Acres community faces many challenges ahead, including infrastructure issues, a growing population, and the need to maintain and protect our rural way of life. However, with those challenges, there is an opportunity to move ahead. Working together, we can build community and help one another realize our own rural dreams.  

There are many "farmers markets" to choose from on our island, some large and some small. Of all the choices available, only one benefits our Hawaiian Acres community: the Community Market held on Friday afternoons from 2-6 p.m. at the corner of Moho (8 Rd) and C road.

This is a great social event and provides our small farmers and neighbors a way to share their produce, arts and crafts, and selected food products, much of which is produced on their properties. The number of vendors fluctuates, but around ten are consistently present—rain or shine—to offer their wares. There is always food in some form, desserts, flowers, plants, and even popcorn and wontons. You can also expect to find eggs, vegetables, coconuts, microgreens, and even specialty drinks like teas and kombucha.

Our small vendor fee for the market is earmarked for additions to our community playground and recreation area. We're looking to maintain our current vendors and attract more to the market so we may continue raising funds for our ohanas and keiki. Your vendors & neighbors deserve greater support, so please make a plan to stop by and enjoy! 

HACA DUES REMINDER

A friendly reminder to renew your yearly Hawaiian Acres Community Association dues. Our Association, run by an all-volunteer board, works for your membership and maintains the community center for your continued use. 

Our $30/year dues are voluntary; however, they are vital to keep the center open and operating for the benefit of the entire community. Don’t delay! Pay now—please be sure to add your TMK number when paying your dues. Also, note that there is a small surcharge for online payments, but there is no charge for cash or check! 

Additional Membership Benefits Include:

• You can rent the center to host classes and private events at a discounted rate! This also includes the use of our kitchen. Be sure to reserve your space: Info here. 

• Free high-speed internet with up to 2 devices is included. Stop by the office and we will connect you.

COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION UPDATE

Throughout the last year, Hawaiian Acres resident Shannon Matson and her team of incredibly dedicated volunteers have been providing, on average, 50 food bags a month to families in need. Many generous donations from the community have helped keep these bags full of nutritional food and local produce. The volunteers also organized a plant and tree giveaway/fundraiser in April 2021, successfully giving out over 50 'Ulu trees to be planted into the community and numerous other food plants, including strawberries, spinach, sweet potatoes, and taro. This same group of volunteers partnered with Vibrant Hawaii to participate in the Kaukau for Keiki program to provide over 100 weekly food bags for families with children through the summer with USDA funds. 

Our community is so grateful to all the volunteers who have consistently helped keep those in need during this long COVID storm. Special shout-out to:

• HACA Board Members: Alex, Pam, Doug, and Jim.

• Regular Volunteers: James, George, Karen, Craig, Jane, Evan, Bethany. 

• Regular Donors: Colin, Lauren, Rhonda (owner of Hilo Burger Joint), Denis (owner of Dulce).

And mahalo to everyone else who has stopped by to help donate food or build and distribute food bags over the last two years! 

ROAD IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT UPDATE

The discussion over our community’s road has been a recurring topic of great interest and debate over the years. With over 72 miles of roads, our shared responsibility to care for our roads is vast. Being privately owned, we do not qualify for any County, State, or Federal funding. Still, our community is coming together to do the best we can now while engaging in serious discussions on how we can pave the way to better roads.

In May 2021, county officials discussed various "guesstimates" for the proposal. Puna Councilmember Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder subsequently held a Hawaiian Acres Roadway Study Q&A on May 8, 2021 to inform the community on the process and answer questions. To date, the proposal remains in limbo and is not on the docket with the County. There is no actual estimate of cost at this time. 

We hope that the proposal once again makes it on the agenda for the County so we may have all the information we need to understand if the cost would be feasible for our community or if we have to find solutions elsewhere. You can read more about our roads on our website and road FAQs. Ultimately, it is up to the community to determine the future of our roads. 

Have you ever thought about sharing it with others in your community by holding a class, giving lessons, or holding a seminar at the community building? 

As a paid member of our community association, you can rent our building for $5/hour for private events or $5 for 3 hours when the event is open to the community and there is no fee or donation to participate. Included in the rental price is the use of the kitchen as well.

We hope people will use our center for fun, parties, personal enrichment, exercise, music lessons, music jams, learning skills, socializing, and anything else you think others would like to be involved in (legal activities, of course). 

For further information, please call the office at 809-966-9893 Attn: Alex.

We asked you what you like best about living in Hawaiian Acres. Here's what you wrote!

"Because it's home. Beautiful night skies. Space. Birds. Flowers. Beautiful day skies." 

"One of the few places you can live where you are literally surrounded by nature." 

"Natural beauty. Wonderful neighbors.
Singing Coquis.
Life giving rain.…"

"Peace and quiet, no one bothers me, birdsong, walking my old farm dog without a leash, privacy, beauty of sunrises and sunsets and rainbows and shooting stars." 

"I love the quiet the birds even the frogs but mostly the people. Everyone has wonderful to us."

"Love wandering the dusty roads with my trusty puppy."

UPDATES TO OUR WEBSITE

The Hawaiian Acres Community Association website is continuously modified to enhance communication with the community. The latest site updates include:

• New links to the Hele-On Bus schedule and routes for Hawaiian Acres residents. 

• Expanded meeting and financial information with financials listed by year with folders that contain bank statements and reports describing how money is acquired, spent, and tracked. 

• During the upcoming 2022 fiscal year, reports will include allocated budget amounts and actual expenditures to better reflect how income is generated and where the money is spent. 

Your suggestions for additions and improvements to the website are always welcome! 

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

To better serve the community, it is essential to have updated contact information for our parcel owners and residents so we may contact you periodically with information, tell you about upcoming events, and notify everyone of important issues.

We will not distribute your contact information to any outside agency.