Day 262: Old Sugar Mill of Koloa, Kauai, Hawai’i
📌APIA Every Day (262) - The Old Sugar Mill of Kōloa, established in 1835 by Ladd & Company, marked the beginning of Hawaii’s commercial sugar industry, ushering in significant economic and social changes across the islands. While the plantation was a technological and agricultural milestone, it relied on the labor of native Hawaiians under exploitative conditions. Plantation managers perpetuated racist ideologies, claiming native workers were less capable of systematic labor, while paying them just $2 per month in company-issued currency usable only at plantation stores. Housing provided to workers came with daily fees, deepening their economic dependence.
In 1841, Hawaiian workers organized a strike to demand better wages—an act of resistance that underscored the oppressive nature of plantation life. However, the strike was quickly suppressed, highlighting the plantation’s control over workers’ lives and the systemic power imbalance of the era. Restrictive labor contracts limited workers’ ability to seek other employment, displacing traditional Hawaiian livelihoods and reinforcing the plantation’s dominance. These early dynamics set a precedent for the use of imported labor as the sugar industry expanded, eventually drawing workers from China, Japan, the Philippines, and other countries who faced similarly harsh conditions.
Over the decades, the Kōloa plantation passed through the hands of various owners, including the McBryde family and Alexander & Baldwin. By the time the plantation closed in 1996, it had operated for over 160 years, reflecting both the economic significance of the sugar industry and its reliance on the systemic exploitation of native and immigrant labor. The plantation also played a role in shaping Hawaii’s multicultural society, as immigrant workers brought their own traditions and cultures, contributing to the islands’ diverse heritage.
Today, the Old Sugar Mill of Kōloa stands as a National Historic Landmark, preserving a site tied to Hawaii’s plantation era. Events like the annual Kōloa Plantation Days Celebration aim to acknowledge the contributions and experiences of the diverse ethnic groups who labored under these conditions. At the same time, the site serves as a reminder of the systemic injustices faced by native Hawaiians and immigrant workers, offering an opportunity to reflect on the broader social and economic impacts of Hawaii’s sugar plantation history.
LEARN MORE:
National Archives Catalog: Old Sugar Mill of Koloa NRHP Form
National Park Service: Old Sugar Mill of Koloa
Kauai Travel Blog: Old Sugar Mill of Koloa Monument and Sculpture
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