Grove Farm, Sugar plantation museum in Lihue, Hawaii.
Grove Farm is a historic plantation site on the island of Kauai that spans more than 100 acres and showcases various types of buildings. These include a main house, several outbuildings, worker quarters, gardens, and preserved steam locomotives from the 19th century.
The site was founded in 1854 by German immigrant Hermann Widemann and was one of the first sugar plantations in Hawaii. In 1864, George Wilcox acquired the property and expanded it into a major operation over the following decades.
The name Grove Farm refers to the fruit trees that once characterized the land, and visitors can see how residential and working spaces were intertwined. The preserved buildings convey how different groups of people lived and worked together during the plantation era.
Visitors should know that the site is only accessible with guided tours offered on specific days. The grounds are relatively flat and walkable, but comfortable shoes are recommended and visitors should allow enough time for the full tour.
The grounds are still partially farmed using methods from around 1870, with traditional care techniques and animal husbandry practices. This living history allows visitors to see how the plantation actually functioned rather than just viewing static artifacts.
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