Kaʻū is the southernmost and largest district (922 square miles (2,390 km2))[1] ofHawaiʻi County, Hawaii, located on theisland of Hawaiʻi.
Kaʻū was one of the six original districts ofancient Hawaii on the island, known asmoku.[2]It includes the areas ofSouth Point (Ka Lae),Hawaiian Ocean View,Nīnole,Waiʻōhinu,Nāʻālehu andPāhala.[3]
The district contains much ofHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, including the volcanoesKīlauea andMauna Loa, andPunaluʻu (Black Sand) Beach,Papakōlea (Green Sand) Beach andKamilo Beach.[4] To the east of Kaʻū is thePuna District, and to the west is the SouthKona District.[5]
The largest commerce in Kaʻū was sugar and leading the industry during its prime was Hawaiian Agriculture Co and Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co.
Hawaiian Agriculture Co was established in 1876 but did not start producing sugar cane until 1880. Locally, it was known as the Pahala Plantation but legally the corporation was filed as the Hawaiian Agricultural Co. The company employed many workers including immigrants from Philippines, Japan, Portugal, and others. Corporate housing projects were built to provide living quarters for staff and added to the community of Pahala. The founders were Peter C. Jones, Charles R. Bishop, J.D. Brewer, and H.A.P. Carter.
The Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co was established in 1868 by Alexander Hutchinson and it was one of the oldest sugar companies on the Big Island. Shortly, the plantation was renamed Naalehu Sugar Plantation. In his honor, following Hutchinson's death in 1873, William G. Irwin and Claus Spreckels purchased the plantation and renamed it Hutchinson Sugar Plantation. The company purchased Hilea Sugar Plantation in 1890. In 1910, it was purchased by C. Brewer & Co. Just like its competitor, Hawaiian Agriculture Co, the company employed many locals including immigrants from Philippines, Japan, Portugal, and others. Corporate housing projects were built to provide living quarters for staff and added to the community of Na'alehu.
In 1972, Hawaiian Agricultural Co. merged with Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Co. The merged companies were renamed Kaʻū Sugar Co and was now the only sugar plantation in Kaʻū. However, this unified industry was short lived. After twenty four years, the sugar cane era finally came to an end with the Kaʻū Sugar Co closing operation in 1996.
The coffee industry has been low profile since the early 1900s. However, after the closure of the Kaʻū Sugar Co, interest in growing coffee has surged. Many of Kaʻū Sugar Co staff were given the option to acquire a land lease in five acre increments to engage in agriculture commerce. From the lease lots along with private owned lots, coffee were being grown. The most popular varietals that are grown in the area is Typica and Caturra.
Over the years, thecoffee industry has been growing in importance,[6] with the Kaʻū Coffee Festival held in Pāhala.[7]
The southernmost point of any state in theUnited States is atKa Lae Point in the Kaʻū District. It isalmost thesouthernmost point in the whole country except that, technically, theUnited States Territory of Palmyra Island, although not part of a state within the US, is anincorporated territory (an integral part of the country) according to the doctrine of "incorporation" defined in theSupreme Court'sInsular Cases; therefore Palmyra's south point on Holei Island at 5°52′15″ Nlatitude is officially thesouthernmost point in the United States of America, not Ka Lae Point.[8]
19°6′0″N155°36′0″W / 19.10000°N 155.60000°W /19.10000; -155.60000
