List of ghost towns in Hawaii facts for kids
Hawaii is a beautiful place, but it also has some hidden secrets: ghost towns! A ghost town is a place where most or all people have left. These towns become empty because of different reasons. Sometimes, nature takes over, like a volcano erupting or a giant wave (a tsunami). Other times, industries like sugar plantations close down, and people move away to find new jobs.
This list tells you about some of Hawaii's ghost towns. Each one has a unique story about why it became empty.
A house in Kaimū, Hawaii in 1888. Kaimu was completely destroyed by a flow of lava from the Kūpaʻianahā vent of the Kīlauea volcano in 1990.
Hawaii's Lost Towns: A List of Ghost Towns
| Town name | County | What happened to the town? |
|---|---|---|
| Apua | Hawaii | This town was destroyed by a tsunami after a big earthquake in 1868. People never moved back. |
| Halawa | Molokai | People left this town after tsunamis hit in 1946 and 1957. |
| Honuapo | Hawaii | A powerful tsunami destroyed Honuapo in 1946. |
| Kaimū | Hawaii | Lava from the Kīlauea volcano destroyed Kaimū in 1990. |
| Kalapana | Hawaii | This town was home to the famous Star of the Sea Painted Church. In 1990, lava flows from Kīlauea volcano destroyed most of Kalapana. |
| Kalaupapa | Kalawao | This area is now Kalaupapa National Historical Park. It was once a settlement for people with Hansen's disease. |
| Kalawao | Kalawao | This area is now kept for farming and protecting nature. |
| Kapoho | Hawaii | Kīlauea volcano destroyed Kapoho in 1960. It was rebuilt, but lava destroyed it again in 2018. |
| Kawailoa | Honolulu | This was a camp for workers at the Waialua Sugar Company. |
| Keomuku Village | Maui | People moved from Keomoku to Lanai City. This happened after the Maunalei Sugar Company failed. |
| Kualoa Sugar Mill | Honolulu | The Kualoa Sugar Mill stopped working in 1871. |
| Laupahoehoe | Hawaii | This town was hit by tsunamis in 1946 and 1960. |
| Lihue Sugar Plantation | Kauai | The Lihue Plantation Company started in 1849. It was a big sugar business on Kauai. |
| Mahukona | Hawaii | This port town closed in 1941 for World War II. The railroad here closed in 1945. |
| Mana Camp | Kauai | Mana Camp is now part of the Mānā Plains Forest Reserve. |
| Old Sugar Mill of Koloa | Kauai | This is a very old sugar mill. It is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark. |
| Waiakea | Hawaii | Waiākea is an old area in Hilo. It was an early settlement on Hilo Bay. |
| Waiale'e | Honolulu | This town is on the North Shore, close to Sunset Beach. |
| Waialua Sugar Mill | Honolulu | This sugar mill, also called Halstead Sugar Mill, operated from 1865 to 1996. |
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List of ghost towns in Hawaii Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.