HistoricalInformation

About Hanapepe

Hanapepe means “crushed bay”; perhaps so named due the landslides in the valley or the appearance of the cliffs from the sea to the rocks surrounding the deep bay area. The native people of Hawai`i, Kanaka Maoli, inhabited the fertile valley of Hanapepe for centuries before Captain Cook arrived in 1778.

Hanapepe Valley is a fertile area, where many foods such as banana, sugar cane, and sweet potato were grown. Besides growing taro, kalo, from which “poi” is made, Hawaiians developed salt, cultivated in saltwater ponds for trade with sailors. Salt trading was the earliest entrepreneurial legacy of Hanapepe. The right to harvest salt, handed down through families, continues today.

Hanapepe’s Churches

In the 1820's missionaries arrived in the Hawaiian Islands. Hanapepe First United Church (now called Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church) was established in 1890 as a mission station. By the turn of the century there were close to a dozen different churches of many denominations established in the area. Today Hanapepe's churches and temples include: Church of the Nazarine, Hanapepe Hawaiian Congregational Church, Hanapepe Hongwanji Mission, Hanapepe United Church of Christ, Kaua`i Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji, Missionary Baptist Church and The Salvation Army.

Entrepreneurial Immigrants

The sugar industry flourished in the 1880's, bringing Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants to the islands. Most stores and towns on Kaua`i were built and owned by the sugar plantations. Hanapepe, however, was built by entrepreneurial immigrants. Many who retired from the sugar plantations or could not adapt to their strict working conditions came to Hanapepe to grow taro, rice, or begin small farms or businesses to serve the local community.

Labor union organizers in the early 1900's were welcome in Hanapepe. Workers in the fist half of the century who organized to strike for better wages or conditions at sugar and pineapple plantations were not allowed to reside at plantation camps; strikers had to stay in independent areas such as Hanapepe. The nearby harbor had many longshoremen who had concerns about working conditions and safety as well. Today workers have better safety regulations, wages and retirement benefits due to the activism of previous generations.

Architecture Gives Wild West Flavor

When arriving into old Hanepepe town, you may think you have been transported to Dodge city, or another picturesque western U.S. town. But it's in the middle of the Pacific! There is a reason why this part of Hanepepe looks so much like the “American West”. This is because much of the town drew from the same source of carpenters and architects: the imported skilled labor from Asia. When these immigrants weren't building railroads or harvesting sugar, they were building towns. They had arrived to work on sugar plantations, and stayed to influence the architecture and lifestyle for generations to come.

The town was primarily populated by adventurous Asian immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. They built clinics and hospitals, movie theaters and pool halls, churches and temples, hotels and homes.

Hanapepe became a bustling town in the 1930's and World War II years when it got named “Kauai's Biggest Little Town” by the Hanapepe Merchants Association. Soldiers stationed at the Army installation established the Hanapepe airfield area came for R&R, (Rest and Relaxation). The town offered a USO Club, several bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, and even two roller-skating rinks. Annual parades drew people from other parts of the island and popular entertainers were featured.

Today, many of Hanapepe's rustic store fronts have become home to a variety of quaint art galleries, often operated by the artists themselves. In fact, Hanapepe offers more fine art galleries than any other town on Kauai. Each Friday night artists present an open house. It is known as Art Night and galleries are open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.”

Most of the buildings are of single-wall wood construction utilizing vertical tongue in groove or board & batten siding. A few more recent buildings utilized the sturdy concrete blocks that withstand strong winds. One notable exception to the western style is the Aloha Theater, which represents the art nouveau era. An effort is underway to restore this classic theater.

Many of the buildings are noted for their large display windows, false front parapets, and pent roofs or awnings at their front elevation, providing shade and protection for the first floor windows, entrances, and passing pedestrians.

Historic buildings have made this town a choice location for movie makers with such films as “Flight of the Intruder” and the mini-series, “The Thornbirds”. Hanapepe was the home town of “Lilo and Stitch”, Disney's popular animated children's movie.

Browse our unique collection of shops, galleries & eating

establishments

Learn about

Hanapepe’s history,

from early salt

gathering to present

Map and Directions

to Historic Hanapepe Town

3890 Hanapepe Road: The upstairs of the old Serikawa building once housed the office of Jack Hall, ILWU union organizer.

Kama’aina Cabinets/Robin McCoy gallery is an example of the “American West” style architecture which much of Hanapepe Town is built in.