Puunene Maui Hawaii Sugar Cane Laborers Ray Jerome Baker Real Photo Postcard

The cultivation and harvesting of sugar cane, as depicted in Puunene, Maui, was the backbone of Hawaii's economy throughout its territorial period (1900-1959). Puunene was home to one of the largest sugar plantations and mills, operated by Alexander & Baldwin, which played a critical role in establishing Hawaii as a global sugar producer. This labor-intensive industry transformed the landscape of Maui and the broader Hawaiian Islands, creating vast agricultural fields and requiring a significant workforce.