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Short History Of Waipahu

It's name means gushing water. It's the abundance of water that brought sweet gold more than a hundred years ago. News 8's Lyle Galdeira takes us to Waipahu for this week's Lucky You Live Hawaii.

It's these long hard stalks that gave life to Waipahu. With the commercialization of sugar in 1845 came the need for thousands of workers. They were brought in from far away places like Japan, China, and the Philippines, given the promise of a better way of life. But the money didn't equal the work that needed to be done.

"Started out three dollars a month on a five year contract. That's the first agreement signed by immigrants that came here to work on the plantations," says Andy Anderson, neighborhood board chair.

They lived in plantation villages built by Oahu sugar. At first, they stayed close to their own kind. But eventually they became one family sharing food, responsibilities and customs.

"And it proved to the world that no matter where you come from, what your religion is if you halfway try there's no reason you can't live in harmony," says Anderson.

And that legacy has continued despite sugar's demise. Today, Waipahu is a mixture of old and new. A plan to revitalize the area is slowly beginning to help change Waipahu's image.

There's a new library, community center, and youth and adult daycare center. The old Oahu Sugar Mill will be turned into a YMCA. And the old Big Way store will soon become an open air market.

"We hope to have baked goods, seafood, meats, fresh meats and then hobby items, flowers and so forth," says Anderson.

New homes are being built in the affordable and market price ranges.

"It is to make the town more liveable, make people more responsible and make them realize that the community can be anything they want," explains Anderson.

It's Waipahu with roots still planted firmly in the sugar cane fields of days past and looking proudly to a bright future. Just one more reason you are so Lucky You Live Hawaii.

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