KILAUEA, KAUAI TIMELINE

Immigrant workers of diverse nationalities cut a watercourse at the Kilauea Sugar Plantation. Glass plate negative shot by Henry Funk, 1900-1904. Photo donated by Dale Anderson, the last plantation manager at Kilauea. Image courtesy of Kauai Museum

Important dates in Kilauea history:

1863 – 3016 acres of the area to become Kilauea are purchased for $2000, thus begins the planting of sugar and the establishment of Kilauea Town

1875 – Treaty of Reciprocity with US opens free trade into the states for Hawaiian sugar growers

1876 – Chinese laborers arrive

1878 – Portuguese laborers arrive

1880 – Kilauea Sugar Plantation incorporates; 300 shares at $1000 apiece

1881 – Princess Regent Liliuokalani drives the last spike into the plantation’s railroad

1885 – Japanese laborers arrive

1888 – More laborers arrive from the Gilbert Islands and Portugal

1912 – 31 acres of plantation land are deeded to the U.S. Government for the Kilauea Lighthouse. Construction is completed a year later.

1926 – The plantation manager’s house is built using unique fieldstone construction

1941 – World War II begins. All outlying housing along the coast it ended. Buddhist Hall becomes Army headquarters.

1966 – Record 19,500 tons of sugar harvested. Bridge over Kilauea Stream is constructed.

1971 – Last crop harvested