Keomuku

Keomuku Review

There's an eerie beauty about Keomuku, with its faded memories and forgotten homesteads. During the late 19th century, this busy Lanai community of some 900 to 2,000 residents served as the headquarters of Maunalei Sugar Company. After the company failed, the land was used for ranching, but by 1954 the area lay abandoned. Its church, Ka Lanakila O Ka Malamalama, was built in 1903. It has been partially restored by volunteers, and visitors often leave some small token, a shell or faded lei, as an offering. Take Highway 440 (Keomuku Highway) to its eastern terminus; then turn right on dirt road and continue south for 5 mi.