The Shocking Reason Hawaii Gave Up on Sugar Cane
Updated as of October 2026
Hawaii stopped growing sugar because it stopped paying. When Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959, the days of plantation labor for pennies were over, and the trade protection that had kept island sugar profitable was being taken apart. Then tourism took off, and the land was worth more under a hotel than under cane. Kauaʻi’s last sugar harvest came in 2009, and the last plantation in the state, on Maui, closed in 2016.
Guests ask me all the time if there is still sugar cane on Kauaʻi, like there is on Oʻahu. The answer is no. You won’t see a cane field from the road anywhere on this island. But the story of how it ended is one I tell on tour, and it has Elvis in it.
I have no family ties to the plantations. I’ve lived here since 2007 and driven these roads as a school bus driver, a county bus driver and now a tour guide. This is the story as I’ve learned it and as I tell it in the van.
A Brief History of Sugar Cane in Hawaii
Polynesians began growing sugar cane centuries ago, but its production surged during the U.S. Civil War. When sugar from Louisiana stopped coming in, Hawaii stepped up, and suddenly, sugar was booming! Then, in the 1870s, a treaty between the U.S. and the Hawaiian Kingdom removed tariffs on sugar, giving plantation owners a huge boost in profits. After Hawaii’s U.S. annexation, sugar plantations quickly spread, covering thousands of acres by 1941. (1)
Today, if you want to get a real feel for this history, check out Grove Farm in Lihue. They offer tours where you’ll have a real sense of the island’s sugar era. You can explore their interactive timeline to see how sugarcane flourished on Kauai through different generations and cultures (2), bringing this rich history to life. It feels like you’re stepping back in time, experiencing what life was like in those earlier days.
Where Did Sugar Start In Hawaii?
Hawaii’s first commercial sugar plantation started in 1835 at Kōloa (KOH-loh-ah, “long cane”) on Kauaʻi’s south shore. The town is named for the cane itself. So the industry that spread across every major island began right here on Kauaʻi.
Why Sugar Cane Was So Important to Hawaii
When sugar cane production ramped up in Hawaii, plantation owners quickly realized they needed more workers. However, many Hawaiians chose to farm and fish instead of working on plantations. Also, the Hawaiian population decreased at that time due to ravaging Foreign-borne disease (3). So, they began bringing in workers from other countries, which ended up shaping Hawaii’s diverse culture today. This labor shift was a big turning point in Hawaii’s history.
Sugar cane wasn’t just a crop in Hawaii—it shaped the islands in ways you can still see today.
When sugar plantations started booming, they brought in workers from all over the world, creating the rich mix of cultures we know and love here. It also helped drive the local economy for over 100 years, making sugar a major part of Hawaii’s history. So, sugar cane wasn’t just important for farming—it played a huge role in shaping Hawaii’s identity.
Why Did Sugar End On Kauaʻi?
Here’s how I explain it on tour. Two things came together around 1959.
- Statehood raised the cost of labor. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. In the 1800s a plantation worker earned about a quarter a day. By statehood, the unions had pushed wages far past that, and Hawaii sugar could not compete with places where labor was still cheap.
- The protection went away. The tariffs and quotas that kept Hawaii sugar profitable were wound down after World War II, and the federal Sugar Act quota system ended for good in 1974.
Labor costs went up just as the protection came down.
Then Elvis showed up. In 1961 he filmed Blue Hawaii here on Kauaʻi, with the wedding scene at the Coco Palms in Wailua (why-LOO-ah, “two waters”). Tourism took off. Hotels went up, land prices climbed, and the land was worth more under a hotel than under cane. Some plantation families moved away, many of them to Las Vegas. The ones who stayed found the work had changed. The same people who had worked the cane fields were now greeting guests and turning down beds.
Kauaʻi’s plantations closed one after another over the next few decades. The last sugar harvest on the island was at Gay & Robinson on the west side in 2009. The last plantation in the state, at Puʻunēnē on Maui, closed in 2016.
Environmental Impact: Another Hidden Factor
Sugar cane farming in Hawaii wasn’t just about planting crops—it required massive amounts of water. Over time, this need for water created significant conflicts over natural resources across the islands.
Plantations often diverted streams to irrigate their fields. This had a serious impact on native ecosystems, particularly those dependent on natural water flow. Local communities, especially native Hawaiians, started pushing back as water rights became a hot-button issue. Many felt the plantations were taking too much and leaving too little for the land and the people.
As environmental awareness grew in the 20th century, Hawaii’s focus began to shift toward sustainability and conservation. People started recognizing the damage these diversions were doing to the natural environment. The decline of the sugar industry allowed a new movement to take shape. One that prioritized the restoration of native ecosystems.
As sugar mills shut down, many water sources flowed back into natural streams and habitats, giving the land a chance to heal. Today, Hawaii thrives as a hub for ecotourism.
Visitors from around the world come not just for the beautiful beaches. Many came to experience the islands’ natural wonders while learning about efforts to protect the environment.
Hiking through lush rainforests, touring restored fishponds, or learning about ancient water management systems, you can immerse yourself in Hawaii’s rich cultural and environmental history. This is all part of a broader effort to preserve the islands’ natural beauty and resources for future generations. It helps ensure that Hawaii stays just as breathtaking in the years to come.
The Legacy of Sugar Cane: What Remains Today?
Hawaii’s sugar cane legacy remains visible across the islands. You’ll find abandoned plantations, old irrigation systems, and sugar mills transformed into museums.
Places like the Sugar Museum work to preserve and present the history and heritage of the sugar industry (4). It offers a glimpse into the past, showing how deeply the sugar industry shaped Hawaii’s landscape and culture. Walking through its exhibits gives you a real sense of how sugar not only shaped Hawaii’s economy but also its communities and culture.
Exploring these historic sites is like stepping back in time. You can see firsthand how the sugar industry influenced everything from agriculture to immigration, bringing people from all over the world to work in the fields.
If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to dig deeper than just relaxing on the beach, visiting these places offers a rich and rewarding experience. They provide a window into the past, showing how sugar shaped Hawaii into what it is today and leaving a lasting imprint on the islands’ identity.
What Can You Still See Of The Sugar Days On Kauaʻi?
Not cane. There are no sugar fields left to see from any road on the island. What’s left is the land and the people.
- The old Coco Palms. I stop at the Coco Palms site in Wailua on tour. It has sat empty since Hurricane ʻIniki in 1992. It’s the best place I know to tell the whole story, from cane to Elvis to the storm.
- The plantation generation. The workers who are still with us are very old now. You can tell they worked a very hard job in those fields, especially the men.
- The old cane land. Most of it sits vacant. Drive the highway and you’ll see a lot of open land where cane used to grow.
What’s Happening To The Old Plantation Land Now?
The land management companies that hold the old plantation acreage are leasing it to farmers. The goal is to grow more of the food we eat here on Kauaʻi and the other islands.
That matters, because:
- Hawaii still ships in about 80 percent of its food.
- The government helps local farmers by finding markets for what they grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there still sugar cane on Kauaʻi?
No. There are no sugar cane fields left on Kauaʻi, and you won’t see any from the road.
Where did Hawaii’s sugar industry start?
At Kōloa on Kauaʻi’s south shore, in 1835. It was Hawaii’s first commercial sugar plantation.
Why did Hawaii stop growing sugar?
Labor costs rose after statehood in 1959, the trade protection for Hawaii sugar ended, and tourism made the land worth more for hotels than for cane.
When did sugar end on Kauaʻi?
The last harvest on Kauaʻi was at Gay & Robinson in 2009. The last plantation in Hawaii, on Maui, closed in 2016.
What did Elvis have to do with it?
Elvis filmed Blue Hawaii on Kauaʻi in 1961, with the wedding scene at the Coco Palms in Wailua. The movie helped start the tourism boom that replaced sugar.
What is the old plantation land used for now?
Much of it sits vacant. The land companies are leasing it to farmers to grow more local food, since Hawaii still ships in more than 80 percent of what it eats.
Want To Hear The Rest Of The Story?
If you’d like to hear this story in person, my Waimea Canyon Tour drives right through the old cane country of the south and west side, past Kaumakani where Gay & Robinson grew Kauaʻi’s last crop. One van, seven seats, and I drive every tour myself.
Mahalo for reading. A hui hou!
References:
- CBS News | Why Hawaii’s sugar plantations have disappeared
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-hawaiis-sugar-plantations-have-disappeared/ - Grove Farm Museum | History
https://www.grovefarm.org/
- Wikipedia | Sugar plantations in Hawaii
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_plantations_in_Hawaii - Sugar Museum | Our Story
https://www.sugarmuseum.com/our-story - Honolulu Star-Bulletin – The last haul (Gay & Robinson, 2009)
https://archives.starbulletin.com/content/20091031_The_last_haul
- Wikipedia – Hawaiian sugar strike of 1946
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_sugar_strike_of_1946