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November 8, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Musa-Shiya The Shirtmaker

Musashi was a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Metropolis, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called Bushū. The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama. (My Japanese Hanga)

Chotaro Miyamoto emigrated to Hawai‘i from Japan on the ship named the Tokyo Round in 1885. He started ‘Musa-Shiya’, a store in Honolulu on ‘A‘ala Lane, not far from River Street and named it after his hometown province (the name was a combination of Musashi and ‘ya’, meaning ‘place’ or ‘store.’ (Hope))

“Miyamoto sold dry goods and did some custom tailoring. His son, Koichiro, was sent to Japan at the age of six in 1901. A couple of years later, Chotaro moved his business to a new location on King Street, near River Street and the busy Honolulu fish market.”

“After the merchant died, his son, Koichiro, despite poor English skills and scant business knowledge, moved back to Hawai’i in 1920 to run the family business.”

“Miyamoto wanted to expand Musashiya’s tailoring business. The young merchant had been sending broadcloth orders to the big textile firms in England, but due to World War I, he didn’t receive his fabric orders and impatiently ordered more.” (Hope)

“Year after year Musa-Shiya had sent his order for shirtings to the Englishmen. The first year of the war his order was unacknowledged. The second year passed and there were two orders in England for Musa-Shiya that were unfilled.”

“He sent more orders.”

“Patience and persistence were his two virtues. Patience and persistence made this particular day the saddest day of his life, when he read the custom’s house manifest on a huge box from England. The orders of five years had been filled in one shipment! The little shirt maker saw his end. It was beyond him to save himself.” (Haase)

“There was young Miyamoto, suddenly surrounded by many bolts of the finest English broadcloth. The store overflowed, and more was on the dock.”

“Fine broadcloth in those days meant only one thing. Fine shirts. So the young merchant sought out the finest seamstresses in Honolulu, and they began making very fine shirts indeed.”

“Miyamoto now had to sell those quality shirts. He went to the advertising offices of Charles R. Frazier, where copywriter George Mellen became intrigued with Miyamoto’s pidgin English.” (Hope)

“Now Musa-Shiya had a friend, a haole friend … The haole friend was inspired. The little shirtmaker agreed that the big business man’s advertising agency could run the shop of Musa-Shiya should it so desire.”

“The little shirtmaker began to live in the advertising pages of a Honolulu newspaper. The advertising man had chosen the obvious and easily overlooked style of copy. He wrote Musa-Shiya’s tale of his business … in pidgin-English.” (Haase)

“Here are the headings and introductory of one of his ads … ‘Owing to slightly perspiring climate of Honolulu and adjacently adjoining territory all these persons abiding therein require more than usual undershirt. Undershirt for every day practically inevitable. If more fat, sometimes two for day is advisory.’”

“He follows this with an announcement of ‘good news of undershirts 10 per cent off for one week.’ … (and later includes,) ‘Because shop of Musa is very small and locality obscuring, prices is also, but explorer will find’”. (Dry Goods Economist, December 12, 1922)

“Observe also the diplomatic way in which Mr. Musa introduces the subject of sweaters and explains why these warm garments are needed at times even in Hawaii. His ad on this line of merchandise says:…”

“‘Speaking of sweater in Honolulu may be misconstewed for insult to famous climate. Yet not so. Climate at some instance require sweater.’”

“He speaks of the use of sweaters in automobiling and also ‘when obtaining generous perspiration by long tennis and other muscle excitement.’ In the latter case ‘sweater,’ he points out, ‘is natural result for protection from Sneeze.’”

“Mr. Musa’s English is peculiar, but it is away ahead of the Japanese (or any other foreign language) that most of us could write. And Economist readers will admit, we believe, that there is nothing the matter with his instinct for effective publicity.” (Dry Goods Economist, December 12, 1922)

“He found the way to bring people to an obscure shop. The advertisements, attracting attention by their typography and drawings, were read. If the reader of the advertisement stopped to analyze the copy he would find that it dwelt upon the fact that the little shop was hard to find …”

“… but once found there were great rewards to be had in un usual shirtings for the persistent one. Of course the copy didn’t neglect to say that price would be in keeping with the size of the shop. By this method the agency man created great interest in Musa-Shiya throughout Honolulu.” (Haase)

“During the first week, the advertisements followed close upon one another. At the end of the week the agency man called on
the little shirtmaker. ‘You didn’t think it could be done, did you?’” … ‘No, but business very good and every body say very nice advertisement.’”

“The spectacle of a solid line of busy clerks behind the counters now replaced the old scene of Musa-Shiya and his partner sitting in the corner of the shop, finding time heavy on their hands.”

“The clerks were not only selling shirting, but handing out Musa-Shiya’s ginghams, flannels and silks, for it should be known that Musa-Shiya sold a general line of dry goods, and that the advertising was moving those goods also.”

“From that week on the little shirtmaker continued to advertise. Advertising is now part of his business. He likes it. He hears from his advertising from all ends of Hawaii. Tourists in Hawaii clip his advertisements and send them home. These tourists, themselves, come to the little shop.”

“The clippings they send bring others when they come to Honolulu, and even bring orders from people in distant lands who never expect to come to Honolulu, but who have been goaded into action by the advertisements.”

“(H)e says : ‘Because for appreciating delightful results business and many customers now coming this shop where shirt make and dry goods American and Japanese style selling …’”

“‘… also following very nice advertisement in Star-Bulletin daily news papers for two year mostly, feel very kinely for advertisement which everybody say very nice advertisement and asking one copy keeping person ally which have not got so order make some more on piece paper from house of printing.’”

“‘We incline mystery for this action but explaining away clearly when man living his home Kansas U. S. sending old shirt also advertisement also letter demand six shirt hand made similar to this one but pongee kine.’”

“‘Also one lady thin kine living home Boston, U. S. presenting advertisement from many month old ask if this same shop Musa-Shiya and while writing hand book with short pencil print one side ‘Fire Insurance.’ This lady not buying shirt and something else but saving come again and smile nicely.’” (Haase)

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Koichiro Miyamoto-Musa_Shiya the Shirtmaker-TheAlohaShirt
Koichiro Miyamoto-Musa_Shiya the Shirtmaker-TheAlohaShirt
Musa_Shiya the Shirtmaker-label-TheAlohaShirt
Musa_Shiya the Shirtmaker-label-TheAlohaShirt
Musashiya Ad-Kinouya
Musashiya Ad-Kinouya
Musashiya_Label
Musashiya_Label
Musashiya-tag
Musashiya-tag
Musashiya_Labels-heddels
Musashiya_Labels-heddels
Musa-Shiya-Ad
Musa-Shiya-Ad
hono_musashiya_sign
hono_musashiya_sign

Filed Under: General, Prominent People, Economy Tagged With: Hawaii, Aloha Shirt, Musa-Shiya, Chotaro Miyamoto, Koichiro Miyamoto, Shirtmaker

November 7, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Waiakue Kaikuono

“Waiakue Kaikuono (Waiakue Bay), as it is called by the natives, comprises a spacious harbour, formed by a reef of coral rocks, of about half-a-mile in breadth, through which there is a channel three-quarters of a mile wide, with a depth of water throughout, of about eleven fathoms.” (Hill, 1856)

“Incidently, Hilo Bay was once almost called Vancouver Bay. Vancouver, whose name was given to the great island in British Columbia, and to a fine city in BC and another in southern Washington, was a visitor to Hawaii on several occasions.”

“The men of his party wanted to give Vancouver’s name to Hilo Bay. But somehow it didn’t take.” (Edwards; Honolulu Advertiser, April 29, 1951) It was later referred to as Byron’s Bay and ultimately, Hilo Bay.

“Hilo is a famous sea-shore resort on this island, and from Honolulu by a direct sea route the distance is estimated to be almost one hundred and ninety-two miles, and a steamer of moderate speed can accomplish the trip in almost twenty-four hours.”

“On the map Hilo Bay is frequently marked Byron’s Bay, after Captain Lord Byron, who was the first to make an accurate survey of it, which he did in 1825.” (Hall, 1898)

“Lord Byron, the cousin and successor of the poet (George Gordon Byron), and a very different man, commanding HBM Frigate Blonde, was commissioned by his majesty to convey the bodies of the king and queen (Liholiho and Kamamalu) and the survivors of their suite back to their country.” (Bingham)

“During the voyage Liliha and Kekuanaoa were baptized at their own request by the chaplain, Lord Byron standing as sponsor.” (Taylor)

Actually some suggest its traditional name is Waiakea Bay. “The proper native name for Hilo Bay is Waiakea, but as is quite natural, it is called from the town itself.” (Hall, 1898) “The best landing is at Waiakea, which gives its name to the bay, although it has been called Hilo and Byron’s Bay.”

“The latter name was conferred on it, in compliment to Lord Byron, by Kaahumanu; but the native appellation cannot be set aside, and the bay is now scarcely known among the natives when called Byron’s.” (Wilkes, 1845)

“Excellent water is to be had in abundance, and with great ease, within the mouth of the Wailuku river; but it requires some care in passing in and out the river when the surf is high.” (Wilkes, 1845)

“Lord Byron, with his scientific corps, visited Hila, the great crater of Kilauea, and Kealakahua Bay, and caused accurate surveys to be made of Waikiki Bay, Honolulu harbor, and Hilo Bay, which has since been often called Byron’s Bay.” (Bingham)

“Hilo Bay has an excellent harbor, and if commerce needs it, can be rendered safe and commodious by a breakwater which runs out from the shore to Cocoanut Island. There is room for a whole navy here, if necessary, and the water is deep enough for the largest ship afloat.”

“The town is well laid out and very pretty. One can see great stretches of cane fields all yellow and green, and the tall, graceful cocoa palms with their plumy branches. As the roads in Hilo are not very good, one must either go about on foot or on horseback.” (Hall, 1898)

“Lord Byron drew up the first laws printed and published in Honolulu, being regulations for the harbor of Honolulu. … and by his advice the chiefs began more active measures for suppression of vices which were destroying their race, and for promoting education.”

“The American missionaries, who were still more or less under suspicion, were indebted to him for removing the last doubts as to their mission and motives; telling the natives that these people taught the same religion as that recommended to them by Vancouver, teachers of which he had promised to send them on his return to England, if possible.” (Taylor)

“Before leaving the islands, Lord Byron set up a memorial of Capt. Cook, almost half a century from the time of his death. On the hill of ancient lava, at the head of Kealakekua Bay, and one hundred and fifty rods from the place where that navigator fell …”

“… and near where he was dissected, he erected, on a heap of rough, volcanic stones, a small shaft, or pillar of wood, with a small plate attached”. (Bingham)

In the late 19th century, the growing sugar industry in East Hawai‘i demanded a better and more protected port, and a breakwater was constructed on Blonde Reef to shield ships from rough waters as they entered Hilo Harbor.

In 1908, construction began on a breakwater along the shallow reef, beginning at the shoreline east of Kūhīo Bay. The breakwater was completed in 1929 and extended roughly halfway across the bay. In 1912, contracts were awarded to construct Kūhiō Wharf, to dredge the approach to the new wharf, and to lay railroad track into the new harbor facility.

Work was completed at Kūhiō Wharf, Pier 1 in 1916. Pier 1 was a 1,400-foot long by 150-foot wide wharf with a wooden storage shed. By 1917, a mechanical conveyor for bagged sugar with derricks for loading ships, was constructed.

In 1923, Pier 2 was constructed just west of Pier 1. Additional dredging was conducted in Kūhiō Bay as part of the construction. By 1927, Pier 3 was added on the west side of Pier 2.

Between 1927 and 1928, the approach to Pier 3 was dredged and the pier was widened. In 1929, the 10,080-foot long rubble mound breakwater was completed.

Contrary to urban legend, the Hilo breakwater was not built as a tsunami protection barrier for Hilo; it was built to dissipate general wave energy and reduce wave action in the protected bay, providing calm water within the bay and protection for mooring and operating in the bay.

In fact, in 1946, Hilo was struck by a tsunami generated by an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands; it was struck again in 1960 by a tsunami generated by the great Chilean earthquake – both tsunami overtopped the breakwater and Hilo sustained significant damage, including to the breakwater.

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Hilo_illustration,_c._1870s
Hilo_illustration,_c._1870s

Filed Under: Hawaiian Traditions, Place Names Tagged With: Waiakue Kaikuono, Waiakue Bay, Hawaii, Hawaii Island, Hilo, Hilo Bay, Vancouver Bay, Byron's Bay

November 4, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Eben’s Glove

“He was always immaculately dressed and tailored when I saw him.” (Lucas; Watumull)

He was married to Elizabeth Pu‘uki Napoleon (“really Napoli. … Became known as Napoleon later.”)

“She was always known as Lizzie Low. My mother’s people were not well known to us because she was hanaied by Judge and Mrs. Sanford B. Dole when she was about twelve years of age [circa 1879].”

“Judge Dole was a teacher at Kawaiaha‘o Sunday School and had in his class a little girl of about six whose name was Lizzie Napoleon. And he became very attached to this little girl so when she got a little older, he asked her mother if she wouldn’t allow her to live with them.”

“She didn’t want to go at first but she did finally become attached to both Judge and Mrs. Dole and lived there until she was married.” (Lucas; Watumull)

“My father was known as Rawhide Ben because ever since he was knee high to a grasshopper, I guess, he loved the ranch life. And he was brought up as a member of the family in Mana and Kamuela with the rest of them.”

“So as a little boy he always had a chance to do something with animals. And this was his whole life. All he ever thought about was his cowboy experiences. But he became known as Rawhide Ben …”

“… I think, because even though he was sent to Maui and then to Honolulu later, at Iolani School, to get educated when he was a little fellow, he always went back to the ranch and that was all he wanted to do.”

“And as soon as he became an adult, his first job – big job – was given him by Theo. H. Davies and Company as manager of Puakea Ranch which is in Kohala – South Kohala there.”

Eben Parker Low was born in Honolulu, a great grandson of John Palmer Parker I and his Hawaiian wife, Kipikane. He spent his early years on Parker Ranch, Handling cows and calves by the time he was six years old.”

“He had very little education; in his own words, ‘… just plain common sense plus some English grammar and arithmetic and writing.’”

“At the age of 26 he became manager of Pu‘uhue ranch in Kohala, and began a career that made him one of the big island’s most famous and colorful paniolo.” (Hawaii Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame)

Unfortunately, he lost a portion of his left arm while roping … “he was trying to get a wild bullock that they had been chasing for a long time and he finally caught it but it was very wild and the thing was just swishing around this way (she indicates to the right and around the back of her) …”

“… so he had just enough time to duck down and the rope (with which the bullock was lassoed) went over his head. But he had the rope tied at the end of his pommel, which he never does ordinarily but he did that time because he didn’t want to lose it. And it caught his hand, see, ‘cause the loop was around his hand and it just tore the thing right off.”

“So then, there was one man with him and I don’t know how long they had – about two hours before they could get to anyplace. And of course he had this thing up and was bleeding like a cut pig.”

“And when they finally found the doctor and could get him up there, hours had passed and gangrene was starting to come in, so they cut it. They had to cut it down here (indicates forearm) and had to cut it again at the elbow.”

“But he got through that and, well, he was a young man then. I think he was about twenty-five when that happened, so he had a lot of time to get over it, too.” (Lucas; Watumull)

“Low was known as ‘one of the better artists with a rope, horse and steer’. Low had lost his left hand in a roping accident, but ‘managed to excel at roping despite his handicap of the one missing hand’”. (Marion Kelly)

“(H)e had that one arm that had to be amputated forearm and so he’d … usually wore a … false hand with a glove on his left hand and then when he roped he had a thing he’d put on with a hook it just you know a mean hook it you’d look like a pirate you look at the pictures of old pirates”. (Billy Paris; Hawaii Cattlemen’s Association)

“And I remember that leather glove. I always remembered that leather glove. I can just see him so clearly.”

“Yeah, he was a rascal with that glove because obviously, you know, there was an artificial arm. Let’s see now, his arm was cut here (indicates it was just below the elbow) so there was just a little leverage here, right below the elbow, and would give him leverage, so this thing – this gloved hand – would fit right into the end of this stump.”

“And so, he could twist it and take it off or not as he pleased. And half the time he would take it off and put a hook on it because he could handle a hook more easily than he could a glove. But oh, he used to do terrible things with that glove.”

“For instance, I remember one time when a woman – I can’t remember who she was now but it was someone that I thought should not have been in any way fooled with because she was very dignified and she was very well dressed and she was so sedate, so prim and proper …”

“… and my father just couldn’t stand it and so he just twisted this thing off and threw the [gloved] hand in her lap. That woman nearly died of a heart attack.” (Lucas; Watumull)

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Eben 'Rawhide Ben' Low-PP-75-5-007-1939
Eben ‘Rawhide Ben’ Low-PP-75-5-007-1939

Filed Under: Economy, General, Prominent People Tagged With: Ranching, Rawhide Ben, Hawaii, Cattle, Eben Low

November 3, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Kaimū

The name literally means ‘gathering [at the] sea [to watch surfing].’ This land section and village, at Kalapana, Hawaiʻi, was noted for its surf and its black sand beach. The black sand was formed by steam explosions that occurred when a lava flow entered the ocean in about 1750. (Pukui)

“Kaimu is pleasantly situated near the sea shore, on the SE side of the island, standing on a bed of lava considerably decomposed, and covered over with a light and fertile soil. It is adorned with plantations, groves of cocoa-nuts and clumps of kou trees.”

“It has a sandy beach, where canoes may land with safety; and according to the houses numbered to-day contains 725 inhabitants. Including the villages in the immediate vicinity, along the coast, the populations would probably amount to 2,000; and, if water could be procured near at hand, it would form an eligible missionary station.”

“There are several wells in the village, containing brackish water, which has passed from the sea, through the cells of the lava, undergoing a kind of filtration, and it is collected in hollows scooped out to receive it. The natives told us, that, at the distance of about a mile, there is plenty of fresh water.” (Ellis from 1823)

“The most important reason that settlement in the Kalapana area was on the coast was the availability of fresh food from the sea. Fishing was on the shore, which also hosted gathering of shellfish, crabs and limu, and from canoes.”

“Taro and breadfruit were major crops of the better watered coastal areas in the east but especially in the forested uplands. Bananas, sugar cane, and ‘awa were also grown in the uplands.” (Hawai‘i County)

“We passed a potato patch in the broken lava which exceeded anything I had seen. Not a particle of soil was anywhere to be seen, and the holes dug among the stones to receive the potatoes were some of them six feet in depth-thus securing a degree of moisture and shelter from the sun-though no more soil than at the surface.”

“There are but few people in this region. They are miserably poor, & for some time past have been almost in a state of famine. They get their living by fishing, making salt, & getting fern roots & a few potatoes in the mountains.”

“Their salt works are on the naked lava near the sea, the water of which is evaporated in little cups or vessels made of the Ki leaf & holding of course but a minute quantity of water.”

“These are laid in parallel rows over several acres, & the water poured into them a little at a time from Calabashes. The process is an extremely slow one, tho’ the salt is s[aid] to be excellent for the table. It is sold at the exceedingly low prices of 25 cts a bag, which will contain I sh’d judge ½ a bushel or more” (Chester Lyman, 1846)

“At the beach the road enters first the village of Kaimu, exclusively Hawaiian, with a large grove of cocoanut trees surrounding a fine semi-circular sand beach. Care should be exercised in bathing on account of the under tow.”

“Less than a mile further on, westwards, lies the village of Kalapana, one of the largest Hawaiian villages in the Islands. There are no white inhabitants, and only a couple of Chinese stores. Here is the headquarters for a couple of stages, which make irregular trips to Pahoa (Rate: 75 cents a passenger one way.)” (Kinney, 1913)

The district of Puna is distinguished as one of the least awarded private lands from the 1848 Māhele and Kuleana Act. Only 19 awards of private land were made in the entire district.

Of these, 16 awards were made in large tracts to 10 chiefs who lived outside of Puna, and three small parcels were granted, to commoners Baranaba, Hewahewa and Haka (Territory of Hawai`i 1929.)

The small number of land awards was not because Puna had a small population. In 1854, four years after the Kuleana awards were granted, the estimated population for Puna was 2,702 (Hawaii Mission Children’s Library 1854.)

Moreover, the 1858 tax records for Puna shows that 894 males over the age of 20 paid poll taxes in Puna ten years after the deadline for filing for land awards (Hawai‘i State Archives 1858.)

An examination of the possible reasons why almost the entire population of Puna did not enjoy the benefits of the Māhele and Kuleana Act lends an understanding of why Hawaiians living in the district remained outside of the mainstream of Hawai`i’s economic and social development.

First, Puna was isolated from the mainstream of economic, social and political developments. It is possible that the Hawaiians in Puna were not aware of the process or did not realize the significance of the new law.

Second, it is possible that the Puna Hawaiians did not have a way to raise the cash needed for the land surveys, which cost between $6 to $12. Wages at the time were normally between 12 1/2 cents and 33 cents a day.

However, there were few wage-earning jobs in Puna. Cash would have to be raised from selling extra fish or other products, which was difficult given the subsistence living of many Hawaiians.

Third, at least some Puna Hawaiians filed their land claims after the deadline. In an 1851 petition to the legislature, several Puna residents asked to be issued land grants without penalty, as they had filed their claims after February 14, 1848 (Allen 1979).

Under the Māhele, the bulk of Puna lands were designated as public lands either to the monarchy, as “Crown” lands or to the government of the Hawaiian Kingdom. (McGregor)

In March 1990, Kīlauea’s ongoing Puʻu ʻŌʻō-Kupaianaha eruption (that began on January 3, 1983) entered its most destructive period of the 20th century when lava flows turned toward Kalapana, an area cherished for its historic sites and black sand beaches.

By the end of the summer, the entire community, including a church, store, and 100 homes, were buried beneath 50-80 feet of lava.

As the lava flows advanced eastward, they took to the sea, replacing the palm-lined Kaimū Bay with a plain of lava that now extends nearly 1,000-feet beyond the original shoreline.

In late 1990, a new lava tube finally diverted lava away from Kalapana and back into the National Park. (USGS)

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Kaimu-Beach-lava entering
Kaimu-Beach-lava entering
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House_at_Kaimu,_Hawaii,_in_1888-WC
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Black_Sand_Beach_1959-WC
Young woman at Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-017-1935
Young woman at Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-017-1935
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Two young women on Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-HAL_Promotion-PP-29-10-019
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Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-PP-29-9-002
Kaimu Beach-1915
Kaimu Beach-1915
Sunrise at Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-002
Sunrise at Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-002
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-008
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-008
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-PP-29-9-003
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-PP-29-9-003
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-HVB-PP-29-9-006
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana-HVB-PP-29-9-006
Pauline Wessel on Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-023-1935
Pauline Wessel on Kaimu Black Sand beach, Kalapana-PP-29-10-023-1935
Kalapana Store-pre-lava flow
Kalapana Store-pre-lava flow
Kalapana Lava flow-USGS-1990
Kalapana Lava flow-USGS-1990
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Kalapana Store-post-lava_flow
Kalapana Store-post-lava flow
Kalapana Store-post-lava flow
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana
Kaimu Black Sand Beach, Kalapana
New_Beach_on_Kaimu_Bay_2009-WC
New_Beach_on_Kaimu_Bay_2009-WC

Filed Under: General, Place Names Tagged With: Volcano, Puna, Kalapana, Puu Oo, Kaimu, Hawaii, Hawaii Island

November 2, 2018 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Pineapple Pier

Although sugarcane was ‘king’ in Hawai‘i, untilled government land was in pasture rather than sugarcane because it was too dry for unirrigated sugarcane and the elevation was too high for irrigated cane.

Several events occurred in 1898 that facilitated the development of the new pineapple canning industry. First, the annexation of Hawaii in that year resulted in the revocation of the 35% duty on Hawaiian canned pineapple.

Second, the Republic of Hawaii legislature passed a law that made some 1,300-acres of government land near Wahiawa available for homesteading once a pasture lease expired (13 southern California families came to Wahiawa to homestead the land made available under the new law.)

These early migrants and James Dole, who arrived in 1899, formed the nucleus of what would eventually become the largest pineapple industry in the world. (Bartholomew et al)

Homesteaders cleared land, built homes, and at first planted food and fodder crops. Byron O. Clark had obtained a small pineapple farm planted with ‘Smooth Cayenne’ plants near Pearl City in 1898 before the prospective homesteaders had left California.

Clark’s farm provided the first pineapple plants grown on the homesteaded lands near Wahiawa and they grew so well that other homesteaders followed suit. James Dole established the Hawaiian Pineapple Company in 1901 and is “usually considered to have produced the first commercial pack of 1,893 cases of canned pineapple in 1903”.

The pineapple plantation concept quickly spread to Kauai and Maui, perhaps because the already well-established sugar industry provided the near-ideal plantation model for those to whom it was not initially obvious. (Bartholomew et al)

In the early 1900s, to help with the burgeoning plantation population, government lands were auctioned off as town lots in Kapa‘a.

The first pineapple company on the island of Kauai was established in 1906. In 1913, Hawaiian Canneries Company, Ltd opened in Kapa‘a at the site now occupied by Pono Kai Resort. Through the Hawaiian Organic Act, Hawaiian Canneries purchased land they were leasing, approximately 8.75 acres, in 1923.

A 1923 sketch of the cannery shows only four structures, one very large structure assumed to be the actual cannery and three small structures makai of the cannery. (Bartholomew etal)

On August 21, 1929, a US trademark registration was filed for ‘Pono’ by Hawaiian Canneries. The description provided to the trademark for Pono is ‘canned sliced and crushed pineapple and pineapple juice used for food-flavoring purposes’. (Trademarkia)

By 1956, the cannery was producing 1.5 million cases of pineapple. By 1960, 3,400 acres were in pineapple and there were 250 full time employees and 1,000 seasonal employees. (Exploration)

Until the 1960s, the Hawaiian Canneries canning plant used to produce canned sliced and crushed pineapple and pineapple juice used for food-flavoring purposes.

Factory by-products – the crowns & skins from the processed pineapples – were loaded onto train carts and hauled up the coast to a pier. The pineapple rubbish was then dumped into the ocean from the end of the pier. (Kauai Path)

As canned pineapple from other countries began filling the market, Hawaiian canneries began to close and plantations, once located on Maui, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Kauai, began to shrink.

In 1962, Hawaiian Canneries went out of business due to foreign competition. (Exploration) Other smaller Kauai and Maui pineapple companies closed in the late-1960s.

In 1969, Hawaiian Fruit Packers (which was formed in 1937 by the reorganization of a company initially started by a group of ethnic Japanese growers) on Kauai, the last cannery remaining there, announced plans to cease planting. The cannery was closed in Oct. 1973. (Bartholomew etal)

Del Monte cannery closed in 1985, and Dole cannery in Iwilei closed in 1991. The Kahului cannery of Maui Land and Pineapple Company was the last remaining pineapple cannery in Hawai‘i. During the end of the 1990s and into the 21st century the value of fresh Hawaiian pineapple overtook the value of canned Hawaiian pineapple.

The Hawaiian pineapple industry has gone from its early days as a primarily fresh product, through most of the 20th century as principally a canned product and a major supplier of the worlds canned pineapple market, to the 21st century when it is once again grown mostly for fresh consumption. (HAER)

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Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pineapple Dump Pier
Pono Pineapple
Pono Pineapple
Pono - Hawaiian Canneries Company, Ltd
Pono – Hawaiian Canneries Company, Ltd
Hawaiian_Canneries (Kapaa)-Sanborn Fire Map
Hawaiian_Canneries (Kapaa)-Sanborn Fire Map
Sugar_Plantation-Fire_maps-Index-Kauai-Oahu-Hawaiian Canneries Company, Ltd-noted
Sugar_Plantation-Fire_maps-Index-Kauai-Oahu-Hawaiian Canneries Company, Ltd-noted

Filed Under: Economy, General, Place Names Tagged With: Pineapple, Kapaa, Pono, Hawaiian Canneries, Pineapple Pier, Dump Pier, Hawaii, Kauai

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