Paauhau, Hawaii
Encyclopedia
Paauhau is an unincorporated community
on the island of Hawaii
in Hawaii County
, Hawaii
, United States
. Paauhau is located near the north coast of the island, 2 miles (3.2 km) east-northeast of Honokaa.
an village in the area was Pāauhau, which means "tribute enclosure" in the Hawaiian language
.
In 1878 Rufus Anderson Lyman
and his family moved to the Hāmākua district
and opened a sugarcane
plantation. His business partners were Samuel Parker
, William G. Irwin, and Claus Spreckels
. It was headquartered at coordinates 20°5′9"N 155°26′6"W, on a cliff about 300 feet (100m) above the ocean. Fields reached up the slopes of Mauna Kea
, with an innovative transportation system. After the cane was loaded onto a rail car, the full car rolled down to the edge of the cliff by gravity, and pulled an empty car uphill on a parallel track. A small railroad then transported the cane to the mill, along what is now called "Lower Cane Haul Road". It became one of the first fully irrigated plantations in 1911. A small town for worker housing grew up above the mill. Lyman opened the first post office in Hāmākua and served as its postmaster. The company was sold to Honokaa Sugar Company in 1972, and it shut down in 1994.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
on the island of Hawaii
Hawaii (island)
The Island of Hawaii, also called the Big Island or Hawaii Island , is a volcanic island in the North Pacific Ocean...
in Hawaii County
Hawaii County, Hawaii
Hawaii County is a county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Hawaiian Islands. It is coterminous with the Island of Hawaii, often called the "Big Island" to distinguish it from the state as a whole. As of the 2010 Census the population was 185,079. The county seat is Hilo. There are no...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Paauhau is located near the north coast of the island, 2 miles (3.2 km) east-northeast of Honokaa.
History
The ancient HawaiiAncient Hawaii
Ancient Hawaii refers to the period of Hawaiian human history preceding the unification of the Kingdom of Hawaii by Kamehameha the Great in 1810. After being first settled by Polynesian long-distance navigators sometime between AD 300–800, a unique culture developed. Diversified agroforestry and...
an village in the area was Pāauhau, which means "tribute enclosure" 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...
.
In 1878 Rufus Anderson Lyman
Rufus Anderson Lyman
Rufus Anderson Lyman was a son of a missionary who became a lawyer and politician in the Kingdom of Hawaii, founded the Paauhau Sugar Plantation Company, and had many notable descendants.-Life:...
and his family moved to the Hāmākua district
Hamakua
thumb|right|280px|Districts of [[Hawaii |Hawaii island]]: from northernmost, clockwise; [[Kohala, Hawaii|Kohala]], Hāmākua , [[Hilo, Hawaii|Hilo]], [[Puna, Hawaii|Puna]], [[Kau, Hawaii|Kaū]], [[Kona District, Hawaii|Kona]]...
and opened a 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...
plantation. His business partners were 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...
, William G. Irwin, and Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels, formally Adolph Claus J. Spreckels , , was a major industrialist in Hawai'i during the kingdom, republican and territorial periods of the islands' history...
. It was headquartered at coordinates 20°5′9"N 155°26′6"W, on a cliff about 300 feet (100m) above the ocean. Fields reached up the slopes of Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
, with an innovative transportation system. After the cane was loaded onto a rail car, the full car rolled down to the edge of the cliff by gravity, and pulled an empty car uphill on a parallel track. A small railroad then transported the cane to the mill, along what is now called "Lower Cane Haul Road". It became one of the first fully irrigated plantations in 1911. A small town for worker housing grew up above the mill. Lyman opened the first post office in Hāmākua and served as its postmaster. The company was sold to Honokaa Sugar Company in 1972, and it shut down in 1994.