~ Then ~
Laupahoehoe Point is located on the Hamakua
Coast of the Big Island (approximately 20 miles north of Hilo). Since it was
one of the few places accessible for taking on and offloading ship's cargo,
in the 1800's to the early 1900's it was a thriving community with businesses,
a school, a church, and a few homes.
After the contruction of a breakwater and improvements
to pier facilities in Hilo, businesses from the Point relocated and the tempo
at Laupahoehoe slowed; however, the school with teachers' cottages, the church,
and a few homes remained in support of the people employed by the Sugar
Plantation/Mill that was located on higher ground.
Then ironically, on April Fool's Day 1946, a massive
Tsunami struck the Point. In addition to destroying homes, the school and most
of the other buildings, it took the lives of 24 people; these included some of
the people who resided there, and some of the school teachers and students.
Luckily it had struck about an hour before school started so most of the
students had not yet arrived. |
~ In Memory ~
for this picture of the
Monument
