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Hanama`ulu's Chronology
*** 226 YEARS OF HISTORY ***
Compiled by
Catherine Pascual Lo
| "Hanama`ulu Plantation" | 1890 |
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| Photo : Grove Farm Homestead Museum |
THE AHUPUA`A OF HANAMA`ULU is one of the ancient land divisions on Kaua`i, with Kilohana Crater's 1143-feet summit as its
upper boundary and Hanama`ulu Bay as its lowest boundary. Hanama`ulu, indeed, is an ancient place.
PAUL ISENBERG changed the landscape in 1870 when he acquired for Lihue Plantation the ahupua`a of 9,177 acres at a land
auction for $7,250, and by bringing to the area contract laborers. What clearly changed the landscape was the building of
Hanama`ulu Mill in 1877 when Isenberg was manager. And the christening of the town as "Hanama`ulu Plantation"
it on the map.
If one were pressed to name someone as the "Father of Hanama`ulu," or the "Founder of Hanama`ulu,"
the answer would be unequivocally PAUL ISENBERG. Today, the town that Isenberg and Lihue Plantation built is home to more
than 3,000 residents who represent the ethnic groups that have made what Hawaii is today.
1779: Kaumuali`i is born to Chiefess Kamakahelei and Chief Kaeokulani. (4)
1810: Kamehameha makes Kaumuali`i tributary king of Kaua`i and Niihau. (4)
1824 : King Kaumuali`i dies. Kahalaia is appointed governor of Kaua`i.(4)
1826: Kaikioewa is appointed governor of Kaua`i. (4)
1829: The Rev. Peter J. Gulick, making his first visit around the island with Governor Kaikioewa, spends a night at Hanamaulu
-- a hard day's ride from Waimea. (8) p.401
1830s: There are two trails from Koloa to the east side of Kaua`i, one passing south of Kilohana Crater and unto Hanama`ulu
and Wailua. (8) p.360
1840/1841: James J. Jarves, author of "History of the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands" (1843), journeys around
Kaua`i and mentions the little cove at Hanama`ulu, which Governor Kaikioewa selected as the harbor of his new "emporium,"
which, although unnamed, is known to be Lihue. (8) p. 403
1840-1846: Hanama`ulu's "common school" is in operation, as provided by school laws of the Hawaiian Kingdom
under Kamehameha III; the Hawaiian language is medium of instruction. (3)
1846: First Hanama`ulu School is built on Hipa Road, a short distance from Hanama`ulu Beach. (2)
1849: Henry A. Peirce (also spelled Pierce), a Boston trader; William Little Lee, a New York judge; and Charles Reed Bishop,
a New York banker, form Henry A. Peirce and Company at Lihue "to buy lands, cultivate cane and manufacture sugar."
(8) p.412
1856: Lihue Plantation completes the 10-mile Hanama`ulu irrigation ditch. (6) p. 263
1857: Lihue Plantation, under the management of William Harrison Rice, one of the owners, diverts water from Hanama`ulu
stream, which has for its source the swampy bottom of Kilohana Crater, to irrigate sugarcane fields from the uplands to the
sea. (8) p. 459
Nov. 1857: Lihue Plantation hauls sugarcane from Hanama`ulu to Lihue Mill for grinding. (8) p. 476
1858: Paul Isenberg begins working for Henry A. Peirce and Company.
1859: Mr. Peirce sells his company and the firm is renamed Lihue Plantation Company.
1860: August Dreier, an engineer at Lihue Mill, is sent by Hoffschlaeger and Stapenhorst of Germany to install a cotton
mill in upper Hanama`ulu land. However, cool temperature with rain and red dust prevents success in cotton growing. (8) p.586
1863: Lihue Plantation starts leasing the ahupua`a (land division extending from the uplands to the sea) of Hanama`ulu,
the large tract on its northern boundary, at an annual rental of $350. (8) p.742
1870: On the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria Kamamalu, owner of the ahupua`a of Hanama`ulu, the Supreme
Court of Hawaii orders the sale of the land of about 9,177 acres at an auction with the upset price of $7,000. Paul Isenberg,
manager of Lihue Plantation, makes the highest bid of $7,250 and gets the land for his plantation. (8) p.742
Summer 1877: Lihue Plantation builts Hanama`ulu Mill after George Wilcox sells machinery that he bought in Scotland for
his own sugar mill at Grove Farm. Instead, he contracts with Lihue Plantation to grind his cane at Lihue Mill, thereby enabling
Lihue Plantation to build its second mill. (2); (8) p.744
1879: Jacintho and Filomena Travasso, immigrants from Portugal, settle in Hanama`ulu with their son John. (5) Aug. 1955
1893: Hanama`ulu School is established as a public school with English as medium of instruction. (3)
1896: Hanama`ulu Store opens. (4)
1898: Sometaro Shiba (1870-?), Hanama`ulu Store manager, leaves his job after he finds an old press at Malumalu Industrial
School and starts printing bulletins. (1: Ke Aka O Kaua`i, 1977)
1900: Lihue Plantation builds the first wooden railroad trestle across Hanama`ulu Valley (4)
1902: Sometaro Shiba's experience in printing and his ingenuity leads him to found "The Garden Island," and
with the backing of island businessmen, he produces Kaua`i's weekly newspaper. (1: Ke Aka O Kaua`i, 1977)
1908: Hanama`ulu School operates at its second site at Hehi and Hipa Roads near Hanama`ulu Beach Road. (2)
1910s: Filipinos arrive in Hanama`ulu. (4)
| Hanama`ulu | Circa 1910 |
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| Photo : Kauai Historical Society | Ray Jerome Baker |
Sept. 1912: Hanama`ulu Post Office opens at Hanama`ulu Store. (1) (9/10/12 2:2)
Aug. 1916: Hanama`ulu gets new sports club. (1) (8/1/16 1:5)
Aug. 1917: Hanama`ulu School is among six schools that get new school buildings. (1) (8/14/17 1:1)
1918: Lihue Plantation plans to phase out Hanama`ulu sugar mill; all milling to be done at Lihue Mill; mill building
to house Hanama`ulu Shop -- a repair and maintenance shop for Lihue Plantation vehicles and field equipment. (5) Jan. &
Nov. 1953
1919: Hanama`ulu Community Hall is built. (5) Feb. 1959
Aug. 1919: Lihue Plantation Hanama`ulu office opens. (1) (8/5/19 1:4)
1920: Lihue Plantation closes Hanama`ulu Mill after last crop is harvested, with grinding concentrated at Lihue Mill. (2);
(8) p.746
1920s: Hanama`ulu Mill stands empty, except as a small machine shop and garage for plantation trucks. Hanama`ulu as a
community is composed largely of Portuguese families, many of whom have room enough to keep their cows in the backyard and
cultivate grapes and roses in the front. However, Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino families reside at Hanama`ulu
as well. At the mill, the stables for the mules are now quarters for Filipino laborers. In Ethel Damon's words, "the
plantation mules were housed within the shell of the old mill itself, which with its high walls and many windows furnishes
airy and palatial quarters to these useful plantation laborers, successors to the oxen of long ago." (8) p.747
| Hanama`ulu Mill circa 1920. |
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| Photo : Kauai Museum |
April 1921: New Hanama`ulu bridge opens. (1) (4/26/21 1:2)
Fall 1921: Hanama`ulu School moves to Hanama`ulu Road, its third and last site . (3)
Dec. 1921: Filipino Y Club starts at Hanama`ulu. (1) (12/6/21 6:1)
Sept. 1922: New Hanama`ulu School building is completed. (2)
June 1923: Hanama`ulu School graduates its first five alumni (Tomiko Hayashi Miyoshi, Tetsuo Eto, Emma Kiilau, Taru Kido,
and Isami Morita. (2)
Aug. 1923: Hanama`ulu Café, owned by Kan Sing Chang, has grand opening. (1) (8/28/23 10:1)
| Hanamaulu | Circa 1930 |
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| Photo : Kauai Historical Society | Tsutomo Fujii |
June 1930: Hanama`ulu Band donates fund to Chinese Relief. (1) (6/3/30 A1)
June 1930: 30 8th graders graduate from Hanama`ulu School. (1) ( 6/17/30 A2)
1933: Hanama`ulu Community Hall, the scene of social events, meetings, and movies, is remodeled to accommodate "talkies."
(5) Feb. 1959
April 1933: Sakari Miyake (1888-1974), owner and manager of Hanama`ulu Cafe, expands
his restaurant. (4)
1940s-1950s: Joseph Travasso Sr., Hanama`ulu camp police, also serves the community by providing transportation to plantation
workers and their families who need medical care, including transporting the dead from their home to Lihue Dispensary or Wilcox
Hospital. (4)
May 1948: Hanama`ulu Filipino Union Club celebrates Holy Cross, a religious observance also known as "Santa Cruz."
Officers are Gregorio Corrales, president; Pedro Dotimas, vice-president; Segundo Martinez, secretary; Primitivo Nunez, treasurer;
Gaudencio Sarita, auditor; Gaudencio Ababon, advisor.
1950s: Lihue Plantation phases out Hanama`ulu camps. (4)
May 1953: Frank G. Perreira re-elected president of the Immaculate Conception Holy Name Society. (5) May 1953
Oct. 2-4, 1953: Lihue Plantation invites the public to its "Open House" at Hanama`ulu Tract B Sub-division.
Three-bedroom homes priced at $5,990; 7,000 sq. ft. lots priced at $1,010. House and lot for $7,000. I. Maeda Contracting
Co., contractor. (5) Oct. 1953
Mar. 1954: Salome Labez (Mrs. Gaudencio) Sarita is elected president of the Lihue Filipino Catholic Club. (5) March 1954
June 1954: 11-year-old Wayne Jerves, student at St. Catherine's Catholic School in Kapaa, son of Mr. & Mrs. Albert
C. Jerves, is All-Hawaii annual spelling champion. (5) June 1954
July 1955: Jimmy Ferreira, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ferreira, is Kauai Junior Chamber of Commerce golf champ for
the fourth straight year. (5)
July 1955
Oct. 1955: The famous Whiz Kids of Hanama`ulu, a softball team of teen-age boys under the able coaching of Peter Rayno
Sr., wins the Lihue Plantation Athletic Association championship. In alphabetical order, they are Juanito Alayvilla, Ronald
Alimboyuguen, James Amorin, Jerry Amorin, Joseph Delostrico, Gary Ebinger, Richard Ebinger, George Fujimoto, Cayetano Gerardo,
Angel Madrid, Gaylord Perreira, Aurelio Ramelb, Patricio Ramelb, Donald Rapozo, Gene Rayno, Peter Rayno Jr., Stephen Sarita,
Pito Saulibio, Gerald Tsukamoto. (5) Oct. 1955
1957: Peter Rayno Jr. coaches his flag barefoot football team, The Whiz Kids of Hanama`ulu, to win the Lihue Plantation
Athletic Association championship. (5) Feb. 1958.
Feb. 1959: Hanama`ulu Community Hall is demolished to make room for Lihue Plantation Motor Pool headquarters. (5) Feb.
& Mar. 1959
Nov. 1962: Construction of homes at low cost sub-division in Hanama`ulu begins. Qualifying for first increment of 27 homes
are Lihue Plantation employees and Kauai Consolidated Terminals employees living in Ahukini who must vacate the camp by June
1, 1964.The lots range from 6,000 to 8,337 square feet, and lot prices range from 55 to 95 cents per square foot. (4) Feb.-Mar.
1962
| Hanama`ulu School | Circa 1925 |
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| Photo : Kaua`i Historical Society |
June 1963: Hanama`ulu School closes. (2)
June 1963: Completion of the first increment of 27 low cost homes in Hanama`ulu expected in 30 days. Awarding of contract
for the second increment of 54 home set for September or October. Plan calls for a total of 300 homes at the former Field
9 site. (5) June 1963.
Dec. 1963: Juliette Bettencourt, 17-year-old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Bettencourt, is selected 5th Kauai Junior
Miss. (5) Oct. & Dec. 1963
April 1964: Stephen Ferreira, senior at Kauai High School, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ferreira, is national runner-up
for the National Science Fair Award. (5) April 1964, May 1964
Dec. 1964: 17-year-old Kauai High School senior Abelina Madrid, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Venancio Madrid, is Kauai Junior
Miss. (5) Dec. 1964
June 4, 1965: Ground-breaking for the 46-unit Hawaii Housing Authority low rental public housing project at Hanama`ulu;
bounded on the west by Opukea St. and on the east by Laukona St. First of six projects on Kauai, Ichiji Matsumura of Kapaa,
lowest bidder, is contractor (5) June 1965
1967: Joe Ferreira, storekeeper and postmaster, closes Hanama`ulu Store. (4)
| Hanama`ulu Beach | August 2004 |
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| Photo : Karl Lo |
June 1972: Hanama`ulu Beach is closed because of pollution. (1) (6/12/72 A1:1+ ill.)
Jan. 1974: According to the Dept. of Planning & Economic Development, State of Hawaii, Hanama`ulu is the fastest growing
town on Kaua`i, with 151.9% increase in population in the last 10 years, making it the third largest town on the island. (1)
(1/21/74 A3:1)
1974: AMFAC sells 60 acres of prime Nukoli`i land to a secret hui for $1.25 million. (4)
June 1974: Hanama`ulu Beach reopens after pollution ban is lifted. (1) (6/24/72 A1:5-8)
Oct. 1974: Youth services center at Hanama`ulu is dedicated. (1) (10/28/74 A9:5-8 ill.)
July 1977: Hanama`ulu and Kapa`a need recreation
programs for youth. (1) (7/13/77 A2:1-6)
Late 1970s: Lihue Plantation opens Hanama`ulu's Wiliko I Subdivision. (4)
1978: AMFAC/Lihue Plantation donates Hanama`ulu Park (all 3.5 acres) to the County of Kaua`i. (4)
Early 1980s: Lihue Plantation opens Hanama`ulu's Wiliko II Subdivision. (4)
1983: Hanama`ulu Park is renamed Peter Rayno Sr. Park.
Fall 1989: Historic U-shaped Hanama`ulu School building is demolished to make room for a new school. (4)
1990: According to the U. S. Census Bureau, Hanama`ulu has a population of 3611 and 901 housing units.
Sept. 1990: King Kaumuali`i School, a K-5 elementary school, opens with 280 students in Grades K-2. (3)
Feb. 1997: Kalepa Village Phase One, a 60-unit affordable apartment facility, opens. (4
| Front units at Kalepa Village |
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| Photo : Karl Lo | May 5, 2005 |
2000: Hanama`ulu has a population of 3,271: 1,605 (49.1%) males; 1,667 (50.9%) females. Median household income is $48,239.
Median house value is $177,000. Filipinos make up 50.4% of Hanama`ulu's population. 7.4% of the town's population are white
non-hispanics, and 7.2% are Japanese. 23.7% are of mixed (2 or more races) ancestry. (4)
Nov. 2000: AMFAC/JMB closes Lihue Plantation. 400 plantation workers are laid off. Hanama`ulu is the hardest-hit community
in this unhappy turn of events. (4)
Fall 2002: King Kaumuali`i School has an enrollment of 571 -- 53 less than 2001 enrollment, 106 less than 2000 enrollment.
Teacher count: 36. (7)
Mar. 2004: A 3-bedroom/1.5-bath house in Hanama`ulu that was built in 1956 on 7,700 sq. ft. land, with a 900 sq. ft. of
living area, is on sale for $297,500. (4)
April 1, 2004: April Fools' Day notwithstanding, planners of the Hanama`ulu Town Celebration meet
for the first time. In attendance are Eddie Sarita, Roy and Dely Sasaki, William Sasil, Larry Matsuwaki, and Walter Estenzo.
Also Vic Villon, Neal and Mildred Rapozo, Sonny Gerardo, Eddie and Remy Chinen, Rena Alao, and Flo Abrams. (1) (4/10/04
A1:1-3)
Aug. 2004: Kalepa Village Phase Two, a 40-unit affordable housing complex, opens. (4)
Nov. 2004: Fifth grader Isabelle "Jazzy" Curtis, 10, daughter of Paul and Mildred Curtis of Puhi, represents
King Kaumuali`i Elementary School at the 2004 Hawaii Distinguished Schools Awards ceremony on Oahu for Blue Ribbon Schools
-- schools that meet the improvement benchmarks in the No Child Left Behind program. (1) (11/19/04 B3:1-3)
May 2005: A 3-bedroom/1-bath house in Hanama`ulu on 6,914 sq. feet of land is for sale. Price: $595,000. (4)
July 16 & 17, 2005: Hanama`ulu Town Celebration, with the theme "REMEMBERING THE PAST ... CELEBRATING THE PRESENT
... EMBRACING THE FUTURE ... " is a two-day celebration featuring a parade through main street, live entertainment, historical
displays, arts and crafts, ethnic foods, sale of souvenir booklet, sale of T- and Polo Shirts, cultural and historical presentations,
talk story sessions, fun and games for children, and other activities. (4)
| A. Morikawa, F. Abrams, P. Kano, & G. Bakiano |
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| Photo : Karl Lo | Feb. 3, 2005 Committee Meeting |
SOURCES:
(1) The Garden Island (Newspaper)
(2) Hanamaulu School GRAND REUNION: July 28 - 29, 1989.
(3) "On Wings of Discovery: Kauai District Public Schools -- Mana to Haena" 150th Anniversary of Public Education
in Hawaii. Kauai District, Dept. of Education, State of Hawaii. April 1991.
(4) Various Sources: Including Talk Story and the
Compiler's Personal Knowlege.
(5) The Lihue Plantation News.
(6) Feher, Joseph. "Hawaii: A Pictorial History." Compiled and designed by Joseph Feher. Accompanying text by
Edward Joesting for Part One; by O. A. Bushnell for Part Two. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, c1969. (Bernice P. Bishop Museum
Special Publication No. 58)
(7) King Kaumuali`i Elementary School. "School Status and Improvement Report." School Year 2002-2003.
8) Damon, Ethel M. "Koamalu: A Story of Pioneers on Kauai and of What They Built in That Island Garden." Honolulu:
Privately Printed, 1931. 2 v.
| Hanama`ulu Valley Locomotive Bridge | 1914 |
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| Photo : Kauai Museum | William Senda |
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