Depopulation and Dismantling of the Camps:
Timeline for the End of an Era
The long-term workforce reduction led to the depopulation of the camps. The insurance photos of dwellings from the early 1950s sometimes identified vacant dwellings. In addition, the Occupant Lists from the early 1960s often did not have family names documented for individual dwellings. These homes were probably vacant. Detail on the depopulation and subsequent dismantling of the camps is provided in the timeline below.
1925-1950: Industrywide, the workforce decreased by two-thirds from a total of 48,473 workers in 1925 to 15,935 in 1950.
Prior to 1947: Vacated camps included Tara House Camp, Puerto Rican Camp, Uma Uma Mauka Camp, and Gulch Camp. These are shown on the 1944 Domestic Water Supply Map, but no maps for these camps were prepared by the plantation in 1947. Source: Domestic Water Supply Map
Prior to 1947: Vacated camps included Tara House Camp, Puerto Rican Camp, Uma Uma Mauka Camp, and Gulch Camp. These are shown on the 1944 Domestic Water Supply Map, but no maps for these camps were prepared by the plantation in 1947. Source: Domestic Water Supply Map
Aerial View of Hakalau Upper Camp (Up Camp), Hakalau Lower Camp (Down Camp) and the Mill circa 1944-1945.
Photo courtesy of Akiko Masuda
1950-1959: The viability of the Hakalau Plantation was repeatedly raised in the company's annual reports, along with mention of very limited maintenance to existing camp structures. For details, see 1950s Details of the Timeline.
1951: The construction of the new Territorial Highway through the plantation necessitated the relocation of ten houses at Hakalau upper camp, eight houses at Honohina, and five houses at Ninole. Source: 1951 Annual Report
1955: The residents of Kamaee Korean and Ah Ling Camps were moved into more centrally located areas. Source: 1951 Annual Report
1956: All houses in three vacated villages, as well as the former Hakalau hospital building were sold to employees on a removal basis (this is the first reference to selling houses on a removal basis). Two unoccupied bachelors’ quarters in Hakalau upper village were remodeled and converted into offices for the industrial relations and industrial engineering departments. Source: 1956 Annual Report
1957: Several vacated houses in outlying villages were sold to employees for removal from the premises. Source: 1957 Annual Report
1958: The availability of vacant houses in centrally situated villages made possible the relocation of employees residing in outlying areas. Source: 1958 Annual Report
1961: Yokogawa Camp, located at Honohina Mauka, was vacated and all houses sold to be removed to buyers’ properties. Source: 1961 Annual Report
1962: Most of the 600 acres of Kamaee Mauka land, formerly cane land, to be planted in timber as a long-term investment. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Hakalau Sugar Sets Up 600 Acres for Timber, January 21, 1962, accessed via Newspapers.com.
Fujimori Camp, an adjunct of Chin Chuck Stable Camp, and a portion of Wailea Spanish Camp were vacated and all houses and buildings sold on a removal basis. The vacated areas in both camps were cleared and planted in cane. Source: 1962 Annual Report
1963: Hakalau Plantation became part of the Pepeekeo Sugar Company. Manager Herbert Gomez gives a public talk on May 17, 1963 regarding consolidation of the population. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Kalanianaole, Hakalau Schools May Consolidate, May 14, 1963, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1964: A total of 27 company-owned houses and buildings were sold during the year on a removal basis. Residents of Spanish Camp were moved into Wailea Village. Source: 1964 Annual Report
1965: All vacant houses in Chin Chuck Stable Camp were sold on a removal basis. The Chin Chuck land would soon be plowed and planted in sugar cane. Source: 1965 Annual Report
1966: Groundbreaking took place for the new Kulaimano Subdivision developed by Pepeekeo Sugar Company, in conjunction with the ILWU. This was the first step in creating housing for sugar workers who were gradually being moved out of the old plantation camps along the Hamakua Coast. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Groundbreaking Slated at Pepeekeo Subdivision, August 26, 1966 and New Housing Will Replace Old Plantation Camps, July 15, 1975, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1969: Honohina Hongwanji dismantled and sold on a removal basis in August 1969. Source: A Grateful Past A Promising Future, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1989
1970: Honohina houses demolished. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, 18 Ninole Families Wait to be Told Where They Can Live, January 3, 1971, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1971: Plantation officials state:
1974: Hakalau Plantation Office and Hakalau Store demolished. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Portrait of a Dying Town, April 9, 1975, accessed via Newspapers.com.
Funding approved for rental apartments in Kulaimano for persons of low and moderate income, primarily employees of Mauna Kea Sugar Company who were going to be displaced from plantation camps. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Pepeekeo Housing Funding Approved, July 5, 1974, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1975: The demise of Hakalau Village (both Hakalau Upper Camp and Lower Camp) is described in Portrait of a Dying Town. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Portrait of a Dying Town, April 9, 1975, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1977: Dwellings in Hakalau Lower Camp were gone by 1977. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, How Hakalau Changed from Farms to Homes, January 18, 2004, accessed via Newspapers.com.
By the 1980s, the camps of the former Hakalau Plantation were gone, with homes either moved elsewhere or demolished.
1982-1985: Hakushi Tamura, Minister at the Hakalau Jodo Mission from 1979-1996, shared his memories of what had been Hakalau Upper Camp during the period of about 1982-1985, a period when most of the houses were vacant or had been moved or demolished. Cane was planted wherever possible and the jungle was encroaching on the Mission. Source: email from Rev. Tamura.
1994: The last harvest of cane on the lands of the former Hakalau Plantation (later part of Pepeekeo Sugar, then Mauna Kea Agribusiness, then Hilo Coast Processing Company) took place in 1994. By that time, most of the former Hakalau camp residents were living in Pepeekeo, either as renters or home owners. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, September 2, 1994, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1951: The construction of the new Territorial Highway through the plantation necessitated the relocation of ten houses at Hakalau upper camp, eight houses at Honohina, and five houses at Ninole. Source: 1951 Annual Report
1955: The residents of Kamaee Korean and Ah Ling Camps were moved into more centrally located areas. Source: 1951 Annual Report
1956: All houses in three vacated villages, as well as the former Hakalau hospital building were sold to employees on a removal basis (this is the first reference to selling houses on a removal basis). Two unoccupied bachelors’ quarters in Hakalau upper village were remodeled and converted into offices for the industrial relations and industrial engineering departments. Source: 1956 Annual Report
1957: Several vacated houses in outlying villages were sold to employees for removal from the premises. Source: 1957 Annual Report
1958: The availability of vacant houses in centrally situated villages made possible the relocation of employees residing in outlying areas. Source: 1958 Annual Report
1961: Yokogawa Camp, located at Honohina Mauka, was vacated and all houses sold to be removed to buyers’ properties. Source: 1961 Annual Report
1962: Most of the 600 acres of Kamaee Mauka land, formerly cane land, to be planted in timber as a long-term investment. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Hakalau Sugar Sets Up 600 Acres for Timber, January 21, 1962, accessed via Newspapers.com.
Fujimori Camp, an adjunct of Chin Chuck Stable Camp, and a portion of Wailea Spanish Camp were vacated and all houses and buildings sold on a removal basis. The vacated areas in both camps were cleared and planted in cane. Source: 1962 Annual Report
1963: Hakalau Plantation became part of the Pepeekeo Sugar Company. Manager Herbert Gomez gives a public talk on May 17, 1963 regarding consolidation of the population. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Kalanianaole, Hakalau Schools May Consolidate, May 14, 1963, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1964: A total of 27 company-owned houses and buildings were sold during the year on a removal basis. Residents of Spanish Camp were moved into Wailea Village. Source: 1964 Annual Report
1965: All vacant houses in Chin Chuck Stable Camp were sold on a removal basis. The Chin Chuck land would soon be plowed and planted in sugar cane. Source: 1965 Annual Report
1966: Groundbreaking took place for the new Kulaimano Subdivision developed by Pepeekeo Sugar Company, in conjunction with the ILWU. This was the first step in creating housing for sugar workers who were gradually being moved out of the old plantation camps along the Hamakua Coast. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Groundbreaking Slated at Pepeekeo Subdivision, August 26, 1966 and New Housing Will Replace Old Plantation Camps, July 15, 1975, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1969: Honohina Hongwanji dismantled and sold on a removal basis in August 1969. Source: A Grateful Past A Promising Future, Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, 1989
1970: Honohina houses demolished. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, 18 Ninole Families Wait to be Told Where They Can Live, January 3, 1971, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1971: Plantation officials state:
- "Let's face it, we're in the sugar business, not the housing business."
- “The plantation wants to get out of the housing business and its master plan calls for moving all employees to Kulaimano subdivision by 1975 if possible”
1974: Hakalau Plantation Office and Hakalau Store demolished. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Portrait of a Dying Town, April 9, 1975, accessed via Newspapers.com.
Funding approved for rental apartments in Kulaimano for persons of low and moderate income, primarily employees of Mauna Kea Sugar Company who were going to be displaced from plantation camps. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Pepeekeo Housing Funding Approved, July 5, 1974, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1975: The demise of Hakalau Village (both Hakalau Upper Camp and Lower Camp) is described in Portrait of a Dying Town. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, Portrait of a Dying Town, April 9, 1975, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1977: Dwellings in Hakalau Lower Camp were gone by 1977. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, How Hakalau Changed from Farms to Homes, January 18, 2004, accessed via Newspapers.com.
By the 1980s, the camps of the former Hakalau Plantation were gone, with homes either moved elsewhere or demolished.
1982-1985: Hakushi Tamura, Minister at the Hakalau Jodo Mission from 1979-1996, shared his memories of what had been Hakalau Upper Camp during the period of about 1982-1985, a period when most of the houses were vacant or had been moved or demolished. Cane was planted wherever possible and the jungle was encroaching on the Mission. Source: email from Rev. Tamura.
1994: The last harvest of cane on the lands of the former Hakalau Plantation (later part of Pepeekeo Sugar, then Mauna Kea Agribusiness, then Hilo Coast Processing Company) took place in 1994. By that time, most of the former Hakalau camp residents were living in Pepeekeo, either as renters or home owners. Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald, September 2, 1994, accessed via Newspapers.com.
1995-1996: Aerial View of Hakalau Upper Camp (Up Camp), Hakalau Lower Camp (Down Camp), and the Mill Site circa 1995-96...the camps are gone, the mill is gone. The Sugar Industry is gone.
Photo courtesy of Akiko Masuda