Images of Old Hawaiʻi

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Metropolitan Meat Market

As early as 1871, Metropolitan Market appears to have been started as a beef marketing operation on O‘ahu by Gilbert Waller (Bergin); he had a “branch store”, Family Market (formerly the Rose Cottage Market), on the corner of Union and Hotel (that he bought at auction in 1875). (HSA and Tourist Guide, 1880-1881)

In 1872, his nephew, Gilbert Johnson Waller, acquired the Metropolitan meat company and eventually took in as partners James Campbell, James Dowsett, and Thos R Foster, prominent ranch owners on the Island of O‘ahu. (Bergin)

This meat purveying operation grew rapidly over the next two decades, with Parker Ranch being its main supplier of beef. In July 1900, the original partnership was transformed into a limited liability stock company and incorporated as the Metropolitan Meat Company, Ltd, with Gilbert J Waller serving as manager/treasurer. (Bergin)

The Metropolitan Meat Company flourished at its King Street location, with forty-seven employees providing processing  and  delivery  of  slaughtered  beef throughout Honolulu. The company eventually added a tannery as part of its broad diversification. (Bergin)

To distribute beef to ships anchored at Honolulu, in 1901. Metropolitan Meat Market purchased the ‘Fun’; the launch was operated by Young Brothers to deliver supplies. Young Brothers had a delivery contract with Metropolitan, so eighteen-year-old Jack Young had the job of getting up at 4 am to make the meat deliveries.

By 1902, the brothers were able to buy the eight-horsepower boat and take over the contract to deliver meat and other fresh supplies to ships anchored in the harbor. (YB, 100 Years)

With respect to beef suppliers, Alfred Wellington “AW” Carter (Parker Ranch Manager) sought that Metropolitan Meat company allow greater ownership interest by the actual ranchers – many of whom were neighbor island ranchers who shipped their market cattle to this consortium.  (Bergin)

Parker Ranch and other neighbor island ranchers had legitimate concerns with Metropolitan Meat Company’s autocratic and monopolistic way of doing business. Without notice, the price could drop as much as a penny per pound, or Metropolitan Meat would cancel cattle shipments to O‘ahu at the last minute. (Bergin)

A federal antitrust lawsuit was filed October 2, 1906 (and decided in 1917) to restrain the operation of alleged unlawful combinations in restraint of trade in beef and beef products.

The suit charged Metropolitan Meat (and other defendants) with “an unlawful combination, trust and conspiracy … in restraint of the trade and commerce of the Territory of Hawaii in violation of an act of Congress of July 2nd, 1890, entitled ‘An act to protect trade and commerce against restraints and monopolies’”.

During the proceedings, it was determined that “[a]bout 3,667,105 pounds weight of beef cattle produced in the Territory, of the value of $317,178.25 in money of the United States, are consumed annually by such people …”

“… and about ninety (90%) per cent of such beef cattle has been, is now and will continue to be produced and dealt in by [Metropolitan Meat] in the Territory as an object of trade and commerce therein.” (United States v Metropolitan Meat Co)

“All of such beef cattle are produced in the Territory. The defendants comprise nearly all the wholesale dealers in the Territory, who produce and deal in beef cattle and fresh beef to consumers and dealers in the Territory, and if combined together they can and do control the prices charged for fresh beef produced in the Territory.” (United States v Metropolitan Meat Co)

Under the leadership of Carter, with the participation and support of other neighbor island ranchers such as the Greenwells of Kona, the Maguires of Hu‘ehu‘e, Homers of Kuka’iau, Kohala Ranch Company, and WH Shipman, Parker Ranch announced plans to build a slaughterhouse on O’ahu (in competition with Metropolitan).

In March of 1909, Hawai‘i Meat Company was born, with the articles of incorporation signed by Carter, Robert Leighton Hind Sr., Albert Horner, JA Maguire, Maud WH Greenwell, JD Paris, JF Woods, A Morrow, and RA Cooke. Gilbert J. Waller was named manager of the new company.

Metropolitan suggested that Carter purchase the stock of the company. Carter noted: “I said I would appoint someone, they should appoint someone, both of these men to appoint a third, to put a price on the business and we would pay it.”

“That is how we got the Metropolitan Meat Co. I went to Hawaii and got the graziers together, outlined my plan and arranged with the bank to borrow $100,000. All the fellows who came in endorsed that note. No one put up a cent.” (Carter; Bergin)

The retail meant facility expanded … “Everything conceivable for perfect sanitation, convenience, attractiveness and service is embodied in the appointments of the recently remodelled Metropolitan Meat Market”.

“Situated in the heart of the city of Honolulu, at 50 King street, between Fort and Bethel streets, this thoroughly modern market, with its beautiful marble, glass and tile work would delight the heart of the most particular housewife of famous ‘Spotless Town’ itself.”

“There are larger establishments of the kind in the greater cities, to be sure, but it is absolutely safe to assert that nowhere in the world is there a cleaner, neater, more attractive, more pleasing or more wholesome appearing headquarters for the purchase of choice meats, poultry, butter, eggs, cheese, hams, bacon, sausages, delicatessen and what else one may want to procure in a well-stocked market.”

“Sanitary improvements and the utmost convenience were the main objects in the reconstruction. Rapid increase in business called for enlargement, too, and the change that has been wrought fulfills these plans to the last degree. Marble and tile finish insure perfect sanitation, so marble and tile finish were provided.”

“The same architect and builder who originated the Washington and Long’s markets in San Francisco was obtained to carry out the work for the Metropolitan Meat Market, Frank Loehr of Oakland.”

“The front of the new building is of terra cotta, the first of its kind to be used in Honolulu. The decorations are modelled after those on one of the buildings at the San Francisco Exposition, afterwards sold and used in the ornamentation of a millionaire’s new home on Knob Hill.”

“An extensive refrigerating system of coiled pipes fed by calcium chloride brine, pumped from a tank at the rear, keep a large number of rooms, as well as the show cases and windows at the required temperature.” (Paradise of the Pacific, Dec 1917)

No longer a packing house, Metropolitan Meat Company continued as a retailing concern on King and Bethel Street and finally closed its doors in 1950, a victim of the cash and carry trend. (Bergin)

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ʻŌhaiʻula

ʻŌhaiʻula (red ʻōhai shrub) is a beach at Kawaihae.  The earliest European observers of Kawaihae Bay were members of Captain Cook’s expedition. Arriving in February 1779, they were little impressed, Captain James King noting that,

“Although the NEern part of the bay which … is call’d Toe-yah-ya [Kawaihae] looks green & pleasant, yet as it is neither wooded or hardly any signs of culture, & a few houses, It has certainly some defect, & does not answer the purposes of what the natives cultivate.” (Cook’s Journal, NPS)

A little later (in the early 1800s), Isaac Iselin visited Kawaihae and noted, “This Bay of Toeigh [Kawaihae] is very open … The country around it looks like a hilly barren desert; nothing grows within ten miles of it, except a few cocoanut trees, of which a fine grove stands near the beach.”

“The inhabitants and huts are thinly scattered along the shore, far less numerous than about Karakakooah [Kealakekua], and seem more indigent, indeed, having to go so far for their subsistence, they are not seldom in want of the supports of life.” (Iselin)

Over 100 years later, in the 1920s, the Parker Ranch constructed a wagon road through the Pelekane area past Mailekini Heiau to a charcoal kiln inland of ʻŌhaiʻula Beach. It provided easier access to the beach than the shoreline trail. (NPS)

Attitudes about this area also changed. “Kawaihae is gaining in popularity. According to reports published frequently in this paper’s news columns many folks from all parts of Hawaii are availing themselves of the Kawaihae opportunity.”

“Kawaihae, unquestionably, is one of this island’s most attractive areas. The swimming beach there cannot be exceeded in this county. The chance for pleasurable picnic weather is most excellent. While it rains sometime in that district, storms, certainly, are not frequent.”

“When considering various points of beauty for week-end or holiday outings, give Kawaihae the favor that it should have. If one never has visited this beach he has not seen all of Hawaii, by any means. … We are happy to see Kawaihae gain local favor – pleased because it deserves just that.” (HTH, Sep 8, 1931)

By the 1930s and 1940s, fishermen and some hog raisers moved into the area, living along the beach in raised, temporary huts thatched with grass or coconut supplemented with odd bits of lumber, with tin or iron roofs and lanais, and with small fishponds in between.

People also came just for the weekend, including wealthy haole (whites), who erected boat houses and dry-docked their boats in the area of the coconut trees. The marine railway must have been built about that time for repairing these boats. (NPS)

ʻŌhaiʻula started to take on a new name, ‘Kawaihae Beach’ …

“Kawaihae beach will invite with its cool, peaceful setting, the sparkling water at its feet, and the wealth of its vegetation. Yet Kawaihae beach last year was a barren stretch of sand on Kohala. It was a popular week-end picnic spot because, despite the great possibility for improvement, it was the closest to ideal in that district.” (HTH, Nov 17, 1931)

“So many people go there over week-ends and on holidays that its facilities and space already are hopelessly inadequate. As we hardly need point out here, it is about the only piece of shoreline on the whole island that actually qualifies as a beach.”

“The only piece of shoreline, we should add, that qualifies as a real beach and that is open to the public.  There are, of course, other superb beaches on Big Island shores but all the best of these are either privately owned or inaccessible except by boat.” (HTH, Sep 13, 1947)

(Note: under today’s laws, beaches in Hawai‘i are generally publicly owned and accessible. As part of the public trust doctrine, they are essential public coastal recreational resources. Providing coastal recreational opportunities accessible to the public is a fundamental objective set forth in Chapter 205A, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS).)

“The end of the war, more freedom to move about, and a decent highway leading to Kawaihae beach has made that attractive spot one of the most popular on the Big Island. As a county park, it should pay big dividends in recreation.” (HTH, Sep 13, 1947)

Per Real Property Tax records, the land was owned by the Territoy of Hawai‘i and transferred to the County through Executive Order #729 for the Kawaihae Beach Park in the late-1930s.

“[T]he County operated a public park known as the Kawaihae park, near Kawaihae, district of south Kohala, and employed one Victor Laau as caretaker and custodian … the upkeep and maintenance of Kawaihae park was a ‘governmental” function’”. (Lovell v. County of Hawaii. Hawai‘i Supreme Court)

Its name changed again from Kawaihae Beach to Spencer Beach …

The park was renamed to honor Samuel Mahuka Spencer (1875–1960), the Chair of the Hawai‘i Island Board of Supervisors (equivalent to the present position of Mayor, from 1924-1944; the island’s longest serving). (McElroy)

Spencer was born in Waimea, Island of Hawaiʻi. He attended Kamehameha Schools where he was an outstanding baseball player. In 1895 he married Alice Kinimaka.

His career included Territorial Land Office clerk, deputy sheriff, bookkeeper for Henry Waterhouse Co., Parker Ranch, and deputy country clerk Country of Hawaiʻi, and in 1915, he became special auditor for the County of Hawaiʻi, then he was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors in 1924. (Men of Hawai‘i)

Then, the ʻŌhaiʻula name returned to the place; in 2003 the park was renamed “Spencer Park at ʻŌhaiʻula Beach.”

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Salt

Within ten years after Captain Cook’s 1778 contact with Hawai‘i, the islands became a favorite port of call in the trade with China.  The fur traders and merchant ships crossing the Pacific needed to replenish food supplies and water.

The maritime fur trade focused on acquiring furs of sea otters, seals and other animals from the Pacific Northwest Coast and Alaska.  The furs were mostly sold in China in exchange for tea, silks, porcelain and other Chinese goods, which were then sold in Europe and the United States.

Needing supplies in their journey, the traders soon realized they could economically barter for provisions in Hawai‘i; for instance any type of iron, a common nail, chisel or knife could fetch far more fresh fruit meat and water than a large sum of money would in other ports.

A triangular trade network emerged linking the Pacific Northwest coast, China and the Hawaiian Islands to Britain and the United States (especially New England).

Foreign vessels had long recognized the ability of the Hawaiian Islands to provision their ships with food (meat and vegetables,) water, salt and firewood.

Salt was Hawaiʻi’s first export, carried by some of the early ships in the fur trade back to the Pacific Northwest for curing furs.  Another early market was provided by the Russian settlements in Alaska.

Salt Exports ran to around 2,000 to 3,000 barrels a year in the 1830s, reached 15,000-barrels in 1847 and thereafter declined gradually until exports ceased in the 1880s.  (Hitch)

But salt in Hawaiʻi was not just for export.

Salt “has ever been an essential article with the Sandwich Islanders, who eat it very freely with their food, and use much in preserving their fish.”  (Ellis, 1826)

During Cook’s visits to the Islands, King’s journal noted “the great quantity of salt they eat with their flesh and fish. … almost every native of these islands carried about with him, either in his calibash, or wrapped up in a piece of cloth, and tied about his waist, a small piece of raw pork, highly salted, which they considered as a great delicacy, and used now and then to taste of.”

“Their fish they salt, and preserve in gourd-shells; not, as we at first imagined, for the purpose of providing against any temporary scarcity, but from the preference they give to salted meats.”  (King, 1779)

“(T)he Sandwich Islanders eat (salt) very freely with their food, and use much in preserving their fish. … The surplus … they dispose of to vessels touching at the islands, or export to the Russian settlements on the north-west coast of America, where it is in great demand for curing fish, &c.” (Ellis, 1826)

Early salt production was made by natural evaporation of seawater in tidal ponds. (Hitch) “Amongst their arts, we must not forget that of making salt, with which we were amply supplied, during our stay at these islands, and which was perfectly good of its kind.”

“Their salt pans are made of earth, lined with clay; being generally six or eight feet square, and about eight inches deep. They are raised upon a bank of stones near the high water mark, from whence the salt water is conducted to the foot of them, in small trenches, out of which they are filled, and the sun quickly performs the necessary process of evaporation.”  (King, 1779)

The Hawaiians “manufacture large quantities of salt, by evaporating the sea water. We saw a number of their pans, in the disposition of which they display great ingenuity. They have generally one large pond near the sea, into which the water flows by a channel cut through the rocks, or is carried thither by the natives in large calabashes.”

“After remaining there some time, it is conducted into a number of smaller pans about six or eight inches in depth, which are made with great care, and frequently lined with large evergreen leaves, in order to prevent absorption.”

“Along the narrow banks or partitions between the different pans, we saw a number of large evergreen leaves placed.  They were tied up at each end, so as to resemble a shallow dish, and filled with sea water, in which the crystals of salt were abundant.”  (Ellis, 1826)

Early export users were the Russians, who first made contact in the Islands in 1804.  A year or two later, Kamehameha made known to them that he would “gladly send a ship every year with swine, salt, batatas (sweet potatoes,) and other articles of food, if (the Russians) would in exchange let him have sea-otter skins at a fair price.” The following year, they came to the islands for more salt.  (Kuykendall)

Later, in the early-1820s, the Russians could get most provisions cheaper from Boston or New York than from the Hawaiian Islands, but the salt trade between the North Pacific and Hawaiʻi continued.

On September 5, 1820, Petr Ivanovich Rikord, governor of Kamchatka, wrote to Liholiho (Kamehameha II) requesting salt be traded for furs.  In 1821, Captain William Sumner sailed the Thaddeus (the same ship that carried the Protestant missionaries to Hawaiʻi in 1820) from Hawaiʻi to Kamchatka with a load of salt and other supplies.  (Mills)  (Check out the letter from Rikord to Liholiho in the album.)

Another trading concern was the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC,) a fur trading company that started in Canada in 1670; its first century of operation found HBC firmly focused in a few forts and posts around the shores of James and Hudson Bays, Central Canada.

The Company was attracted to Hawaiʻi not for furs but as a potential market for the products of the Company’s posts in the Pacific Northwest.  That first trip (1829) was intended to test the market for HBC’s primary products, salmon and lumber.  (By then, Honolulu had already become a significant Pacific port of call and major provisioning station for trans-Pacific travelers.)

Back then, salmon was a one of the most valuable commercial fisheries in the world (behind the oyster and herring fisheries.)  (Cobb)  Just as salt was used for curing furs, HBC used Hawaiian salt in preserving salmon.

Hawaiian salt used in preserving the salmon made its way back to Hawaiʻi for Hawaiian consumption.   During the 1830s, HBC sold several hundred barrels of salmon a year in Honolulu.  The 1840s saw a major increase in sales; in 1846, 1,530 barrels were shipped to Hawaiʻi and HBC tried to increase salmon exports to 2,000 barrels annually.  (Thus, the creation of lomi lomi salmon.)

The salt also came in handy with the region’s supplying whalers with fresh and salt beef that called to the Islands, as well as the later Gold Rushers of America.  Here is where Samuel Parker (of the later Parker Ranch fame) started out as a cattle hunter to fill those needs.

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49th State

On January 6, 1912, New Mexico was admitted to the Union as the 47th state; on February 14, 1912, Arizona was admitted to the Union as the 48th and last contiguous state in the Union. (LOC)

It would be nearly 50 years before the 49th and 50th States were added to the Union – the race was on between Alaska and Hawai‘i to be admitted next.

Hawai‘i and Alaska were the only remaining incorporated territories which have not yet become states. Beginning in 1935, nine sets of committee hearings were held on bills for statehood, prior to 1953. (CQ Almanac)

“Statehood for territories perhaps had its inception in 1787, when Congress, still under the Confederation, passed the Northwest Ordi-nance, bringing into existence the territorial form of government and providing conditions for transition from territory to state.”

“Statehood for Hawaii has been brewing for more than a century. There was an American  settlement  in  Hawaii  before  there  was  one  in  California. American  civilization  was  transplanted  to  the  Islands  by  American missionaries in 1820. Successive migration developed a harmonious citizenry of diverse origins.”  (George H. McLane, Executive Secretary Hawaii Statehood Commission)

Act 115, S.L.H. 1947, authorized the establishment of the Hawaii Statehood Commission to “actively support and press the movement for statehood.” (HSA)

Eight known supporters of statehood were appointed, four served at-large and one were appointed from each of the counties. Act 160, S.L.H. 1951 expanded the membership to nine to prevent a tie in voting. Five were members at-large and not more than five were to be members of the same political party.) (HSA)

While the primary function of the Statehood Commission was the advancement of statehood, it was also responsible for representing Hawaii in federal legislation, protecting against discriminatory legislation, preventing discrimination against American citizens of the Territory, correcting false information, and promoting the general interest and welfare of the Territory of Hawaii.  (HSA, Hawaii Statehood Commission)

“The Hawaii Statehood Commission agrees that Alaska meets qualifications hitherto required for statehood, and wishes its fellow territory godspeed.”

The first vote on Hawaiian statehood was in 1947 when the House passed a bill on a 195-133 roll-call vote. (CQ Almanac). The bill was not reported in the Senate.

In 1948 the Senate defeated a motion by William F. Knowland (R Calif.) to remove the bill from the Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, 20-51 on a roll-call vote. (CQ Almanac).

The next floor action occurred in 1950 when the House again passed a statehood bill on a roll-call vote, 261-111. (CQ Almanac, Vol. VI, 1950, p. 410). Again, the Senate did not act.

In 1951 the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee decided to wait for Senate action before considering similar measures. The Senate Interior and Insular Affairs Committee reported a bill favorably in 1951, but the Senate did not act either that year or in 1952.

“Actions of Congress … have put Hawaii even closer to statehood than Alaska. . . . Hawaii’s enabling act, appropriately dubbed H.R. 49, has been placed on the House calendar for debate during this session of the 80th Congress.”

“Although Alaska’s friends in Hawaii hope there will soon be 50 stars in Old Glory, they feel that Hawaii has a reservation on No. 49.” (George H. McLane, Executive Secretary Hawaii Statehood Commission)

The Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu took an internal vote and the poll revealed 3 to 1 in favor of statehood.  “Upon completion of the poll the chamber board of directors held a special meeting on January 10, 1946, and voted unanimously in

support of immediate statehood for the Territory.”

“The chamber urged west coast chambers of commerce to pass similar resolutions and support Hawaii’s drive for statehood.  “The Seattle, Spokane, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Oakland chambers passed resolutions endorsing statehood for the Territory. The United States Chamber of Commerce took similar action.” (JC Walker, President Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu, US Senate Hearing, January 5, 1948)

In testimony in support of statehood, the Hawaiian Civic Association statement noted, “The club was established exactly 30 years ago; the membership is restricted to Hawaiians and part-Hawaiians – people of Hawaiian ancestry. They are organized to look after and promote things which will be most beneficial to the Hawaiians and the Hawaiian race.”  (William Kea, President, Hawaiian Civic Association)

When Kea was asked, “Some person stated to me that the large percentage of the Hawaiians were not in favor of statehood and indicated that it is their feeling in the matter Hawaii should be left as it is. You think that is not correct?”  Kea responded, “That is not the impression we gathered from our membership.” (Kea, Hawaiian Civic Association, US Senate Hearing, January 6, 1948)

Another Hawaiian Civic Association testifier stated, “I would like to point out to you that at the time, back in January 1946, we took a poll of the Hawaiian Civic Club through its board of directors and found an overwhelming majority was in favor of statehood.”

“Then in March the question came up again and another vote was taken, and the same result, and last night the board of directors

had another meeting and we got the same result. … We do not doubt that there are some who are opposed to statehood.” (Wilford Richardson, on behalf of Hawaiian Civic Association, US Senate Hearing, January 6, 1948)

The Hawaii Statehood Commission undertook letter-writing campaigns. The Associated Students University of Hawai‘i put out a pamphlet addressed to UH students that supported statehood, saying, in part, “Since this is an issue of great national importance, we know that your group is very interested in knowing why Hawaii seeks admission as a State.”

“It is our hope that through this pamphlet you will be able to get a better understanding of Hawaii’s case for statehood. We feel we are entitled to it and we want you as good Americans to help us get it.”  (Calvin Ontai, President, ASUH)

An unnamed UH ‘Student’ noted in the pamphlet message to other students, “To grant Hawaii statehood would extend the domestic frontier of the United States proper 2,200 miles to the west. It would establish a desirable precedent in granting the island peoples self-government and full political rights.”

“It would be an example we could point to with pride – a wordless criticism of the colonial policy of nations which do not choose to extend to the people under them similar rights. It would mean that within the boundaries of the United States would be included a state which would set an example of full racial tolerance …”

“… a state made up of people of many races and creeds living and working together without friction. It would serve notice to the world at large that the Central and Western Pacific constitute a defense zone of the United States.” (ASUH Pamphlet)

In 1948, the Jaycees produced “The 49th State Fair” (the Honolulu Jaycees copyrighted the name;) it was held at Kapiʻolani Park. (The Jaycees were anticipating that Hawai‘i would become the 49th state.)

The United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (the Jaycees) were formed on the continent in 1920. The Jaycees first appeared in Hawaiʻi in 1930 with the chartering of the Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce. (HSA, Hawaii Statehood Commission)

“By this time the country was actively debating the issue of Statehood for Hawaii and Alaska. Most people thought Statehood would be granted first to Hawaii and then to Alaska … we had the 49th State Fair, businesses called 49th State such-and-such …” (George Ariyoshi)

“Statehood was in the air, and everyone expected Hawaii to become the 49th state; hence there was a 49th State record label and a 49th State fair at the old Honolulu stadium.” (Tom Moffatt, Star Revue)

Hawaiʻi’s 1948 “State Fair” won a national award from the National Jaycees who rated it the best project in the field of profit-making conducted by a Jaycee entity in a city of 100,000 or more.

The next year event also won a national Jaycee award (in the field of trade promotion.) The 1949 State Fair was held in warehouses on the Ala Moana Boulevard, EK Fernandez furnished the entertainment.

Then, again, in 1950 the 49th State Fair was selected as the “Outstanding Project of the Year” conducted by Jaycees throughout the nation in cities with populations of 250,000 and more.

However, the ‘49th State’ nickname for Hawai‘i was not to be … on January 3, 1959. Alaska was admitted as the 49th state of the Union; then, on  August 21, 1959, Hawai‘i is admitted as the 50th state of the Union and the 50-star flag became the official flag of the United States.

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Honolulu Iron Works

Kamehameha moved his Royal Center from Waikīkī to Kou in 1809 (what we now call downtown Honolulu.) Early descriptions and mapping note a place called Honokaʻupu. It was one of the noted places for rolling the flat-sided stone disc known as “the maika stone.”

This was not far from Richards and Queen Streets, although the great “Ulu-maika” place for the gathering of the chiefs was in Kou. This was a hard, smooth track about twelve feet wide extending from the corner of Merchant and Fort Streets along the seaward side of Merchant Street to the place beyond Nuʻuanu Avenue.

It was used by the highest chiefs for rolling the stone disc known as “the maika stone.” Kamehameha I is recorded as having used this maika track. (Maly)

Later (1852,) it was near here (at Queen (now Ala Moana/Nimitz) and Marin/Nuʻuanu) that a business initiating steam power for business purposes began. (Thrum)

Honolulu Steam Flouring Company also milled wheat sent to Honolulu from the fields on Maui. That year, the Islands produced enough wheat to supply the home demand for flour and left some for export to California. (Ford)

In conjunction was Honolulu Iron Works; David Weston was the machinist in charge. In addition, at one time there was an attempt at making hard bread from the Maui wheat, but it was so hard and flinty that it did not find a market, and the growth of wheat was given up. Then, there were attempts at cleaning rice.

In 1860 the whole premises, with much adjoining property, was swept away by fire. The foundry, at the time owned by Thomas Hughes was soon rebuilt. (Goodale)

But the future of Honolulu Iron Works was not grain. As the sugar plantations flourished, Weston’s machines began producing hardware for the sugar mills. (Dye)

By the turn of the century, the Iron Works was making complete sugar ‘factories’ for plantations in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Louisiana, Formosa and the Philippines – as well as supplying Hawaiʻi’s sugar planters. (Dye)

In 1869, Theophilus Harris Davies was a principal owner; at that time, Alexander Young took charge of the operations. Young was first in Hilo, operating a foundry and machine shop there.

Moving to Honolulu, Young bought the interest of Hughes in the Honolulu Iron Works (and remained the manager to the first months of 1896, when he retired, leaving the enterprise at the zenith of its magnitude and importance.)

In 1875, Davies took the lead in refinancing Honolulu Iron Works into a stock company. Honolulu Iron Works, in which Davies invested and which shared Theo H Davies’ (one of Hawaiʻi ‘Big 5’ companies) principal stockholders, directors and officers, but had no legal ties with the company. (Greaney)

“In Queen Street I found and visited the Honolulu Iron Works, of which it may be said that among the industries which occupy the time and attention of the business men of this town, none contribute more to the progress of the Islands’ interests than this.”

“Since the company commenced operations they have steadily increased their plant, year by year, until now they can work from five to six hundred men in the various shops. … A heavy stock of boiler and bar iron, steam and other fittings, water and steam pipe, fully equal to the capacity of the works is always on hand.”

“Every requisite for the repair of larch iron ships and steamers is always in stock and such work is accomplished with great dispatch; but the building of sugar mills and machinery connected therewith, is what has chiefly occupied the company for some years. (Bowser, 1880; Maly)

“A trip through the works is a rare treat, and affords the only definite means of gaining an idea of the magnitude of the business there carried on. Fronting on Queen street is a large two-story building, which will be recognized as the front entrance to the Works.”

“Down-stairs is the general business office where all contracts are ratified and the business of the Works is carried on. There manager Hedemann has a desk. Up-stairs is the drafting room, where all the plans for contracts are drawn. This department has the appearance of the main room of an architectural firm in a great city.”

“Parallel with the building just described, but running back half through the block, is another, a brick structure, in which are located the most important shops of the Works. In it is the foundry, where the greatest machinery is manufactured and handled with the smallest amount of muscular force. … anything from a small bolt to an immense mill shaft is constructed.”

“There are three machine shops, all equipped with the most modern appliances. Back of them is the smith’s department, another large building. Off in the lower yard is the boiler shops, a most important adjunct of the works.”

“Out of it have come the largest boilers in the country today. Plantation mills have been equipped and a majority of the boilers used by the island steamers have been supplied from this shop.” (Hawaiian Gazette, March 12, 1897)

In 1900, the Honolulu Iron Works moved from its old location at Queen and Marin/Nuʻuanu Streets to the shore at Kaka‘ako; other businesses soon followed. (Later, Kakaʻako makai was filled in, forming the peninsula, putting the Honolulu Iron Works on the mauka side of Ala Moana Boulevard.)

Since its beginning, Honolulu Iron Works has participated in the construction of more than 200 cane sugar mills, 8 beet sugar factories, 8 refineries and 6 alcohol distilleries. (honiron)

Davies later sold out to local businessman George Murphy, who, in less than three years, sold to Ward foods. Up until 1960, Honiron (successor name for Honolulu Iron Works) had been operating as an independent corporation when the company associated with J&L in Jeanerette, Louisiana. (honiron) Honolulu Iron Works building in Kakaʻako was later replaced by One Waterfront Plaza.

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