Archive
Historical Timeline
Records of Lāna‘i’s past
Archive
Historical Timeline
Records of Lāna‘i's past
Lāna‘i's History
About 1.5 million years ago the island of Lāna‘i in Hawai‘i rose above sea level. The island's lava spread and joined Maui, Kaho‘olawe and Moloka‘i to create bridges that connected the islands. The end of the Ice Age about 10,000 years ago led to rising seas and faulted along the low island shelves to forms channels between the islands that swallowed those land bridges.
At a time when gods walked the earth, Kāne, Kanaloa and Kāne‘āpua came to the leeward coast of Kaunolū at Kealaikahiki (the “Path to Kahiki”). Goddess Pele and members of her ohana enjoyed a time of peace and rest on Lāna‘i. The visit is commemorated by an ancient mele, or chant, called: “A Nāna‘i Kaulahea” – one of the oldest known that originated from Lāna‘i.
Pre-Contact Lāna‘i
Circa 1200
The first Hawaiian settlers establish life on Lāna‘i after Maui and Moloka‘i, which had richer resources. Settlements and resource development were throughout the island both along the shores and uplands. Taro ponds called lo‘i kalo were abundant in Lāna‘i's Maunalei Valley and the leeward coast at Kaunolū was established as a chiefly residence and religious center.
Circa 1400
Events tied to the naming of the island, land divisions and attempts to rid Lāna‘i of its spirit inhabitants are commemorated in Kaululā‘au history. Lāna‘i becomes known as Lāna‘i a Kaululā‘au.
The famed Lāna‘i priest, Kawelo prevails in his battle with one in Moloka‘i. Victory ensures the wellbeing of Lāna‘i’s native inhabitants. This tradition is commemorated in the place names of Keahiakawelo, Keahi‘āloa and Kaweloahi. In modern times, the cultural landscape of Keahiakawelo has been mistakenly referred to as the “Garden of the Gods,” a misnomer given by a visiting writer in 1911.
Circa 1500
A Spanish ship wrecks along Lāna‘i's windward coast. The area becomes known as Keomoku, which translates as the white ship.
1778
War ravages the island
Kalani‘ōpu‘u, King of Hawai‘i, invades Maui. When his attack is repelled, Kalani‘ōpu‘u’s war party encamps on Lāna‘i. In a few short months, all food resources are depleted, forests burned and dry land field system destroyed. Many native residents are killed. At the end of their stay, the invaders are reduced to eating ferns found on the island, and suffer from dysentery. This battle becomes known as Kamokuhī or the Dysentery District.
1794
A sustainable life
According to native accounts and evidence, Lānaʻi's population expanded to at least 6,000 people, who were “bounteously” fed by their innovative and sustainable practices.
1795-1810
Royal residency established
During his quest to unify the islands and in the years immediately following unification, Kamehameha I creates a residence on Lāna‘i at Kaunolū, the island's socio-political center. Several Lāna‘i traditions are established-notably, the stories of Puhi o Ka‘ala, and Pu‘u Pehe.
1804-1805
Outbreak leads to population decline
The ma‘i ‘ōku‘u epidemic, which is believed to have been Asiatic cholera, swept through the Hawaiian Islands and killed more than 150,000 Hawaiians including 2,000 of Lāna‘i's native residents.
1830
Introduction of invasive animals
Goats and sheep are introduced to the island. While Native tenants herded some, others were wild, unmanaged populations. This began a long history of environmental degradation on Lānaʻi due to invasive species like these ungulates.
1854
Land falls into ownership of a single person
The Church of the Latter Day Saints are granted a lease in the ahupuaʻa of Pālāwai with hopes to establish a Mormon colony. In 1861, Walter Murray Gibson arrived on the island as the church's representative and began consolidating large tracts of land using church money. It was later discovered that Gibson had put the leases/deeds in his own name, which led to his excommunication.
1875
Pine trees on the island
Walter Murray Gibson secures a lease from the Government for the ahupua‘a of Kamoku, and relocates his ranch operations and residence from Pālāwai to Kōʻele (in the ahupua‘a of Kamoku).
King David Kalākaua gives two Norfolk Island pine tree seedlings to Gibson, who plants both at Kō‘ele. One survives and is still growing at Kō‘ele. Walter Murray Gibson secures a lease from Pane Kekelaokalani for the ahupuaʻa of Maunalei.
1888
Gibson land inheritance goes to daughter
Walter Murray Gibson dies. His daughter and son-in-law, Talula and Fredrick Hayselden, inherit Gibson’s holdings, which at the time of his death included fee-simple ownership of five ahupua‘a, and leasehold rights on all remaining lands, except for small parcels granted to native tenants not previously purchased by Gibson.
1902
Gay family establishes ranching business on island
Charles and Louisa Gay purchase a portion of the Gibson-Hayselden estate. In a few years, the family own most of Lāna‘i's land. The family moves to Lāna‘i in late 1902. The family business is primarily ranching with a transition from sheep to cattle.
1910
Ranching becomes more established
William G. Irwin and his wife, Robert W. Shingle and Cecil Brown form Lanai Ranch Company, which later becomes the Lanai Company. The Lāna‘i Company begins foreclosure of the Gay mortgages. Lāna‘i Company engages in forestry conservation programs on Lāna‘i. A severely limited water supply proves to be the major problem in all business endeavors on the island.
1917
Lāna‘i Ranch is born
The Lanai Company conveys its Lāna‘i holdings to Frank and Harry Baldwin of Maui, who continue the cattle ranching operation under the title of “Lanai Ranch.”
1922
Baldwin sells to Dole
James D. Dole buys out the Baldwin interests on Lāna‘i for $1.1 million, and sets in motion plans that ultimately make Lāna‘i the world’s largest pineapple plantation.
1923
Dole enters the island
James Dole and associates plant the construction of Lānaʻi City, Kaumālapaʻu Harbor, the plantation fields, and infrastructure needed for the development of the plantation. Dole engages David Root, James Munro, Tokumatsu Murayama, Hawaiian Dredging and others to develop the plantation. The first buildings in Lānaʻi City are under construction. Japanese contractors and laborers are among the first to settle into the plantation life on Lānaʻi.
1932
Filipino population grows on island
Large numbers of Filipino laborers arrive on Lāna‘i and in the following years comprise the primary work force of the plantation.
1961
Corporation buys the island
Castle & Cooke buys out Dole Corporation.
1985
Island transitions
David H. Murdock purchases Castle & Cooke (which includes much of the island of Lāna‘i).
1992
End of pineapple
The final harvest of pineapple on Lāna‘i takes place in October. On November 14th, a “Pau Hana” (“end of work”) gathering is held in Dole Park to commemorate the close of the pineapple era on Lāna‘i.
2007
Our noble work begins
Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center was organized as a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to documenting and passing Lāna‘i’s history on to present and future generations.
2010
Museum opens to preserve past
Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center expands to a larger museum space in its present location to share more artificats and history of the islands.
2012
New vision and leadership for the island
Larry Ellison purchases about 97 percent of the island with a vision to build a sustainable community through its company Pūlama Lāna‘i.
2025
Cultural Center
Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center strengthens strategy of its core programs for cultural preservation through its Aloha Aina program, hunting stewardship, school-based education and historic site preservation work.
