Monday, January 24, 2011

Pahala Plantation … Sugar Cane to Coffee Beans

        1868 marked the beginning of sugar cane farming at the Pahala Plantation on the Ka’u coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.  While carts were used initially to transport sugar cane from field to mill, flumes carried the cane to the mill by 1928.  Sugar and molasses production continued at these mills until March, 1996 when sugar mill operation ceased.  Today the Pahala area is known for its macadamia nut trees and prize-winning coffee plantations.  

        The Pahala area now maintains its small-town flavor, with the plantation houses being refurbished as funding permits.  Plantation houses today serve as vacation billet for guests to the area, are often the site of international gatherings of musicians (both novice and skilled) as they share their love of slack-key and other traditionally Hawaiian music, provide a scenic backdrop for parties and community gatherings, and proudly stand as reminders and tutors of the area’s history.

        Come, step back in time and relax as you spend the morning walking through the rich history of the Pahala Plantation.

http://podcast.uhh.hawaii.edu/users/ed314shared/    ... scroll down to Pahala Plantation ... Sugar Cane to Coffee Beans

1 comment:

  1. For those of us that grew up on the Big Island it still feels a bit strange to drive to places like Pahala that were once dominated by the sugar plantations to not see the waving cane plants, and hear and smell the sugar mill.

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