Historic Old Kaua'i 1940 - The Garden Isle

I am pleased to hear everyone has been enjoying these great views of old Hawaii.
To recap, we recently discovered several vintage 16mm films depicting old Hawaii. The films were originally taken by an unknown photographer for his own, non-commercial enjoyment while on his way from San Jose to Austrailia in 1940. We purchased them at a garage sale at the house at an old local orchardist. The films were converted to digital by volunteers from the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County who used a special telecine converter to preserve historic images, and at no charge. Thank you!
This third installment focuses on Kaua'i, The Garden Isle. It appears the photographer stayed at The Kaua'i Inn, possibly the only hotel on the island at that time. Some of my favorite shots in this one are scenes depicting the sugar mill trains of Kekaha, plus pristine Hanalei Bay without the hotels. There are scenes of a family preparing for a family luau as well as many shots of local school children who, if alive today, would be approaching their eighties. If anyone recognizes their grandpa in any of these movies, please let me know! All Rights Reserved.

[@enriquegascon8133]

Mahalo nui loa. This is an example of perfect preservation: historic (unbeknownst at the time) footage/photos, serendipitously saved from extinction, and given new life to teach/touch another generation!!! As the motto of the state goes: the life of the land is preserved in righteousness. Hawai'i No Ka Oi! Aloha.

[@leegately3590]

Love the film. So thankful for all who preserved and share this work. FYI- Kauai Inn started in August 1948 when the old Lihue Hotel rebranded under new ownership. So this film is from 1948 or later. Weeks prior to August 1948 the signage and advertising for the hotel were still Lihue Hotel.

[@paulnicolosi4792]

I live on the property where the Kauai Inn stood, when this film was shot. It’s just up the road from Nawiliwili harbor.

[@aaroncelathian6777]

Best place on Earth

[@Megsssly]

This is amazing! I grew up on Kauai and my family bought and rebuilt the Kauai Inn after hurricane Iniki in 1992! It is still our family business and this visual history means a lot to us! Mahalo!!!

[@A808K]

I lived at The Kauai Inn with my girlfriend in the very early 1970's when it was operated by the Greenleaf's. Maybe a year and half? Live on the Big Island now but was back a month ago to see the family and drove through Niumalu... still a lovely low-key place.

[@wakeupscreaming9883]

The opening shot of Nawiliwili Bay/Ninini Lighthouse is shocking. So much development since then. And i'm undecided whether it's a good thing.

[@Kanotoa]

Thank you so much for posting this! Brought a tear to my eye. I barely remember Kauai being so green and undeveloped.

[@turningofthetide1000]

Wonderful, thank you Such a shame the island has changed so much and non for the better.

[@leegately3590]

I love this! Thank you for bringing it back to life. (Heads up... Kauai Inn didn’t exist until post-1945, when the Lihue Hotel was re-branded by its new owners.)

[@kikananihanai]

Wonderful. Thank you so much. Most of old Kaua`i is gone, but some is unchanged from this film. Ho`okahana`o. Mahalo nui loa. Me ke aloha pau`ole.

[@dennisclark8766]

GREAT.

[@oneislandguy]

Mahalo for posting this video! I first came to Kauai during the summer of 1972. I have forever felt so fortunate to have seen Kauai in that time and can only wonder how it would have been during earlier times. We flew from Oahu to Kauai on a twin engine propeller plane and landed in Lihue in the middle of a sugar cane field. The road out to Hanalei was mostly narrow two lanes and bridges. The largest hotel was the Kauai Surf and the only stop light was a flashing red in Hanamaulu.

[@gardengalsu]

Thank you so much for sharing this. Many scenes can never be seen again ... Wow. May I add my thanks to the volunteers that made this video possible. Who is the one person who disliked this video? So weird.

[@GulfIslandRock]

Mahalo ❤

[@cruizahkimo2]

Mahalo for preserving and sharing! Aloha

[@hebneh]

This footage is from at least two different visits in different years. Another person posted that Kauai Inn was not called that till 1948, but the car at 8:55 has a 1939 Hawaii license plate.

[@painterick]

Awesome footage of old Kauai. I am a Kauai railroad history buff and wanted to point out that the locomotive shown is a Grove Farm Plantation engine (#5 "Wahiawa") at the Lihue Plantation Mill not the Kekaha sugar mill. This locomotive is still in existence at the Grove Farm Homestead Museum grovefarm.org/hawaii-trains/

[@KailuaKid]

+painterick Thanks for the update. I had been previously informed this engine was the "Nohili" which operated at the Kekaha sugar mill. In researching the "Wahiawa", it was noted that this engine didn't come under the ownership of the Grove Farm Plantation until the Wilcox sisters acquired it through McBryde Sugar who had picked it up from Lihue Railway in 1938. If this is indeed the "Wahiawa", and these films are from 1940... then this wouldn't this be the Old Koloa Sugar Mill (Lihue Plantation Mill)? Ultimately, McBryde Sugar merged with Grove Farm in 1948.

[@randyneilson3227]

Such beauty!

[@sandratessem9980]

Great video

[@sandraacob289]

the beauty of Kauai then!

[@sherryrodrigues4882]

I'm so happy to see this. THANK YOU SO MUCH !!

[@chrisfaye6655]

Great film. That is Lihue sugar mill

[@GulfIslandRock]

Aloha

[@Kekoalane]

Thank you for sharing! Sure bring back memories. Looks like the tall christmas trees @ Princeville down the old road running through the pineapple fields.

[@jasontroy3911]

May parents time.....a time gone by hawaii gone by

[@ericschiffer4849]

So cool seeing Kauai back in the day I was born and raised hea 1989 till now so interesting seeing old footage

[@wendythompsonshearer672]

Showing this to our 94 year old mother who grew up in Hawi. What a treasure this is as it brings back memories that have been inside her all these years. Thank you. The Hind Family

[@ChristineKube]

I loved this Rick, what a find and thank you so much for sharing it!!!

[@ikaikamaleko8370]

No place like home.

[@DrewBe]

Aloha and Mahalo for posting this beautifully restored film!

[@EnergonCube]

What an amazing and fortunate find. Mahalo for sharing this!

[@charkuuleibyrd6241]

thanks for sharing such great memories of back in the day..westside hasnt changed much..I dont remembah wen I last saw "wood roses",you cood find um erywea back den..tink dey've become extinct..

[@17025601]

Excellent! Mahalo.

[@evanoffm]

That's really cool!!!!

[@jonhare392]

The one negative was probably a haolie! Oh wait, I'm a haolie and I loved it but then I live down the street from the kekaha mill!

[@alanzingale5972]

History preserved. Mahalo!

[@bighanky8919]

When sugarcane was king

[@eeeffert6042]

Locals still look the impoverished same. Living in dumps. Talk about not being interested in improving your life lol.

[@timhazeltine3256]

One pilau comment

[@judyjeankwon1182]

any history on colonization of the island by whites?

[@Azzury.]

What a glorious time it was. May the world never forget, what our great people came and brought forth into the world. The annals will echo our feats for eternity.