From Sugar to Statues: Hawi's Rich History
Discover how a remote plantation town became the artistic heart of North Kohala
Written by a Local Expert
Leilani AkoFrom Sugar to Statues: The Plantation Legacy
The story of Hawi begins with sugar. In the late 1800s, this remote corner of the Big Island hummed with activity as plantation workers from across the Pacific called it home. Portuguese, Filipino, Japanese, and Native Hawaiian families worked side by side in the cane fields, creating a rich cultural blend that still flavors the town today.
Walking through Hawi now, you can almost hear the echoes of those early days. The colorful wooden buildings that line the main street once housed everything from general stores to boarding houses for sugar workers. When the Kohala Sugar Company finally closed its doors in 1975, many feared Hawi would become another ghost town scattered across rural Hawaii.
But something beautiful happened instead. The bones of the old plantation infrastructure became the foundation for something entirely new. The bones of the old plantation infrastructure became the foundation for something entirely new.
Paniolo Roots
Before sugar ever took root in North Kohala, this land belonged to the paniolo. These Hawaiian cowboys developed their own unique culture here, blending Mexican vaquero traditions with Native Hawaiian values and Portuguese influence. The rolling hills and wide open spaces of North Kohala provided perfect grazing land for cattle, and the paniolo way of life took deep root.
Today, you can still feel the paniolo spirit in Hawi. Local families pass down horsemanship skills through generations. The annual paniolo festivals celebrate this heritage with traditional music, horseback riding demonstrations, and stories that connect the present to the past.
I've had the privilege of learning traditional chants that honor the paniolo legacy. These songs speak of respect for the land, the animals, and the hard work that shaped this region. When you visit Hawi, take time to listen for these stories. They're woven into the very fabric of the town.
🏭 Sugar Mill Heritage
The old Kohala Sugar Mill now houses innovative art galleries, preserving industrial character while showcasing contemporary Hawaiian art.
🤠 Paniolo Culture
Hawaiian cowboy traditions blend Mexican vaquero skills with Native Hawaiian values in North Kohala's ranching heritage.
🌍 Multicultural Workforce
Portuguese, Filipino, Japanese, and Native Hawaiian families created the rich cultural blend that still defines Hawi today.
🏗️ Architectural Legacy
Plantation-era buildings with wide porches and steep roofs now house galleries, restaurants, and shops.
📅 Historical Timeline
- Late 1800s: Sugar boom begins
- Early 1900s: Peak plantation era
- 1975: Sugar mill closes
- 1980s-90s: Artists arrive
- Today: Cultural renaissance
🎭 Cultural Influences
- Native Hawaiian traditions
- Portuguese influence
- Filipino heritage
- Japanese culture
- Mexican vaquero traditions
The Birthplace of a King
Just down the road from Hawi stands something that makes my heart swell with pride every time I see it. The original King Kamehameha statue in nearby Kapaau reminds visitors that this remote corner of the Big Island holds profound significance in Hawaiian history.
King Kamehameha I was born in North Kohala, near the sacred Moʻokini Heiau. This ancient temple, one of the oldest religious sites in Hawaii, sits on the windswept northern coast just minutes from Hawi. The connection between this powerful king and the land around Hawi runs deeper than most visitors realize.
Local families still share stories passed down through generations about Kamehameha's childhood in North Kohala. They speak of a boy who learned to read the winds and waves, who understood the language of the land before he ever dreamed of uniting the Hawaiian Islands under one rule.
When you stand before that statue, remember that you're looking at more than bronze and stone. You're witnessing a connection between past and present that makes Hawi far more than just a charming small town.
The Artists' Renaissance
The transformation that saved Hawi began quietly in the 1980s and 1990s as artists moved into empty plantation buildings.
Sacred Connections
The Moʻokini Heiau and King Kamehameha's birthplace add spiritual significance to Hawi's cultural revival.
Living Heritage
Plantation buildings preserved original character while creating spaces for contemporary Hawaiian expression.
This artistic revival didn't happen by accident. It grew from the same spirit that has always defined Hawaii - the ability to honor what came before while embracing what comes next. The plantation buildings provided not just affordable space but a sense of continuity that anchored the new artistic community.
