Chin Chuck Gengiro, Chin Chuck Stable, and Kamaee Mauka Camps: Then and Now

In the 1954 aerial photo below, Hakalau Plantation is displayed from the tree line to Hakalau Bay showing pollution from the Mill going into the ocean. In between are massive sugar cane fields, both fallow and planted, with plantation camps scattered throughout and very hard to see.
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Aerial photo from the Map Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. The direct link to the landing page is https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/magis. This photo, 016-1476, was taken by the US Navy on October 13, 1954.
Here's a closer look, at Chin Chuck Gengiro Camp, Chin Chuck Stable Camp, and Kamaee Mauka Camp. In 1954, when this photo was taken, one could travel up Chin Chuck Road, pass Gengiro Camp, Stable Camp, then follow a road with bridges over Hakalau Gulch and Wa`awa`a Stream to Kamaee Mauka Camp.
Picture
Aerial photo from the Map Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. The direct link to the landing page is https://guides.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/magis. This photo, 016-1476, was taken by the US Navy on October 13, 1954.

​Chin Chuck Genjiro Camp in 1954
Chin Chuck Genjiro Camp, named after the head of the camp Genjiro Shimabukuro, had 21 houses, a club house, pool hall, plus gardens and pig pens at the back of the camp. The next crossroad, now known as Kanna Road, crossed the Ka`ahakini Stream and lead to Kaiwiki Homesteads.
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Portion of Photo 016-1476 taken by the US Navy on October 13, 1954. Aerial photo from the Map Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library.

​Chin Chuck Stable Camp in 1954
Stable Camp had 27 homes plus a fertilizer warehouse. Adjacent to this camp were 3 homestead residences.
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Portion of Photo 016-1476 taken by the US Navy on October 13, 1954. Aerial photo from the Map Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library.

​What the locations of Chin Chuck Camps look like now.
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Photo from Google Earth, taken December 22, 2024.
Kamaee Mauka Camp in 1954
Houses were scattered and included 7 camp homes and homes of 11 independent growers.
Today, a eucalyptus forest covers what was Kamaee Mauka camp.
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Photo from Google Earth, taken December 22, 2024.
This page is still under construction. We are seeking more photos from plantation times to make the stories of these camps come alive. Contact Us!
For the Hakalau Kuleana, our responsibility is to care for the land, the people, and the culture. We are guided by cultural values of YESTERDAY: Engage in collective effort. Look out for each other. Honor hard work. Show respect for those who came before us. Aloha and Mālama `Aina. In 2021, Akiko Masuda added two more values to the list: Consistently show up. Whatever has to be done, jump in and do it!