Exploring the Hamakua Coast

In the days when cane was king, the Big Island's Hamakua Coast was the scenic backdrop for tidy plantation towns, billowing fields and bustling sugar mills. Revist this golden era through the rich anecdotes and rare photographs of this site-by-site guide, featuring 100 archival photographs of businesses, schools, churches, homes and public buildings – many of them rare images never before published. Each of the photos is keyed to a location on a foldout map, providing a unique, hands-on way to explore the historic region.

Written and researched by Ken Okimoto of Papa’ikou, with a foreword by Hawai’i State Representative Dwight Takamine, the book covers the Hamakua Coast from Waipi‘o Valley to the outskirts of Hilo, with special attention to the area’s historic plantation towns including Honoka‘a, Laupahoehoe, Hakalau and Honomu. Part of the Small Town Series of guidebooks.

Available with a companion audio tour CD, produced by Sumo Sound Productions of Hilo, that guides travelers in both directions along the coast, with stops at various points of interest. The CD is narrated by East Hawai‘i residents G-Cruz, Derek Kurisu, Pohai Montague Mullins, Charmaine Kaipo and Ron Kaipo and includes music by Braddah Smitty, Ron Kaipo and Alan Parker.

Softcover w/ foldout map; 128 pp.
Author: Ken Okimoto
Release Date: August 2002