Kauai Vacation

Humble Beginnings: Getting to Know Kauai Plantation and Railways

The original settlers of Hawaii actually came from the Marquesas anywhere between 400 to 700 A.D. Kauai plantation and agriculture started to develop as the explorers imported farm animals as well as other food crops like sugarcane, taro, banana, coconut, rice, sweet potato and breadfruit. Other visitors from Spain, America and Russia continued to bring in plants and products like coffee, pineapple, onions and oranges which up to now are produced abundantly in the island.

The Sugarcane System

Sugarcane is also known as Ko in Hawaii which has great taste, nutritional value as well as medicinal effects. Stalks are harvested then ground to produce liquid extracts resulting to juice which is then boiled to make raw sugar. Koloa, Kauai was the site of the first commercial sugarcane plantation created in 1835.

At this early stage, there were a variety of problems such as limited labor, water shortage and remote location. Irrigation systems and intricate canal networks were built beginning in 1856 which helped support the sugarcane plantations other fields growing different crops also followed the system yielding abundant harvests and vast amounts of profit.

The Treat of Reciprocity in 1876 allowed Hawaii to improve its raw sugar trade with the help of the United States. By 1932, raw sugar production has boomed to one million tons. Kauai was still under the Kingdom of Hawaii during this period. Sugarcane plantations became major commercial enterprises that became identical to small cities providing other benefits and services to workers such as housing, entertainment, power and electricity and transportation.

In 1881, the first train arrived on the island serving the Kilauea Plantation. Even after Hawaii became the 51st state of the United States, Kauai continued vast productions of raw sugar. Kauai used to have more than 70,000 acres of sugarcane plantation making the product the leading economic activity that greatly helped the economy in terms of tax revenues and job opportunities.

There are still several Kauai plantations focusing on sugarcane today. The popular ones from the past include Gay and Robinson at Makaweli which was established in 1889, Kekaha Sugar Company at Kekaha which was established in 1856, Grove Farm Plantation at Lihue which was established in 1864, Koloa Sugar Company at Koloa which was established in 1835, Lihue Sugar Plantation at Lihue which was established in 1849, McBryde Plantation at Lawai which was established in 1899 and Kilauea Sugar Plantation at Kilauea which was established in 1877.

The Kauai Plantation Railway

The plantation railway offers a ride back through time in King Kalakaua style wooden cars beginning at the old station in Kilohana camp. The tour takes about 30 minutes wherein you go through 100 acres of fields and plantations featuring popular Hawaiian crops like coffee, sugarcane, pineapple, banana, papaya, hardwood trees and tropical flowers. The train operates daily just 1 mile south of Lihue.

As Kauai plantations continued to expand and flourish in different regions of the island, railroads were created as well bringing products to mills, markets and ports. The Kauai Plantation Railway is the pioneering new railroad built on the island in a century and still abides by traditional railroad practice.

More than 2.5 miles of roadbed have been created with over 6000 wood ties and iron rails spiked in place by human hands at a classic 3-foot gauge. The engines are similar to the ones used during Kauai’s agricultural peak.

Sacred Sites: Getting a Glimpse of Kauai Heiaus

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Ancient Hawaiian villagers used to be very religious people with many gods and goddesses. They frequently abided in religious laws, traditions and practices when doing virtually almost anything like planting and harvesting crops, going to war and delivering babies. Kauai heiaus or temples can be found in several areas of the island along with other old sacred relics and symbols. These remain as cultural attractions that continue to draw thousands of tourists all over the world.

Ancient Legends and Religious Stories

Kaula Laka Heiau is a sacred altar located among the Napali cliffs. It was originally built for Laka, the goddess of hula and is one of the most captivating spots with a majestic view of the cliffs and Pacific Ocean. Up to this day, the heiau is still used by hula halau. Kiki a Ola or Menehune Ditch is located 25 miles north of the Waimea River. According to ancient legends, the ditch was built in a single night by legendary little people or menehune to irrigate taro patches. At present, a 2-foot high portion of one of the walls still exists.

Halekuamano at Mana is a Kauai heiau located at Kalaipuaa. According to ancient folklore, the temple was built by the gods in a single night for a special tribal chief. Things and other accessories related to the hula used to be thrown in the area. Hauola Heiau is located at Hoea Valley, Waimea at the base of Hauola ridge. The temple has 2 divisions with remnants of two houses that used to stand on each side of the entrance. 4 to 8-foot high walls outline the temple. Upstream from Hauola, a natural amphitheater can be seen where worshippers used to hold meetings and other special events.

Prince Kuhio Park is the birthplace and home of the “People’s Prince” or Prince Jonah Kalanianaole who was highly revered and loved by the Hawaiian people. Today, his house’s foundation, shrine and royal fishpond still exist. These used to be sites where priests or kahunas and villagers offered gifts, meditated and lived around in.

Alakoko Fishpond used to span 40 acres and was built inland on a river for a young Hawaiian chief. The remains are a 13 to 30-foot wall dividing the fishpond from the river. Holoholoku Heiau is believed to be the oldest temple in all of Kauai. Poliahu Heiau is located very near Opaekaa Falls featuring a large black lava rock. This used to be the personal temple of Kaumualii, the island’s last king.

More Kauai Heiaus and Foreign Temples

Hikinaakala Heiau is found in Waimea village and is one of the largest in the island. Sorcerors used to sacrifice animals and humans at the site featuring a grand view of the ocean. Howea was the main heiau in Waimea. Ancient legends say that Ola, a Hawaiian warrior whose mother was Kahapula was supposed to be sacrificed at the site. Some of the chants and religious rituals that Ola’s mother used were passed down among priests and other religious village leaders.

Kauai Soto Zen Temple is located at Hanapepe, South Kauai which is a Buddhist sacred place. Buddhism was believed to have been spread by Japanese workers who migrated to Hawaii to plant sugarcane. Other Buddhist temples still exist throughout the state. The temple is open to the public but visitors are required to remove their shoes before entering.

Aside from many Kauai heiaus, an Iravian temple also stands in the center of the 51-acre San Marga Sanctuary. This is an all-granite Hindu religious site situated by the Wailua River and at the foot of Mt. Waialeale. Hawaiians consider the location as holy and believe that it is 1 of the 7 ancient temples that descended to the Pacific Ocean from Waialeale.