Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography/Administrative History
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Hawaii Railway Company account book
Dates: 1916-1919
Collection Number: MS 709
Creator/Collector:
Hawaii Railway Company
Extent: 1 oversize box
Repository:
California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
Sacramento, California 95814
Abstract: Account book from the Hawaii Railway Company.
Language of Material: English
Access
This collection is open for research at our off-site storage facility with one week's notice. Contact Library & Archives
staff to arrange for access.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM
as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must
also be obtained by the reader.
Preferred Citation
Hawaii Railway Company account book. California State Railroad Museum Library and Archives
Acquisition Information
Gift of Jesse and Evelyn Conde, 1994
Biography/Administrative History
The Hawaiian Railroad Company was formed October 20, 1880, with Samuel G. Wilder as president and his brother William as
treasurer. Samuel Wilder had lived in Hawaii since 1858, engaging in various enterprises, including the Wilder Steampship
Company. The Hawaiian government subsidized construction of the 19-7/8 mile passenger and freight car line between Mahukona
on the west side of the island and Hart’s Mill in Niulii on the east. Work began in 1881 and was completed in 1883. Samuel
Wilder died in 1888. In 1897 the name was changed to the Hawaii Railway Company. In 1899, during the first year of existence
of the Territory of Hawaii, the Wilder family withdrew from the railroad and shipping business and sold the Hawaii Railway
to the four principal plantations it served: Union Mill Co., Halawa Plantation, Kohala Plantation, and Niulii Plantation.
In April of 1937, Kohala Sugar Co. bought out the other plantations, acquired all of the stock in the Hawaii Railway Company
and recincorporated (September 30, 1937) as Mahukona Terminals Inc. The Mahukona harbor was closed when the United States
declared war against Japan on December 8, 1941. Business gradually declined and in 1945 the Hawaii Railway was abandoned.
Scope and Content of Collection
Cash book of the The Hawaii Railway Company records cash payments and sales, including: freight revenue, cash advances to
employees, utility payments, and general expenses.