Mahukona, Hawaii
Encyclopedia
Māhukona is a former settlement on the island of Hawaii
. The extinct submerged volcano Māhukona
, off shore and to the south, is named for this area. It was once the terminus of the Hawaiian Railroad.
. Much was owned by Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
at one time. The name means "false harbor" in the Hawaiian language
.
Lapakahi State Historical Park
is just to the south.
The harbor is located at 20°11′1"N 155°54′2"W just off of Akoni Pule Highway, Hawaii Route 270.
While Samuel Garner Wilder
was minister of the interior, he secured a charter for a railroad company in 1880. The first sugar plantation in the Kohala district
was started by Elias Bond
in 1863, but transportation proved difficult.
Wilder's idea was to transport sugarcane
from sugar plantations
on the wet windward side of Kohala to Māhukona where ships could land. Wilder already ran a steamship company, so built a pier at the Māhukona harbor.
Samuel Parker
planned a railroad from the east coast to the port of Hilo, but was unable to fund the project. Work was begun in 1881, the first track opened in 1882, and by 1883 had reached about 20 miles (32.2 km) to the plantation at Niulii, 20°13′23"N 155°44′48"W. There it met the barrier of Pololu Valley
.
Wilder named the first locomotive Kinau, after his wife. He had plans to extend his railroad to Hilo, but that would not happen until after his death, by the Hawaii Consolidated Railway
. The two would never be connected as dreamed by Wilder. In 1897 the railroad reincorporated as the Hawaii Railway Company, Ltd., and was bought out by the sugar companies in 1899.
A sugar mill was built on the north side of the bay, and its remains still stand.
A larger wharf was built in 1911 by the Territory of Hawaii
that was immediately destroyed by a storm, and rebuilt again. In 1913 it was the fourth busiest port in the islands, but only had 13 vessels enter.
The first lighthouse was built in 1889 just to the south of the bay. In 1915 it was replaced by a concrete pyramid 22 feet (6.7 m) tall.
By 1937, the Kohala Sugar Company had considated all the business into the mill at Māhukona, and became Mahukona Terminals Ltd.
In 1941 the port was forced to close for World War II
. On October 29, 1945 the railroad shut down.
The town which once consisted of about 40 families, was abandoned in the 1950s. In 1956 the harbor was closed.
The bay is now the site of a park of Hawaii County. Although called Māhukona Beach Park, the shoreline is rocky and there is no sandy beach. Fishing, picnic areas, and camping are available.
In the 1990s a developer obtained permits to build a golf course and resort in the area.
The land-holding company was renamed the Kohala Preserve Conservation Trust, LLC, but encountered opposition from residents in the area.
A historic song about Māhukona, translated as "sugar boiler" was recently recorded.
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
. The extinct submerged volcano Māhukona
Mahukona
Māhukona is a submerged shield volcano on the northwestern flank of the Island of Hawaii. A drowned coral reef at about 3,770 feet below sea level and a major break in slope at about 4,400 feet below sea level represent old shorelines. The summit of the shield volcano was once 800 feet above...
, off shore and to the south, is named for this area. It was once the terminus of the Hawaiian Railroad.
History
Māhukona was a traditional land division (ahupuaa) that extended from a bay to the slopes of Kohala mountainKohala (mountain)
Kohala is the oldest of five volcanoes that make up the island of Hawaii. Kohala is an estimated one million years old—so old that it experienced, and recorded, a reversal of magnetic field 780,000 years ago. It is believed to have breached sea level more than 500,000 years ago and to...
. Much was owned by Princess Ruth Keelikōlani
Keelikolani
Princess Ruth Luka Keanolani Kauanahoahoa Keelikōlani , was a member of the Kamehameha family, the founding dynasty of the Kingdom of Hawaii. She served as Royal Governor of the Island of Hawaii. As primary heir to the Kamehameha family, Ruth became a landholder of what would become the Bernice...
at one time. The name means "false harbor" in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
.
Lapakahi State Historical Park
Lapakahi State Historical Park
Lapakahi State Historical Park is a large area of ruins from an Ancient Hawaiian fishing village in the North Kohala District on the Big Island of Hawaii.Off shore is the Lapakahi Marine Life Conservation District....
is just to the south.
The harbor is located at 20°11′1"N 155°54′2"W just off of Akoni Pule Highway, Hawaii Route 270.
While Samuel Garner Wilder
Samuel Garner Wilder
Samuel Gardner Wilder was an American shipping magnate and politician who developed a major transportation company in the Kingdom of Hawaii.-Life:Samuel Gardner Wilder was born June 20, 1831 in Leominster, Massachusetts....
was minister of the interior, he secured a charter for a railroad company in 1880. The first sugar plantation in the Kohala district
Kohala, Hawaii
thumb|right|300px|The districts of the [[Hawaii |Big Island]]. From Northernmost, clockwise; Kohala , [[Hamakua|Hāmākua]], [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
was started by Elias Bond
Elias Bond
The Bond District is a collection of historic buildings located in the district of North Kohala on the island of Hawaii.The district has three sections: the homestead of missionaries Ellen and Reverend Elias Bond , Kalahikiola Church, and the Kohala Seminary.-Ellen and Elias Bond:Elias Bond was...
in 1863, but transportation proved difficult.
Wilder's idea was to transport sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
from sugar plantations
Sugar plantations in Hawaii
Sugarcane was introduced to Hawaii by its first inhabitants in approximately 600 AD and was observed by Captain Cook upon arrival in the islands in 1778. Sugar quickly turned into a big business and generated rapid population growth in the islands with 337,000 people immigrating over the span of a...
on the wet windward side of Kohala to Māhukona where ships could land. Wilder already ran a steamship company, so built a pier at the Māhukona harbor.
Samuel Parker
Samuel Parker (Hawaii)
Samuel Parker, known as Kamuela Parker was a major landowner and businessman on the island of Hawaii, heir to the Parker Ranch estate...
planned a railroad from the east coast to the port of Hilo, but was unable to fund the project. Work was begun in 1881, the first track opened in 1882, and by 1883 had reached about 20 miles (32.2 km) to the plantation at Niulii, 20°13′23"N 155°44′48"W. There it met the barrier of Pololu Valley
Pololu Valley
Pololū is the Northernmost of a series of erosional valleys forming the east coast of Kohala Mountain on the Island of Hawaii. The word Pololū means long spear in the Hawaiian language.- Features :...
.
Wilder named the first locomotive Kinau, after his wife. He had plans to extend his railroad to Hilo, but that would not happen until after his death, by the Hawaii Consolidated Railway
Hawaii Consolidated Railway
The Hawaii Consolidated Railway , originally named the Hilo Railway, was a standard gauge common carrier railroad that served much of the east coast of the island of Hawaii until an important section of the line was destroyed by a tsunami on April 1, 1946.- Origin :Like the Oahu Railway and Land...
. The two would never be connected as dreamed by Wilder. In 1897 the railroad reincorporated as the Hawaii Railway Company, Ltd., and was bought out by the sugar companies in 1899.
A sugar mill was built on the north side of the bay, and its remains still stand.
A larger wharf was built in 1911 by the Territory of Hawaii
Territory of Hawaii
The Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
that was immediately destroyed by a storm, and rebuilt again. In 1913 it was the fourth busiest port in the islands, but only had 13 vessels enter.
The first lighthouse was built in 1889 just to the south of the bay. In 1915 it was replaced by a concrete pyramid 22 feet (6.7 m) tall.
By 1937, the Kohala Sugar Company had considated all the business into the mill at Māhukona, and became Mahukona Terminals Ltd.
In 1941 the port was forced to close for 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...
. On October 29, 1945 the railroad shut down.
The town which once consisted of about 40 families, was abandoned in the 1950s. In 1956 the harbor was closed.
The bay is now the site of a park of Hawaii County. Although called Māhukona Beach Park, the shoreline is rocky and there is no sandy beach. Fishing, picnic areas, and camping are available.
In the 1990s a developer obtained permits to build a golf course and resort in the area.
The land-holding company was renamed the Kohala Preserve Conservation Trust, LLC, but encountered opposition from residents in the area.
A historic song about Māhukona, translated as "sugar boiler" was recently recorded.