Welcome to the Beyond

By Kamalama Mick

We’ve all seen the tour buses on the winding Kaupō Road. One in particular stood out to my eye—emblazoned on the side was the phrase “Hāna and Beyond!”

The Beyond, of course, is Kaupō—an uncharted land of ancient walls and house sites; dirt roads and bent mailboxes; fields and windswept trees and the rare house tucked in among the foliage.

Some might be surprised to discover that yes, people do live in the Beyond. That’s us—the Kaupō Community. We may not possess great numbers, but we stick together through thick and through thin. We have to, really.

It’s not a particularly easy life in the wild lands of Kaupō. Miles away from Maui’s urban centers, people have to either grow their own food or make trips to town to stock up. It’s hard to get supplies and even harder to get help when it’s needed.

So why do we stay?

There may be logical reasons, of course. Perhaps it would cost too much or be too much trouble to move out closer to regular “civilization.”

But the main reason we stay is this. Kaupō is our home. Many of us are descended from Kaupō’s original Kūpuna. Some may have ancient roots here. Others perhaps moved here and fell in love with the ‘āina. We all love this place and feel a connection to it.

It’s our home.

The others can only pass through it, but we live in the Beyond!

Many of us are descended from Kaupō’s original Kūpuna. Some may have ancient roots here. Others perhaps moved here and fell in love with the ‘āina. We all love this place and feel a connection to it.

The Beyond

Kauwila Hanchett