Grove Farm Homestead is a sugar plantation museum in Lihue, Hawaii. Learn the history of the 100-acre (40-hectare) homestead and its owners on a guided tour. The open-air museum features many interesting areas, including a 19th-century plantation storage building and a Japanese teahouse. Grove Farm is also a place of great natural beauty, with many tropical plants and flowers growing in the area.
Book a guided tour to see Grove Farm’s buildings and gardens. As you wander through the homestead grounds, a knowledgeable volunteer will tell you fascinating stories about life on a sugar plantation. Tours may include visits to Kaipu Camp, buildings that originally housed plantation workers. The houses are now used for Grove Farm operations and museum staff homes.
Stop at Wilcox House to learn the history of the Wilcox family. Entrepreneur and plantation manager, George Norton Wilcox acquired Grove Farm in the mid-19th century. The plantation stayed in the Wilcox family for more than 100 years. Wilcox created an irrigation system that directed water from the mountains to the crops. His idea resulted in a thriving sugar plantation and helped establish sugar as a successful venture in Hawaii.
Ride one of the museum’s historic sugar trains, steam locomotives used to haul sugar cane during the industrial revolution. The museum owns a collection of steam trains and hosts free sugar train experiences on the second Thursday of each month. Visit the plantation office or call the museum to learn more about the monthly train rides.
Grove Farm Homestead is located on the western edge of Lihue. Guided tours are hosted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tours take about 2 hours and reservations are essential. A suggested donation is requested for guided tours. Check in at the plantation office when you arrive at the homestead.
Take a leisurely stroll through the grounds of Grove Farm Homestead to learn about sugar cane, the main agricultural industry on Kauai for more than 150 years.
