Kaneohe Ranch
Encyclopedia
Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited manages the real estate owned by the family of Harold K.L. Castle
and Alice H. Castle, and their non-profit charitable foundation, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation
founded in 1962. The real estate portfolio consists of land holdings on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii, as well as other Oahu and mainland United States properties. Properties include commercial, retail, office, industrial and residential parcels.
, Queen Consort
of Kamehameha III
and later Queen Dowager
of the Kingdom of Hawaii
. She and Judge Charles Coffin Harris
began a sugar plantation on the land, but after she died in 1870 and it failed in 1871, the land eventually passed to Harris's daughter, Nannie H. Rice, who leased 15000 acres (60.7 km²) to J. P. Mendonca in 1894 to start Kaneohe Ranch.
, his father, served as a director of his father’s company and as a partner of Alexander & Baldwin
, another “Big Five
” company. By the late 1890s the Castle family was accumulating much of the east side of the island.
In the early 20th century Kaneohe Ranch lands were used for growing pineapple
, processing sugar and for cattle operations. Harold K.L. Castle purchased Kailua in early 1917. The Kaneohe Ranch controlled nearly the entire Ko’olaupoko plain from the present Windward Community College
through the present Windward Mall down to the piers at Heeia on Kaneohe Bay, all the way through Kailua to the Olomana Country Club. Its headquarters, the Kaneohe Ranch Building
at Castle Junction, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1987.
At the end of World War II
, demand for affordable grew. The idea to build houses on long-term leased land became popular due to their lower purchase cost.
As part of his development strategy, Castle donated land along Kailua Road to churches that would eventually attract congregations to migrate towards Kailua. Further donations of land to schools, universities and hospitals enhanced the attractiveness of the community.
In 2004 the first phase of construction in Kailua town center included a new 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) Longs Drugs
store, 2618 square feet (243.2 m²) of retail frontage along Kailua Road, and a 427 stall, 3-story parking garage.
The second phase, completed in the summer of 2006, included a 11023 square feet (1,024.1 m²) Pier 1 Imports
and the Kainalu Plaza and fountain.
The Kalapawai Café opened in 2007 with a similar look to the Kalapawai Market.
The third phase included 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) of retail space, a new location for First Hawaiian Bank
, Hawaii's second Whole Foods Market
, and additional parking.
A two-story retail and office building will be set back from streets by 15 feet (4.6 m) to allow for wide sidewalks, tropical landscaping and outdoor café-style dining areas.
Harold K.L. Castle
Harold Kainalu Long Castle was a large landowner, real estate developer, and later philanthropist in Hawaii.-Life:Harold Kainalu Long Castle was born July 3, 1886 in Honolulu....
and Alice H. Castle, and their non-profit charitable foundation, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation
Harold K.L. Castle Foundation
The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation it is the largest private foundation headquartered in the State of Hawaii.-Mission:The foundation awards grants to close achievement and preparation gaps in public education in Hawaii, restore nearshore marine ecosystems, and strengthen Windward Oahu...
founded in 1962. The real estate portfolio consists of land holdings on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii, as well as other Oahu and mainland United States properties. Properties include commercial, retail, office, industrial and residential parcels.
Mid 19th Century
During the mid-19th century, most of the land in the area belonged to KalamaKalama
Kalama Hakaleleponi Kapakuhaili, Queen Consort of Hawaii was Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Hawaii alongside her husband, Kauikeaouli, who reigned as King Kamehameha III.-Early life:...
, Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III
Kamehameha III was the King of Hawaii from 1825 to 1854. His full Hawaiian name was Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa and then lengthened to Keaweaweula Kiwalao Kauikeaouli Kaleiopapa Kalani Waiakua Kalanikau Iokikilo Kiwalao i ke kapu Kamehameha when he ascended the throne.Under his...
and later Queen Dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
of the Kingdom of Hawaii
Kingdom of Hawaii
The Kingdom of Hawaii was established during the years 1795 to 1810 with the subjugation of the smaller independent chiefdoms of Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lānai, Kauai and Niihau by the chiefdom of Hawaii into one unified government...
. She and Judge Charles Coffin Harris
Charles Coffin Harris
Charles Coffin Harris was a New England lawyer who became a politician and judge in the Kingdom of Hawaii who firmly supported the monarchy as an independent nation. After serving in a number of cabinet posts, he became chief justice of the supreme court.-Early life:Charles Coffin Harris was born...
began a sugar plantation on the land, but after she died in 1870 and it failed in 1871, the land eventually passed to Harris's daughter, Nannie H. Rice, who leased 15000 acres (60.7 km²) to J. P. Mendonca in 1894 to start Kaneohe Ranch.
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Born in 1886, Harold Kainalu Long Castle was the descendent of prominent businessmen and missionaries in Oahu. James Bicknell CastleJames Bicknell Castle
James Bicknell Castle was a Honolulu businessman in times of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Republic of Hawaii and Territory of Hawaii.-Life:...
, his father, served as a director of his father’s company and as a partner of Alexander & Baldwin
Alexander & Baldwin
Following World War II, the company entered a new business: land development and real estate. The company formed a new subsidiary, the Kahului Development Co., to develop housing in the Kahului area. In the following years, the company became more involved in the development of its land and the...
, another “Big Five
Big Five (Hawaii)
The Big Five was the name given to a group of what started as sugarcane processing corporations that wielded considerable political power in the Territory of Hawaii during the early 20th century and leaned heavily towards the Hawaii Republican Party. The Big Five were Castle & Cooke, Alexander &...
” company. By the late 1890s the Castle family was accumulating much of the east side of the island.
In the early 20th century Kaneohe Ranch lands were used for growing pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
, processing sugar and for cattle operations. Harold K.L. Castle purchased Kailua in early 1917. The Kaneohe Ranch controlled nearly the entire Ko’olaupoko plain from the present Windward Community College
Windward Community College
Windward Community College is a public, co-educational commuter college in Kāneohe CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu...
through the present Windward Mall down to the piers at Heeia on Kaneohe Bay, all the way through Kailua to the Olomana Country Club. Its headquarters, the Kaneohe Ranch Building
Kaneohe Ranch Building
The Kaneohe Ranch Building at Castle Junction, where the Pali Highway , Kamehameha Highway , and Kalanianaole Highway intersect on the windward side of Oahu, was built in 1940 to be the headquarters of Kaneohe Ranch, which owned of surrounding land and played a major role in the history of...
at Castle Junction, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1987.
Mid-to-Late 20th Century
Over the last half of the 20th century, Kaneohe Ranch transformed what was once natural wetlands into a suburban community.At the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, demand for affordable grew. The idea to build houses on long-term leased land became popular due to their lower purchase cost.
As part of his development strategy, Castle donated land along Kailua Road to churches that would eventually attract congregations to migrate towards Kailua. Further donations of land to schools, universities and hospitals enhanced the attractiveness of the community.
Donations of Kaneohe Ranch Land
- Castle High SchoolCastle High SchoolCastle High School can refer to:*John H. Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana, United States*James B. Castle High School in Kaneohe, Hawaii, United States*Castle High School in Belfast, Northern Ireland...
- Castle Medical CenterCastle Medical CenterCastle Medical Center is a 160-bed medical center located in Windward Oahu. It provides a full range of services, including: acute care, 24-hour emergency services, outpatient and home care, wellness and lifestyle medicine, chemotherapy clinic, Surgical Weight Loss Institute, Hawaii Muscular...
- Marine Corps Base HawaiiMarine Corps Base HawaiiMarine Corps Base Hawaii , formerly Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay and originally Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, is a U.S. Marine Corps base facility and air station located on the Mokapu Peninsula of windward O'ahu in the City & County of Honolulu. As of the 2000 Census, the base had a...
- Kawai Nui MarshKawai Nui MarshKawai Nui Marsh is, at over , the largest wetlands in the Hawaiian Islands. The marsh is located near Kailua on the windward side of O'ahu and is owned by the State of Hawaii and the City & County of Honolulu...
- Hawaii Loa CollegeHawaii Loa CollegeHawaii Loa College was a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Honolulu, Hawaii, founded in 1963 as Christian College of the Pacific by a consortium of four Protestant church denominations in Hawaii, with land deeded by Harold K.L. Castle on which to build a campus. The idea originated with...
- Windward Community CollegeWindward Community CollegeWindward Community College is a public, co-educational commuter college in Kāneohe CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu...
Community Development
In the early 21st century, many commercial ground leases expired. Kaneohe Ranch initiated a community planning process in 2004 for re-developing properties with expiring leases.In 2004 the first phase of construction in Kailua town center included a new 30000 square feet (2,787.1 m²) Longs Drugs
Longs Drugs
Longs Drugs is an American chain of over 40 drug stores throughout the State of Hawaii. Before being acquired by CVS Caremark in 2008, it was a chain of over 500 stores, located primarily on the West Coast of the United States...
store, 2618 square feet (243.2 m²) of retail frontage along Kailua Road, and a 427 stall, 3-story parking garage.
The second phase, completed in the summer of 2006, included a 11023 square feet (1,024.1 m²) Pier 1 Imports
Pier 1 Imports
Pier 1 Imports Inc. is a Fort Worth, Texas based retailer specializing in imported home furnishings and decor, particularly furniture, table-top items, decorative accessories and seasonal decor. The chain operates over 1,000 stores under the name Pier 1 Imports in the United States, Canada, Mexico...
and the Kainalu Plaza and fountain.
The Kalapawai Café opened in 2007 with a similar look to the Kalapawai Market.
The third phase included 12000 square feet (1,114.8 m²) of retail space, a new location for First Hawaiian Bank
First Hawaiian Bank
First Hawaiian Bank is a regional commercial bank headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii at the First Hawaiian Center. It is a subsidiary of BancWest Corporation, which itself is a subsidiary of the French banking company, BNP Paribas...
, Hawaii's second Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is a foods supermarket chain based in Austin, Texas which emphasizes "natural and organic products." The company has been ranked among the most socially responsible businesses and placed third on the U.S...
, and additional parking.
A two-story retail and office building will be set back from streets by 15 feet (4.6 m) to allow for wide sidewalks, tropical landscaping and outdoor café-style dining areas.