SUGAR MILL RUINS
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SUGAR MILL RUINS |
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NAME: Sugar Mill ruins COUNTY: Oahu, east coast ROADS: 2WD GRID: 1 CLIMATE: mostly sunny year round BEST TIME TO VISIT: anytime really |
COMMENTS:
These ruins are on private, livestock & agriculturally zoned land. The smoke stack and building structure are near, therefore very visible from the roadside. The ruins are 2 1/2 miles south of Kaaawa, along Kamehameha Hwy (route 83), midway along Oahu's east coast. REMAINS: A moderate coral brick smoke stack about 35 ft. high; a partial small building |
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This is one of many small ruins of sugar mills spread across the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu and Mau'i. These mills were operating in full force during the agricultural heyday of the Hawaiian islands begining in the mid-1800s. These ruins are a familiar sight to all driving along Kamehameha Hwy on the east coast of Oahu, since it is easily visible from the road. Submitted by: Keith Kersting The Kualoa Plantation Sugarmill was started by Charles Hastings Judd and Samuel Wilder. In 1865 they planted sugarcane and built a steam-powered mill using the most modern machinery from Scotland. This was a first of its kind on Oahu. The mill is associated with a little known tragedy when in 1866, Willy Wilder, the nine year old son of Samuel Wilder, fell into a vat of boiling syrup during processing. He lived a few days in agony before dying from his severe burns. His mother, could no longer endure living at the ranch and moved away. By 1871 the mill was a failing venture due to meager rainfall. The land was too dry to grow sugarcane. In 1870 Wilder deeded his share back to Judd and later made a fortune in inter-island shipping and railroad on Maui and Hawaii. Submitted by Mike Woodfin |
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