Diverse land use activities and crop cultivation still remained important in the Hawaiian system through the middle and later 1800s. But, we also find that conflicts in land tenure and land use were arising. In the 1820s, agricultural crops were being diversified, and introduced livestock were being allowed to roam large tracks of land. These “food” items were being raised to supply the growing numbers of foreign ships which were finding safe harbor in the lee of Lahaina. By the 1830s, serious efforts were underway among missionary families to process sugar for table use, and to support expanding agricultural interests. In 1849, it was reported that the finest sugar in the islands could be found in Lahaina. Interests in development of business opportunities, led to the establishment of the Lahaina Sugar Company in 1861. A year later, in 1862, the Pioneer Sugar Mill was founded.

The Pioneer Sugar Mill operations evolved, buying out other competitors. And eventually nearly all of the available land in the Lahaina District, and large volumes of water were developed into the operations of the Pioneer Mill Company, Limited. This plantation drew water from the various Lahaina valleys, and larger volumes of water from the Ka‘anapali District into cultivation and processing of sugar at the Mill which became the heart of Lahaina Town. Mill operations spanned 138 years, from 1861 to 1999.

Since the closure of Pioneer Mill Company in 1999, there has been a growing interest among native families of the region to reclaim kuleana and water resources—to sustain families by working the land. There is also a deep passion for the history and cultural-historical resources of the Kaua‘ula-Lahaina region. We find that there is a rich legacy in these lands and among the people of the Kaua‘ula-Lahaina region. The challenge now before everyone who is associated with these lands is to ensure that the legacy lives, and that there can still be maintained a sustainable manner of life through the future generations.

Among the interviewees, who shared some of their history and experiences, we find a deep passion for, and desire to perpetuate knowledge and respect of place. The Hawaiian families and many of the older generation residents (non-Hawaiian by genealogy), do not see the land as a commodity. It is a living thing, a part of the family. They wish to see the history remembered (accurately), the environment cared for, and for future generations to experience something of what these Lahaina lands were like in earlier times.

(See Introduction to Kumu Pono Associates LLC Study, Volume I MaKaua111a – 052507 Below)