Kamalō Sugar Plantation

The Kamalō Sugar Plantation (also: Kamaloo, Kamalo) was a sugarcane plantation and mill located in Kamalō, Molokai, Kingdom of Hawaii.[1] It was the oldest sugar plantation and mill established on Molokai[Note 1] and ceased operations before the 1906 founding of the California and Hawaiian Sugar Company.[2]

Kamalo Sugar Plantation
TypePrivate
IndustrySugarcane
Founded1873 (1873) in Kamalō, Molokai, Kingdom of Hawaii
FounderJohn C. McColgan (1814-1890)
Defunct1891 (1891)
SuccessorKamalo Sugar Company, Ltd.
Key people
  • Hugh McCorriston, Daniel McCorriston (Manager)

History
Kamalō on the Island of Molokai, Hawaiʻi, USA, located at 21°03′N 156°52′W

The Kamalō Sugar Plantation was founded by Irish-born businessman John C. McColgan (1814-1890) in 1873. In July of that year, he was reported to have leased a 4,000-acre tract of land from the late King Kamehameha V's estate that was located between Kaunakakai and Kalua‘aha.[3] The mill and plantation were managed by McColgan's cousins, the Irish-born brothers Hugh McCorriston (1836-1926) and Daniel McCorriston (1840-1927).[4][5]

The mill equipment for the Kamalō Sugar Plantation was the same as used at McColgan's sugarcane plantation located in Waiau, O‘ahu. [3]

The Kamalō Sugar Plantation began exporting sugar to California in the 1880s, with a reported shipment of 353 bags aboard the SS Mariposa (1883) in September 1884.[6]

Upon McColgan's death in 1890, ownership of the Kamalō Sugar Plantation passed in part to the McCorriston brothers.[7]

The Fire of 1891

On August 7, 1891, the Kamalō Sugar Plantation burned to the ground due to unknown causes.[7] The mill and plantation were insured for $25,000, (~$696,294 in 2021) and cattle turned onto the land for ranching.[8]

Revival

In 1897, the McCorriston brothers began discussing reviving the Kamalō Sugar Plantation.[8] In 1899, the brothers sold their land to Frank Hustace, J.J. Egan, and Hugh's stepson Frank Hudson Foster, who incorporated under the name Kamalō Sugar Company, Limited. [9]

Notes
  1. Of the three plantations and mills in operation on Molokai in 1880, Moanui Sugar Mill and Plantation was established in 1875 and Kalae Sugar Plantation was established in 1876.

References
  1. Pukui, Mary Kawena, Samuel H. Elbert and Esther T. Mookini (1974). Place Names of Hawaii (Revised & expanded ed.). Honolulu, HI: The University Press of Hawaii. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-8248-0524-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Local and General". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. 12 August 1891. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  3. "New Sugar Plantation". The Hawaiian Gazette. 23 July 1873. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  4. 1880-1881: The Hawaiian Kingdom Statistical and Commercial Directory and Tourist's Guide. Honolulu; San Francisco: George Bowser & Co. 1880. p. 411. hdl:10524/19432.
  5. 1888: Husted's Directory of Honolulu and the Hawaiian Territory. Honolulu; San Francisco: George Bowser & Co. 1888. p. 496. hdl:10524/12272.
  6. "For San Francisco, per Mariposa, Sept 15". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. 16 September 1884. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  7. "Sugar Mill Burned Down". Evening Bulletin. 11 August 1891. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  8. "Will Develop Molakai". The Hawaiian Star. 26 May 1897. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  9. "At Kamalo Again". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. 22 April 1899. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
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