| Waipahu, Hawaii | |
|---|---|
| — CDP — | |
| Location in Honolulu County and the state of Hawaii | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
| County | Honolulu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.6 sq mi (6.8 km2) |
| • Land | 2.6 sq mi (6.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 33,108 |
| • Density | 12,882.8/sq mi (4,974.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Hawaii-Aleutian (UTC-10) |
| ZIP code | 96797 |
| Area code(s) | 808 |
| FIPS code | 15-79700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0364878 |
Waipahu is a former sugar plantation town and now census-designated place (CDP) located in the ʻEwa District on the island of Oʻahu in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. As of the 2000 Census, the CDP population was 33,108. The U.S. postal code for Waipahu is 96797.
Contents |
Waipahu is a name of an artesian spring.[1] In Hawaiian, Waipahu is derived from wai, meaning water, and pahū, meaning "burst or gush forth". The early Native Hawaiians took pleasure in the cool and clear water gushing from the ground and named this spring Waipahu. Before the Western civilization set foot in Hawaii, the Hawaiians considered Waipahu to be the capital of Oahu. Royalty in the Kingdom of Hawaii would often gather and enjoy the fresh water from the spring Waipahu.[1]
In 1897, Oahu Sugar Company was incorporated and its Board of Directors located the sugar mill in Waipahu.[2] The Company's managers from 1897 to 1940 were: August Ahrens (1897–1904); E.K. Bull (1904–1919); J.B. Thomson (1919–1923); E.W. Greene (1923–1937); and Hans L'Orange (1937–1956).[3]
The company imported laborers from many different countries including the Philippines, Japan, China, Portugal, and Norway. Very few laborers working for the Oahu Sugar Co. were actually Hawaiian.[4] The majority of the company's first laborers were either Japanese or Chinese. Each ethnic group was broken up into different camps. This division was said to have been the result of different cultures and language barriers.
Field workers received an average monthly salary of $12.50.[5] However, Filipino immigrants were paid less than all of the other laborers because of the fact that they were the cheapest to import.[6] The Filipinos, on average, made less than $10.00 a month. The Chinese generally were paid the most with a monthly average of $15.00.[7]
Oahu Sugar Company shut down plantation operations after the 1995 harvest.[3]
In 1923, the athletic field now known as Hans L'Orange Park was built.[2] Today, the park is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of Hawaii Pacific University's men's baseball team, the Sea Warriors. It was the home field of the Hawaii Winter Baseball teams North Shore Honu and West Oahu CaneFires until 2008.
In 1973, the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawai'i purchased 40 acres (160,000 m2) opposite the Waipahu sugar mill to establish the Waipahu Cultural and Garden Park. The park matured and is known today as the Hawai'i Plantation Village.[3] Hawai'i Plantation Village is a living history museum located in Waipahu.
In 1997, the Governor of Hawaii, Benjamin J. Cayetano, proclaimed the months of June 1997 through November 1997, to be Waipahu Centennial Celebration Months. Many activities and events were held to celebrate Waipahu Centennial. Benjamin Cayetano was also became the first person to name Waipahu as 94-BLOCK. He called this 94-BLOCK because during ancient time before the foreigners discover Hawaii, Waipahu was the capital of OAHU.[2]
Waipahu is the home to the 2008 Little League World Series Champions from Waipi'o Little League. They defeated Matamoros, Mexico 12-3 in the final game on August 24, 2008. On August 28, 2010, that same team won the U.S. championship of the Little League World Series, defeating the team from Pearland, Texas, but lost to Edogawa Minami LL of Tokyo on August 29, 2010 in the international championship.
Waipahu is located along the northern shore of both Middle Loch and West Loch of Pearl Harbor at (21.392500, -158.010710)[8]. Both Interstate H-1 and Farrington Highway (Hawaii Route 90) run east-west through the length of Waipahu. Waikele is located across the freeway north of Waipahu. Waikele consists of newer subdivisions and a world famous outlet shopping center and golf course. To the west via either roadway can be reached Makakilo and Kapolei, with the Leeward coast beyond. To the east, lies Pearl City and the H-2 interchange to Waipiʻo. At the western end of Waipahu is Kunia Road (State Rte. 750) which leads to the Waipahu newer growth areas of Royal Kunia and Village Park north of H-1, and eventuually on up across the central plain to Kunia and Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, and Wahiawā. Kunia Road becomes Fort Weaver Road (State Rte. 76) south of Farrington Highway, and goes south through Honouliuli and ʻEwa Villages to ʻEwa Beach.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (2.28%) is water.
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 33,108 people, 7,566 households, and 6,431 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 12,882.8 people per square mile (4,974.0/km²). There were 8,033 housing units at an average density of 3,125.7 per square mile (1,206.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 4.73% White, 0.93% African American, 0.14% Native American, 65.77% Asian, 12.31% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 15.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.09% of the population.
There were 7,566 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were non-families. 11.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.23 and the average family size was 4.37.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $49,444, and the median income for a family was $51,855. Males had a median income of $28,295 versus $23,818 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,484. About 10.6% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.
The United States Postal Service operates the Waipahu Post Office in Waipahu.[10]
The Hawaii Department of Public Safety operates the Waiawa Correctional Facility in an area near Waipahu.[11][12]
The Hawaii Department of Education operates public schools.
Waipahu contains two (high) school districts with some students attending Waipahu High School with others attending Pearl City High School. Elementary schools in the CDP include August Ahrens, Honowai, and Waipahu. Waipahu Intermediate School and Waipahu High School are in the CDP.[12]
The Hawaii Plantation Village currently serves as an outdoor museum that showcases the lifestyles and experiences of Hawaii's plantation workers.
The museum opened its doors on September 20, 1992, displaying original structures and replica homes of the multiethnic groups who came to Hawaii between the mid-1800s and the 1940s to work as plantation laborers.
Guided tours are conducted at the start of each hour, Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 pm.[13]
Admission is as follows:
'Adult' - $13.00
'Senior' (62+ with ID) - $10.00
'Kama'aina' (with ID) - $ 7.00
'Military' (with ID) - $7.00
'Youth' (4-11 years) - $5.00
'Children' (3 and under) – Free
Last updated October 31, 2010[14]
The Hawaii Plantation was featured on popular Syfy show Ghost Hunters in season 7, episode 716 titled “Harvesting Murder”.
The TAPS crew investigated the Portuguese, Japanese and Filipino homes, and the Social Hall of the plantation to resolve any issues regarding paranormal activities that occurred there. Click here to read the full synopsis of the episode[15]
The Hawaii Plantation Village is also renowned for its Halloween attraction “Haunted Plantation” which first opened up in 2006, when Groundup Movement's owner Noa Laporga had the idea to start up a haunted attraction. He approached the Hawai‘i Plantation Village executive director after learning of its legends and stories.
In 2006 they showed it for one night and sold out after 1,000 people. The second year they showed it two nights, which also sold out. The third year they showed it for four nights which sold out. Per night, the attraction sees between 1,500-2,000 people.[16]
In the year 2011, the Haunted Plantation was ranked #13 as the world’s best haunts on tophaunts.com[17] as well as being ranked #6 in the “Top 10 Haunts that Will Scare the Bejezus Out of You in America” in 2010 via Matador Network, the world’s largest independent travel magazine.[18]
Click here for the Official 2011 trailer for the Haunted Plantation[19]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||