Haraguchi Rice Mill, industrial building in Kauai County, Hawaii
Haraguchi Rice Mill is an industrial building in Hanalei Valley on the island of Kauai, rebuilt after a fire in 1930 with a concrete foundation and corrugated iron roof. The structure contains rooms for engines, milling, and storage, showing how rice was processed to keep grains safe and maintain quality.
The building was rebuilt in 1930 after a fire with a concrete foundation and corrugated iron roof, replacing the original wooden mill. The Haraguchi family purchased the facility in 1924 and operated it until 1960, when Kauai's rice industry collapsed.
The name comes from the Haraguchi family, who have cared for the property since 1924 and remain central to its story. Today, the site serves as a place where visitors learn about taro cultivation and the farming traditions that shaped Kauai's local culture.
The site is only accessible through guided tours, as it remains a working private property where taro is actively grown. Visitors should plan to spend time exploring the fields and wearing comfortable shoes, since tours take you through growing areas and historic structures.
The mill system operated with pulleys, belts, and chutes driven by a large engine, moving raw rice through husking and polishing stages in one continuous flow. This was Hawaii's last operating rice mill and used specialized equipment designed specifically for processing short-grain mochi rice.
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