History

In ancient times this huge ahupua‘a (Hawaiian land division), stretching between the Waianae and Koolau mountain ranges, was called Lihue. It is rich in Hawaiian legend and fact, as it is one of the oldest places on Oahu. Before the islands were united by King Kamehameha I, it was here that Oahu chiefs trained their armies (the site of Schofield Barracks now) and revered the place of royal births at Kukaniloko (birthing stones site). They liked the cool climate, the lush growth of the mountains, the abundance of wild game, and the many birds from which they plucked feathers to make capes for royalty. Later this plain was called the Leilehua Plateau, and today it is known as the Wahiawa District.

Through the enactment of the Land Act of 1895, the land of Wahiawa was withdrawn from cattle grazing leases and offered for sale to farmers interested in diversified farming. Byron O. Clark and government officials visited the 1,350 acre tract designated for homesteading on January 1, 1898.

Clark wrote to friends in California, encouraging them to apply for one of the land allotments for homesteading. Twelve applied, and by the spring of 1899 the last of the colonists were settled on their land for the required three years.

These colonists came with high hopes, skills, courage, and determination to build for themselves a new life. They carved a place to live on this barren, undeveloped land covered with scrub brush and where untamed cattle once roamed. And, through trial and error, the homesteaders prevailed.

To reach Wahiawa they forded the north and south forks of the Kaukonahua Stream, which surrounds Wahiawa, making it an island within an island. Life was hard, but they cleared the land and planted their required fruit trees and crops. They built a one-lane bridge, constructed homes, laid out roads, obtained water rights, built a store and post office, and saw to it that their children were educated. In a very short time the homesteaders had a community.

Clark found some discarded pineapple slips which he shared with Alfred W. Eames, and they harvested their first crop in 1900. Clark experimented in his home kitchen to can the fruit in glass jars. Eames founded the Hawaiian Islands Packing Company and built his first cannery in the Wahiawa Heights area in 1902. Today this company is known as Del Monte Fresh Produce Hawaii.

Another homesteader and planter, Will P. Thomas, operated under the Thomas Pineapple Company, which following his death became Libby McNeill & Libby of Honolulu.

In July 1900, James Drummond Dole was high bidder at a government auction for 61 acres of land given up by the original homesteader. He built a cannery next to his pineapple fields in Wahiawa and packed his first cans in 1903. His Hawaiian Pineapple Company (HAPCO) is known today as Dole Food Company Hawaii.

By 1904, Wahiawa was known as “The City of Pines” and was considered the hub of the pineapple industry in the world.

Wahiawa Town’s ethnic makeup closely follows that of the plantation contract laborers who were brought to the islands. Plantation life was hard, and many contract workers left the plantations once their contracts expired. Some of them or their children started businesses in Wahiawa. The community continued to grow and a town developed.

In 1913 a new district was created, in which the ahupua‘a of Wahiawa and Waianae Uka were taken from the Waialua and Ewa districts to form Oahu’s seventh district, the district of Wahiawa.