Waipahu: The Capitol of O’ahu?

Once a small sugarcane plantation town, Waipahu is located in the Ewa District on the island of O’ahu. Waipahu once consisted of 9 cold artesian springs. The name Waipahu, is derived from the Hawaiian words “wai” (water) and “pahū” (to burst or explode) [1].

History of Waipahu

Waipahu consisted of 3 ahupua’a (land divisions): Ho’ae’ae, Waikele & Waipi’o. Stretching from the mountain to the sea. Wai, or water, was of the utmost importance to Hawaiians. If you had wai, you were “rich.” The word “Waiwai,” or literally water-water, is the Hawaiian word for wealth. Hawaiian royalty often gathered to enjoy the cold spring waters in Waipahu and Hawaiians considered Waipahu to be O’ahu’s capitol [1] [5].

In 1899, Oahu Sugar Company, employed about 1000 immigrant workers, who were primarily of Japanese and Chinese descent [2]. The “plantation lifestyle” was one of “waste not, want not.” Frugality was praised and resources were never squandered. In 1961, the Oahu Sugar Company was acquired by Amfac. The company ceased operations following the harvest of 1995 [3]. Waipahu was well known for its sugar production, but it was also a large exporter of Chinese-grown rice, up until 1930 [1]. Please watch our marketing video for 94-1098 Hoomakoa St:

Waipahu is roughly a 3-mile square and is now home to nearly 44,000 people [4]. Waipahu Estates was developed in the late ’70s and features underground electricity and CMU construction.

Home For Sale in Waipahu Estates

Single level, 3/2 home with bonus office/4th bedroom in desirable Waipahu Estates. Well-maintained home with lots of fresh paint and upgraded kitchen and baths.

All new LED lighting upgrade installed in 2020. Firepit and great lanai area for entertaining. ~$20k spent on roof, in 2018, to put down new plywood sheathing and repaint the Monier tiles. Split AC installed in 2017.

For more information on the property, please visit: WaipahuProperty.com

Aloha,

Jake

Sources:
[1] Kula Abiva (Hawaiian Treasure/Historian & Member of Waipahu Historical Committee)
[2] Dorrance, William, Sugar Islands: The 165-Year Story of Sugar in Hawai’i, 2001, Honolulu, Mutual Publishing
[3] Waipahu Centennial 1879–1997, 1997. Waipahu Centennial Committee
[4] “U.S. Census website”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
[5] Michael T. Yamamoto, Nina Yuriko (Ota) Sylva, Karen N. Yamamoto, Waipahu…Recollections from a Sugar Plantation Community in Hawaii, 2005. Albuquerque: Innoventions