Grove Farm Plantation: The Biography of a Hawaiian Sugar Plantation

by Bob Krauss, W. P. Alexander (Contributor)

Significant changes in Hawaii's sugar industry and in the development of Grove Farm Plantation on Kauai are covered in this new, expanded, and updated edition of this colorful history of Grove Farm and biography of its founder, George N. Wilcox, and of his descendants, who played an important role in Hawaii's history. Wilcox, son of missionary teacher Abner Wilcox, began his amazing career as a youthful pioneer sugar planter on the remote island of Kauai in 1864. With other giants of Hawaii's past - Sanford B. Dole, Henry Baldwin. Samuel Alexander, Lorrin B. Thurston, King David Kalakaua, Queen Liliuokalani - he helped build the wealth and the unique social structure that has sustained the islands for more than one hundred years. As an enterprising innovator in sugar culture, a plantation owner who was far ahead of his time in labor relations with his workers, a power in Hawaiian politics who became the last prime minister of the monarchy, and, finally, one of the wealthy men of his day, Wilcox emerges as a warm and captivating character whom readers long have deserved to know. The story is told with depth and humor by Bob Krauss, well-known newspaper columnist and author of Here's Hawaii and Bob Krauss' Travel Guide to the Hawaiian Islands, and by William P. Alexander, former manager of Grove Farm Plantation. They provide a completely fresh and exceptionally readable aspect of Hawaiian history.

431 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1983

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful biography of George Wilcox, one of seven sons of a missionary teacher in Kaui and how he helped establish and improve sugar cane production throughout Hawaii. IHe also played a key role in the annexation of Hawaii to the U.S. If you want to understand how Hawaii became a state, this is a good resource. If you also want to understand Hawaiian industry and way of way of life and the importance of sugar production in Hawaii, this is a wonderful read. Sometimes I thought the story jerked around a bit, but I suspect the author was trying to follow a pretty strict chronology; otherwise, it was a good and very interesting read.

[Melissa Burovac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book, although I wonder how much of the early years are poetic license or from actual records of conversation. Either way, reading about the family who helped shape modern Kauai, beginning as missionaries in 1846, was a great lesson in history about this island I love.

[Susan Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fascinated by history, live on Kaua'i, so this book was just what I wanted! Having toured Grove Farm and knowing its importance to the island, I wanted to know how it got started and what role it played in the early development of the island. This book answered those questions.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krauss (and those who added to the later editions) did a good job of writing a book that reads like a story, rather than a dry history. I liked getting to know the story of the Wilcox family as they likely told it themselves, rather than as told by their detractors. I admit to getting bored by the end, after George Wilcox died, and the family business became more business-like.