Sugar History of Lanai Island

Information about the sugar history of Lanai Island in Hawaii.

History of the Maunalei Sugar Company

Walter M. Gibson traveled to Lanai in 1862 for the purpose of establishing a Mormon colony. He acquired most of Lanai island for sheep ranching.

Gibson's daughter and son-in-law formed Maunalei Sugar Company in 1899 to grow sugar cane along the coast of Lanai Island.

The company was headquartered on the northeast coast of Lanai, downstream from Maunalei Valley. Keomoku Village in that area became the population center of Lanai Island.

The Maunalei Sugar Company's attempts to produced sugar cane on the island Lanai were not successful over time and the company failed in 1901.

Charles and Luika Gay purchased the sugar company’s interests in 1902 and began ranching and farming on Lanai.

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