For those who want another trip down memory lane I'm passing on some information on a book by Waipahu grad Michael Yamamoto.
Waipahu…Recollections from a Sugar Plantation Community in Hawaii
by Michael T. Yamamoto, Nina (Ota) Sylva, Karen N. Yamamoto
The title says it all. The Principal author, Michael T. Yamamoto, interviewed about 200 people who recalled stories about the times when they lived in Waipahu.
Waipahu derives its name from the Hawaiian words, wai meaning water; and pahu meaning to burst forth. The town is named after the spring (now capped) that gushed forth some 42.5 cubic feet of water per second when the early Hawaiians first discovered it.
The book begins by locating and defining the town of Waipahu. Then the reader is taken through the town as one might take a walking or driving tour. Along the way, famous landmarks and businesses are located and some well-know personalities are introduced. Much of the book, however, contains quotes from people who lived the life of a plantation community.
Maps of Waipahu are included to show locations of areas described and keyed to various eras between 1900 and 2000.
The early Hawaiians considered Waipahu to be the capital of Oahu…before discovery of Hawaii by the Western world, royalty would often gather there especially relishing the fresh water gushing from artesian springs.
The Oahu Sugar Co. was stared by Benjamin Franklin Dillingham in 1897. The impact Oahu Sugar Co. made on the history of Waipahu is evidenced by the town celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 1997.
Get your personal copy of the book now and have a part of Waipahu’s colorful history.
To purchase by mail:
Send $25 for a copy with your name and address to:
HFI
P.O. Box 1793
Pearl City, HI 96782
Email: hfi@hawaii.rr.com
