Sugar Water: Hawaii's Plantation Ditches

This should be required reading in Hawaiian Studies classes as it covers a very significant period in the development of the Hawaiian Islands. There are excellent details on the involvement of the royal families during the economic changes taking place in the monarchy as well as immigration patterns that developed as a result of water requirements for sugar production. The transition from a monarchy to a U.S. territory is described as well.My grandfather was employed by two of the plantations described in this excellent work, yet I was told very little about their work and now I have answers to many of my questions. The descriptions of tunneling through sold rock mountains to bring water to the fields is absolutely fascinating. Whether the reader is interested in agriculture or not, one will find this work most interesting. Mahalo to Carol M. Wilcox for her contribution to Hawaiian history.

Thanks, great history

Good general source of information on Hawaii's irrigation ditches. Wish it had more detailed information and covered more of the ditch systems but with the passing of time that information is getting harder and harder to uncover.

Really well written and researched. I learned a lot about Hawaiian history and early politics along with the fascinating story of the water systems. Incredible what they achieved back then with limited resources and mechanical power. Some good photos too.

Very informative for my research project.

The author describes the development of mountain sources of water and the tunnels and ditches that brought it to the sugar plantations. Then she weaves in the history of the sugar industry which changed the subsistence economy of the Hawaiians forever and brought Hawaii into the modern world. While doing this skillfully in a clear style she also weaves in much of the history of the islands. If you have any interest in Hawaii the book will fascinate you.