Pahala is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 1,403 at the 2020 census. History Pahala was created by a sugarcane plantation. The area selected to house the sugar refinery had several key features: a flat plateau on a sloping mountainous region direct access to a water well a strategic central location to sugarcane fields In Hawaiian, Pāhala refers to the ashes of leaves from the hala tree (Pandanus tectorius). Long ago, when cracks were found in the sugarcane fields, workers would stuff them with hala leaves and burn them. For years, Pahala consisted of a manager's house, several plantation homes, a general store, and the sugar refinery. Many of the sugarcane workers were housed in small camps in and around Pahala and in camps situated throughout the outlying sugarcane fields. Many of these camps were self-sufficient. They consisted of eight to twelve plantation dwellings with a small store. Some camps had specialty shops such as a blacksmith or a simple barbershop. As time passed some installed gas stations. In 1881, the first public school in the district of Kau was established in Kapapala. The humble campus consisted of just two buildings. Some years later the school and its two buildings were relocated to Pahala and called Pahala High and Elementary School. In 1959, as Hawaii Territory became the state of Hawaii, the last class of the Pahala High School held commencement ceremonies. The school then became Kaū High and Pahala Elementary School. It is the second oldest public school in the state of Hawaii, behind Lāhaināluna School in Lāhainā. Still in use today at Kaū High is Kapono Building, the oldest public school building west of the Rocky Mountains. The only other public school in the district of Kaū is Nāālehu Elementary. Nāālehu once had a high school. Today, students attend grades kindergarten through 6th grade in Nāālehu. As time progressed, Pahala became the focal town of the northeastern side of the district of Kaū; Nāālehu became the other focal town to the south of the district. Businesses from outer camps migrated to Pahala to set up shop. With social and economic changes came the demands for convenience. Soon, more stores opened up. A bank and gas stations were built. For leisure, a town hall or "Club House" was built and used by the plantation and the community to hold meetings and parties.