Kau, Hawaii facts for kids
Kaʻū is the biggest and southernmost district on the island of Hawaiʻi, also known as the Big Island. It covers about 922 square miles (2,388 km2). Long ago, Kaʻū was one of the six main areas, or moku, of ancient Hawaii.
Today, Kaʻū includes places like South Point (Ka Lae), Ocean View, Nīnole, Waiʻōhinu, Naʻālehu, and Pāhala. It's also home to a big part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with famous volcanoes like Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. You can also find amazing beaches here, like Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach and Papakōlea Green Sand Beach. To the east of Kaʻū is the Puna District, and to the west is the South Kona District.
Contents
A Sweet History: Sugar Cane in Kaʻū
For many years, growing sugar cane was the main business in Kaʻū. Two big companies led this industry: Hawaiian Agriculture Co. and Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co.
The Start of Sugar Plantations
The Hawaiian Agriculture Co. started in 1876 and began growing sugar cane in 1880. People often called it the Pahala Plantation. This company hired many workers, including immigrants from places like the Philippines, Japan, and Portugal. They even built homes for their workers in the community of Pāhala.
The Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co. began even earlier, in 1868. It was one of the oldest sugar companies on the Big Island. After its founder, Alexander Hutchinson, passed away, the plantation was bought and renamed Hutchinson Sugar Plantation. This company also hired many local people and immigrants. They built housing for their workers in Naʻālehu, just like the Pahala Plantation.
The End of Sugar and Rise of Coffee
In 1972, the two big sugar companies, Hawaiian Agriculture Co. and Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co., joined together. They formed a new company called Kaʻū Sugar Co. This became the only sugar plantation in the district.
However, the sugar cane era eventually came to an end. After 24 years, the Kaʻū Sugar Co. closed down in 1996. This was a big change for the district.
After the sugar plantations closed, many people became interested in growing coffee. Some former sugar workers were even given the chance to lease land to start their own coffee farms. Today, coffee is a very important crop in Kaʻū. The district even hosts the Kaʻū Coffee Festival in Pāhala, celebrating its growing coffee industry.
Southernmost Point of the U.S. States
The very tip of Ka Lae Point in the Kaʻū District is the southernmost point of any state in the United States. It's a special place because it's as far south as you can go in any of the 50 states!
However, if you look at the entire United States, including its territories, the absolute southernmost point is actually on Holei Island in the Palmyra Atoll. Palmyra Atoll is a U.S. territory, which means it's part of the country but not a state. So, while Ka Lae is the southernmost point of a U.S. state, Palmyra Atoll holds the record for the entire country.
Gallery
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South Point Wind Farm in Kaʻū
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The view of the Kaʻū coastline from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, looking southwest towards Naʻālehu.
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Much of the Kaʻū coastline is made up of volcanic cliffs. This view is looking southwest from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
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Ka Lae Point in the Kaʻū district, the southernmost point of any of the U.S. States.
