Posted on: Sunday, May 22, 2005
History of Campbell Estate
| • | James Campbell Co. taking shape |
| • | The estate at a glance |
| • | Hawai'i holdings as of 2004 |
Advertiser Staff
1850: James Campbell, a 24-year-old carpenter, arrives in Lahaina aboard a whaling ship.
1863: Pioneer Mill acquires Lahaina Sugar Co. 1876: Campbell buys approximately 15,000 acres in Kahuku, including Kahuku Ranch, for $63,500. 1877: Campbell marries Abigail Kuaihelani Maipinepine, and the couple subsequently moves to O'ahu. 1877: Campbell sells his interest in Pioneer Mill. 1877: About 41,000 acres at Honouliuli is purchased for $95,000. During this period, he also buys property in downtown Honolulu, and land on the Big Island and Maui. 1885: Pioneer Mill re-acquired. Advertiser library photo • May 23, 1968 1889: He sells his half interest in Pioneer Mill for $250,000. 1889: The Honouliuli and Kahuku lands are leased to Benjamin F. Dillingham for a 50-year term at a combined annual rent of $50,000. Dillingham builds a railroad to serve O'ahu sugar plantations. 1890: Dillingham subleases a portion of the Kahuku lands to James B. Castle, who establishes the Kahuku Plantation. 1892: The Ewa Plantation Co.'s first crop of 2,849 tons is harvested on Honouliuli land subleased by Dillingham to W.R. Castle. 1892: At public auction, Campbell buys his second-largest tract of land — more than 25,000 acres — at Kahauale'a on the Big Island. 1897: Oahu Sugar Co. is developed on the Honouliuli land, harvesting its first crop in 1899. 1900: Campbell dies after a lengthy illness, leaving an estate valued then at more than $3 million. His will sets up a trust for his widow, four surviving daughters and their heirs. The will stipulates that the trust is to terminate 20 years following the death of his last surviving daughter. 1987: Beatrice Campbell Wrigley, the last surviving daughter, dies. 1990: The estate begins developing Kapolei. 2003: The court approves a plan to create a new company that will continue the estate's business once the estate terminates. 2004: The estate secures $645 million in financing to continue business beyond 2007. 2004: James Campbell Co. LLC, the for-profit private company that will take over the estate's assets and liabilities, is formed. Jan. 20, 2007: The trust will terminate.
1860: Campbell, Henry Turton and James Dunbar establish the Pioneer Mill Co., which became the basis of Campbell's fortune.
James Campbell
1887-1888: Campbell serves in the Legislature, representing Maui, Moloka'i and Lana'i.
James Campbell's wife, Abigail Kuaihelani Maipinepine, with their children (clockwise, from left), Alice Kamokilaikawai, Abigail Wahiikaahuula, Ethel Muriel Kuaihelaniahumanu, and Royalist. Scanned from 1997 annual review of the Campbell Estate.
