Hakalau Homesteading Before the Wailea Mill Co.
Valuable public lands leased to Hakalau Plantation expired in 1906 and 1912. This coincided with the newly formed government of Hawaii -a Territory of the U.S.- that actually advocated for homesteading. Other advocates included a sugar plantation management who saw it as a means of stabilizing an unsettled workforce. Homesteaders were, of course, expected to form a partnership with Hakalau Plantation for milling and marketing the cane. This didn’t happen easily, but it was doable.
In the first years, those seeking homesteads were mostly Portuguese who were born here or recently naturalized. At first, the newer Japanese immigrants were not included. But, by 1919, when agreements between Hakalau-area homesteaders and Wailea Mill Co. were first made, the majority were Japanese.
In the first years, those seeking homesteads were mostly Portuguese who were born here or recently naturalized. At first, the newer Japanese immigrants were not included. But, by 1919, when agreements between Hakalau-area homesteaders and Wailea Mill Co. were first made, the majority were Japanese.
The Lands Eventually Included in the Wailea Milling Co.
These lands included parts of the entire area that comprised Hakalau Plantation lands, from Kawiki III, near Kolekole, to Ninole. A distance of about 6 miles on the belt highway and inland about 3 miles to an elevation of about 1,200 ft. They included the “Kaiwiki-Wailea tract”.
Hilo Tribune, Tuesday, November 21, 1905
Kaiwiki-Wailea tract regarded as “very valuable”
“…seeking government lands located in the Kaiwiki-Wailea tract.
… [Hakalau Plantation] lease expires June 15, 1906…. There are about 1,800 acres cleared and under cultivation and is regarded as a very valuable tract in the very heart of the [Hakalau] plantation.”
Hilo Daily Tribune, Tuesday, January 15, 1907
For the Hakalau area, two sections of land opened up in this period: “Hakalau Land Opening: There are two large sections of land. One is the Kaiwiki III tract containing 1765 acres; the other is the Opea- Peleau tract of 645 acres.
The Osorio Settlement Association has applied for the Kaiwiki III section. The tract has been divided into 55 lots…. Forty-one of them are in cane and the rest will have to be cleared.
The Opea-Peleau tract has been divided into 19 lots…”
Hilo Tribune, Tuesday, November 21, 1905
Kaiwiki-Wailea tract regarded as “very valuable”
“…seeking government lands located in the Kaiwiki-Wailea tract.
… [Hakalau Plantation] lease expires June 15, 1906…. There are about 1,800 acres cleared and under cultivation and is regarded as a very valuable tract in the very heart of the [Hakalau] plantation.”
Hilo Daily Tribune, Tuesday, January 15, 1907
For the Hakalau area, two sections of land opened up in this period: “Hakalau Land Opening: There are two large sections of land. One is the Kaiwiki III tract containing 1765 acres; the other is the Opea- Peleau tract of 645 acres.
The Osorio Settlement Association has applied for the Kaiwiki III section. The tract has been divided into 55 lots…. Forty-one of them are in cane and the rest will have to be cleared.
The Opea-Peleau tract has been divided into 19 lots…”
In this Period, Homesteaders Had Few Options
Homesteaders relied on agreements with Hakalau Plantation for harvesting, milling and selling. Coinciding with this, their deal with the Government required that they continue to cultivate their land. Mostly, it was not realistic to try another type of crop. So they were stuck.
Hilo Tribune, Tuesday, April 10, 1906
At first, homesteaders were optimistic that a deal of “mutual interest” would be struck with Hakalau Planation.
“Land Associations Satisfied: Mr Alfonso that he has no doubt cane will be most profitable and that no difficulty will be experienced with the mill people [Hakalau Plantation], as it will be for the mutual interest of manufacturer and planter to do so.”
The Honolulu Advertiser, Tuesday, June 26, 1906
But, as this article reveals, striking this deal was not easy. The Land Commissioner, while not wanting to get in the middle, made clear that failing an agreement with Hakalau Plantation would be to fail an agreement with the Government. The homesteaders would have little negotiating power.
Hilo Tribune, Tuesday, April 10, 1906
At first, homesteaders were optimistic that a deal of “mutual interest” would be struck with Hakalau Planation.
“Land Associations Satisfied: Mr Alfonso that he has no doubt cane will be most profitable and that no difficulty will be experienced with the mill people [Hakalau Plantation], as it will be for the mutual interest of manufacturer and planter to do so.”
The Honolulu Advertiser, Tuesday, June 26, 1906
But, as this article reveals, striking this deal was not easy. The Land Commissioner, while not wanting to get in the middle, made clear that failing an agreement with Hakalau Plantation would be to fail an agreement with the Government. The homesteaders would have little negotiating power.