Editor’s note: On Dec. 3, the Kaua‘i Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary. Museum leaders have chosen 50 stories from exhibits, collections and the archives of the museum to share with the public. One story will run daily through Dec. 3.
Editor’s note: On Dec. 3, the Kaua‘i Museum celebrates its 50th anniversary. Museum leaders have chosen 50 stories from exhibits, collections and the archives of the museum to share with the public. One story will run daily through Dec. 3.
LIHU‘E — In these hard times for our island community, there are lessons to be found in the past.
In relative isolation, large businesses had to not only run their businesses but care for the welfare of their workers without benefit of tax collections.
On the other hand, government services were non-existent.
From 1852, when the first Chinese were imported, plantations maintained housing called “camps.”
Many of these buildings were barracks, as they were mainly for single men.
The changes in nationalities and the recruiting of families in place of single men resulted in further changes in housing.
Family houses were more practical as they could be converted into dwellings for single men with minor changes.
The (Hawai‘i Sugar Planters Association) developed standardized, convertible-types of houses by 1920 that met with all the criteria of the day, including separate sanitary facilities.
Many near mills or hydroelectric plants had simple electrical wiring for lighting.
It would be another decade or two before houses were adapted for electrical appliances as well as indoor plumbing as we know it today.
Industrial-relations expert Donald S. Bowman presented these comments at the Fourth Annual Meeting of the Association for Hawaiian Sugar Technologists, in Honolulu Oct. 26, 1925.
Plan your camps
The general rule adopted before camp improvements were undertaken was to map out and place on paper the proposed new work, the map showing streets, lots, sewers, water supplies, location of houses and sanitary outhouses, sewerage disposal, etc.
These plans were then approved by the plantation manger and other interested parties.
Building plans to suit various requirements and local conditions were supplied by HSPA.
These plans were carefully checked to insure compliance with various laws, rules and regulations, respecting housing and sanitation. Utility, comfort and sanitation were the principal considerations.
The cost of housing and sanitation received careful consideration. The cost was based on the general type of construction and usually figured at so much per square foot of floor space.
Houses containing 480 square feet of floor space, including four rooms, two of which are bedrooms, were found to fill the general requirements.
All sanitary facilities, with the exception of the kitchen sink, were placed in a separate sanitary outbuilding connected with HSPA types of sewers.
“We recognize that contentment with the housing and surroundings certainly has its effect on a man’s producing power, and that good health influenced by sanitary and healthful surroundings plays an important part in keeping up the production by a increased turn-out and a decreased labor turn-over,” the HSPA wrote.
A model camp house is one of the major attractions in the Kaua‘i Museum’s permanent exhibits. The museum is on Rice Street in Lihu‘e, open daily except Sunday. Call 245-6931 for more information.