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were "ruthlessly destroyed by the railroad overseers of S.G. Wilder. This act is equal to that of plain
<br />murder, because the livelihood of myself and my family is reduced to nothing, that is, my plants and that
<br />of my family are covered with dirt, the taro, banana, ti leaves, coffee, mango, orange, bamboo, and
<br />other plants. My property was filled with fruits, but these days it is reduced to naught." (S.W. Kahanui
<br />Nua Makapala).
<br />The railroad was able to begin the process of shipping goods, services, and people with the opening of
<br />the line. The official opening of the railroad was not announced in any paper, but it is likely that it was
<br />officially opened in the spring of 1882. The first notable report on the progress is found in The Gazette
<br />on March 1St, 1882, with, "Island Locals — Hawaii — The rails of the Mahukona railway are laid for eleven
<br />miles, and already freight and passengers are being carried."36 The Gazette noted again in 1882, "The
<br />first load of sugar carried by the railway was shipped per Likelike last week. There were one hundred
<br />tons from Union, Star and Hind's mills. Had the weather been more favorable, double the quantity
<br />would have been brought, but the roads in consequence of the heavy rain, rendered carting
<br />impossible." The Gazette, again in 1882 did note the continued work to be done: "The difficulty now is
<br />gulches. These occur every quarter or half mile and the construction of bridges occupies considerable
<br />time." (Gazette, 1882). As the Saturday Press reported on March 18, 1882, "The latest mania in Kohala
<br />is going to the station at Hawi, below Hind's. On a fine day even the ladies may be seen winding their
<br />way to the attractive spot and returning in raptures about the whistle and bell, 'that keeps ringing all the
<br />time, just like a real train!' The Hawaiian Railroad is in operation, or rather that part of it which has been
<br />constructed, and is conveying sugar from one or two mills."
<br />There were no direct mill connections until long after 1900, when it changed names and ownership. As a
<br />consequence of the railroad not going to the mills, there was the challenge of loading onto the train.
<br />One plantation, Hoea Mill, hoisted their sugar up to the railroad with a gravity track to ease the hauling
<br />problem. Part of the reason for the alignment of the railroad, with its many curves, is to allow the
<br />shortest and easiest gulch crossings. While the rail was not connected to the sugar mills, it did still serve
<br />the purpose of moving goods and people. The railroad provided a new way for the sugar companies to
<br />get their sugar to port, which was also shipped through the shipping business of Samuel G. Wilder.
<br />No real explanation was ever disclosed as to why the railroad didn't connect to the mills.37 There are
<br />some publications that claim it was always created for the sole purpose of sugar, however, this can be
<br />debated based on the records for the government needs, modernization, and passengers. One opinion
<br />was "Quite probably it was one of economy, for the line literally hugged the coast to avoid cuts and fills.
<br />Following the contour of the terrain rather than a straight line the country being not only rolling hilly,
<br />the road in many sections was a simple continuation of curves."38 Again, as a matter of economy to
<br />avoid expensive bridges across the gulches, the railroad ran up a gulch to the point where it could be
<br />crossed with a relatively low trestle. As a result the line amounted to 19 7/8 miles for a true distance
<br />36 Narrow Gage for the Kingdom, Pg 31
<br />3' Narrow Gage for the Kingdom Pg 32
<br />38 ibid
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