There are so many abandoned places in Hawaii! This is a list of the top three abandoned places in Hawaii. Browse through all abandoned places in Hawaii
Hawaii Plantation Village is a series of homesteads and structures located in Waipahu town. These houses, markets, and infirmaries that are now an outdoor museum and a botanical garden are former houses for laborers that once worked on the plantation.
History of the Village
Between 1852 and 1947, sugar plantation was the major economic activity that not only employed thousands of Hawaii locals but raised the economy of the region. Sugar plantations in the state employed over 200,000 locals and 400, 000 foreigners seeking greener pastures. Hawaii plantation village is a good example of the culture and life of the then laborers at the plantations. The Village is made up of homesteads and structures for the Japanese, Philippines, Koreans, and many other nations that called this place home. Everything from homes, infirmary, bathing areas are still intact the way they were then.
From 1950, Hawaii had begun to develop and venture into other revenue collecting activities. This led to a slow death of local sugar companies and plantations. Laborers at the factories and farms lost jobs and sources of livelihood prompting them to seek employment someplace else. Many of the laborers (who were mainly foreigners) left and deserted their homesteads not looking at their past life left behind in Hawaii by 1999. Villages that were occupied by hundreds of thousands were all abandoned and left to rot. The Hawaii Plantation Village was renovated and turned into a historic site for locals to travel back in time when sugar was the gem of Hawaii.
Hawaii outdoor museum is made up of preserved and replicated 1880s structures that vary in culture. Clothes, cooking utensils, and many other artifacts remain intact the way they were left in the 1990s. Though the safety of the buildings is not guaranteed, many of the houses are stable enough to be toured or even spend a night in. The areas that were too dilapidated beyond repair have been demolished and their wastes used to fill up depressions all around the property. The now outdoor museum harbors wild snakes and spiders that may inflict serious injuries to a visitor if at all they have an encounter with them.
On top of that, visitors are asked to pay attention to the plants they touch while at the park. Some of the plants preserved by the parks’ management are extremely poisonous. Guided tours are offered throughout the week (exception of Sundays) from 8 am to 2 pm. Despite the fear hazards at the Plantation Village, there is so much more to explore at the old historic village. Those who might like to have a glimpse of the place without physically traveling there can do so on various media platforms on the internet.
Old Pali Road is the best example of roads and engineering manifests that have been rendered useless after years of significance and relevance. Constructed to connect Honolulu to O’ahu Island, the 17.4km highway was used by thousands of motorists before its abandonment.
Old Pali Road or Hawaii Route 61 as it is commonly known, was constructed to connect the two islands Honolulu and O’ahu. It runs from downtown Honolulu City to Kailua, O’ahu. Major parts of the road were built on the path where the original obsolete Old Pali ran. At least two such highways passed through the place before the actual construction of the now-abandoned “Old Pali ''. Being the fastest and the safest highway between the two Islands, thousands of motorists traveled through the road yearly. At some point, the highway was regarded as “the highway of the two heavens' '.**
Some sections of the road bordered steep cliffs that were not only hectic to negotiate bends but equally dangerous to transverse at night. For this reason, the city of Honolulu came to a decision to desert the road and build a new safer Pali Road. This road was deserted by motorists after the completion of the new highway. Later in the years, the road was declared impassable due to the deteriorated state and constant flooding that dominated the place. Old Pali Road has currently gone through serious damages; mother nature is responsible for 90 percent of the damages. Cracks that have encouraged the growth of grass and plants provide a good breeding place for snakes.
Old Pali Road was permanently closed and motorists have been cautioned against using it. The road has become a favorite spot for hikers and local adventurers in the state of Hawaii. On top of being used as hiking grounds, several film productions companies have used the road to shoot some of their movies. It is also rumored that local drag races use the abandoned highway for their races yearly. Despite its old and dilapidated state, the majority of drug dealers use the forgotten highway to escape apprehension by the authorities. This has resulted in an increase in drug activity in Honolulu and Hawaii as a whole. Old Pali Road is open to anyone who wants to take a trip down the long, forgotten highway. When traveling in groups or with trusted companions, it is recommended to venture or take a tour of the road. It is prudent to use caution when using the route, as the same reasons for its closure (i.e., safety concerns) may strike unsuspecting travelers.
Located in Waimea, Kauai island of Hawaii, USA, It’s an abandoned star-shaped former military installation, Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park. The Fort was originally known as Fort Hippo before the name was changed when the locals who built it handed it over to their Russian friends. It was later on abandoned when the awardee (Russians) rejected the gift.
In the early 19th century, Russia’s Trading Company established a small headquarters in Hawaii with the aim to resupply Russian American Companies. This was proposed after deeply scrutinizing the long distance that ships had to cover across the pacific to the USSR. In their usual numerous ups and downs in and out of the Pacific, one of the Russian ships was seized. The paramount chief of Hawaii at the time ordered his servants to personally take to him goods from the seized cargo ship. Since Russians did not want to engage in a losing battle, they took the road less taken, taking one of their negotiators to help bring back the ship together with its goods.
A man, Dr. Schaffer, was ordered to go negotiate and get the cargo together with compensation from the chief without bloodshed. With a charming personality, Dr. Schaffer was able to negotiate his way with the chief after years of convincing. Apart from getting the ships’ cargo back, he was also able to get compensation in the form of a defense fort built by the chief. Who knew friends can come out of enemies?
Thinking that the Russians will be happy with the results, Schaffer was surprised when his treaty with the chief was declined by the Russian government. Being labeled as a traitor who went against orders given, Schaffer was set for death forcing him to flee the island. With hopes of being forgiven, Dr. Schaffer went back home to ask for mercy. Though forgiven, he was fired and sent back to Germany. Russian Fort Elizabeth was left with no occupants prompting the chief to put it to use for several years. The fort was demolished not long after it was abandoned.
During the demolition, some sections of the buildings were not completely demolished like the limestone-made walls that currently still stand. When Hawaii was finally purchased by the United States of America, the fort and many other historic landmarks that surround it were listed on the Register of National Historic Landmarks. A museum showcasing the early life of Hawaiian communities was constructed inside the fort’s perimeter. Now a state park, the former fort is open to be toured by any local or foreign tourists who are enthusiasts of old historic structures.