Museum Tour Guide - History Well Told is Beautiful

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About Grove Farm and Waioli Mission House museums

Location:

Post Office Box 1631, LIHUE, HI 96766, US

Mission Statement

Our kuleana is to preserve Grove Farm and Waioli Mission House museums, and other important properties, buildings, and collections, and to share authentic educational experiences through stories about the people, collections, and diverse properties that bring life to Kauai’s rich history and culture.

Description

Waioli Corporation celebrates and shares the rich diverse multicultural history of Kauai by authentically preserving numerous historic sites and collections around the island. Made available to be enjoyed by the local community and visitors through guided tours and educational research are the Waioli Mission House and Mahamoku museums in Hanalei, the Grove Farm museum in Lihue, and in their original roundhouse in Puhi, the largest collection of operating Kauai sugar plantation steam locomotives.

Also protected by Waioli are the still farmed ancient pre-contact taro fields and auwae systems of the Waioli Valley, and the pristine Lepeuli ahupua'a, which conserves reef, sea, avian, flora and historical collections in their unaltered native habitat. We have partnered with the Kauai Albatross Network in creating a sheltered albatross nesting area as well as NOAA and the DLNR in protecting the Hawaiian Monk seal, wedge tail Shearwaters, and nesting green sea turtles. The half-mile long beach harbors the most pristine reef in the state and provides for a continuing traditional island lifestyle practice of limu gathering and fishing in a still preserved natural setting.

Preserved by the Misses Elsie and Mabel Wilcox throughout their lifetimes, in 1975 these historic sties and extensive unique collections were entrusted to Waioli Corporation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose Board of Trustees is made up of community members. Community and vistior participation and financial support are essential to continue their legacy.