This cache is dedicated to the many brave men and women who
worked for the Wai`anae Sugar Company from it’s beginning in 1879
to its ending in 1946. For a little history read below.
In 1879, the plantation was started on 25 acres in Wai`anae by
Herman A. Widemann. Widemann, a German immigrant was backed
financially by Hackfeld & Co. and politically by the Hawaiian
monarchy. To begin he hired about 20 local Hawaiians, 15 haole
technicians and almost 60 Chinese laborers.
The Wai`anae Sugar Mill was the first mill developed on Oahu
that produced sugar. The mill boilers were fired up for the first
time on January 16, 1880.
The Wai`anae Plantation was one of the most modern and efficient
in all Hawai`i. A railroad was built for hauling harvested can to
the mill. It also took workers to and from the fields.
Wells were drilled and tunnels dug deep into the mountains. As
more water became available more acreage was cleared and planted.
This acreage increased to 600 acres by 1890 and production was
almost 2,500 tons of sugar.
Waianae’s sugar boom continued into the 1940s, but it faced
irreversible setbacks as a result of "a day that would live in
infamy." The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 led the
United States into World War II.
WW II meant the end of the plantation. Drafts and high paying
defense jobs created a labor shortage. By the end of the war the
plantation was in bad shape. Several years of drought, and the fact
that the employees voted to join the International Longshoremen’s
and Warehousemen’s Union. This meant higher wages and benefits.
Other costs kept rising. On October 17, 1946 the stockholders voted
to liquidate the company.
About 50 feet or so beyond the cache you will find a
dam. You'll hear the water flowing before you find the cache. There
is a pipe line carrying fresh water strung over the dam. You will
find a water faucet projecting from the pipeline. You CAN DRINK
this water.
ATTENTION: This is a public hunting area. Be prepared
to run into men with dogs and guns! If you see dogs w/out their
owners be cool. 99% of the hunting dogs are not going to attack
you. Just don't show fear.
To reach the cache park at the end of Wai`anae Valley
Road by the Forest Reserve gate. LEAVE NOTHING OF VALUE IN YOUR
CAR. This is an isolated location and break in's have happened from
time to time
You can find a trail off to the right just after
passing the first speed bump on the paved road. It leads to a
graveled road going into the valley. This is the recommended route
and the coolest in temps and the most scenic.