Kaneohe Ranch

During the mid-19th century, most of the land in the area belonged to Kalama, Queen Consort of Kamehameha III and later Queen Dowager of the Kingdom of Hawai{{okina}}i. She and Judge Charles Coffin Harris began a sugarcane plantation on the land, but after she died in 1870 and it failed in 1871, the land eventually passed to Harris's daughter, Nannie H. Rice, who leased {{convert|15000|acre|km2}} to J. P. Mendonca in 1894 to start Kaneohe Ranch.{{cite web| author=James C. Castle, Jr. |date=April 1983 |url={{NRHP url|id=87001150}} |title=Kaneohe Ranch Building Nomination form |work=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |accessdate= October 18, 2010 }}

Born in 1886, Harold Kainalu Long Castle was the descendant of prominent businessmen and missionaries in Oahu. James Bicknell Castle, his father, served as a director of his father's company and as a partner of Alexander & Baldwin, another “Big Five” company. By the late 1890s the Castle family was accumulating much of the east side of the island.{{cite web | title=Mitch D'Olier| website=Greater Good Radio - Leaders Inspiring Leaders | date=December 10, 2005 | url=http://www.greatergoodradio.com/2005/12/10/mitch-dolier-2/ | access-date=July 28, 2023}}

In the early 20th century Kaneohe Ranch lands were used for growing pineapple, processing sugar and for cattle operations. Harold K.L. Castle purchased Kailua in early 1917. The Kaneohe Ranch controlled nearly the entire Ko’olaupoko plain from the present Windward Community College through the present Windward Mall down to the piers at He{{okina}}eia on Kaneohe Bay, all the way through Kailua to the Olomana Country Club. Its headquarters, the Kaneohe Ranch Building at Castle Junction, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Over the last half of the 20th century, Kaneohe Ranch transformed what was once natural wetlands into a suburban community.

At the end of World War II, demand for affordable housing grew. The idea to build houses on long-term leased land became popular due to their lower purchase cost.

As part of his development strategy, Castle donated land along Kailua Road to churches that would eventually attract congregations to migrate towards Kailua. Further donations of land to schools, universities and hospitals enhanced the attractiveness of the community.

=== 21st century ===

In the early 21st century, many commercial ground leases expired. Kaneohe Ranch initiated a community planning process in 2004 for redeveloping properties with expiring leases.

In 2004 the first phase of construction in Kailua town center included a new {{convert|30000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Longs Drugs store, {{convert|2618|sqft|m2}} of retail frontage along Kailua Road, and a 427 stall, 3-story parking garage. The second phase, completed in the summer of 2006, included a {{convert|11023|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Pier 1 Imports and the Kainalu Plaza and fountain. The Kalapawai Café opened in 2007 with a similar look to the Kalapawai Market.{{cite news |title= Kalapawai Cafe’s a prize find |author= Nadine Kam |newspaper= Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date= February 25, 2007 |url= http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/02/25/features/eater.html |accessdate= October 18, 2010 }} The third phase included {{convert|12000|sqft|m2}} of retail space, a new location for First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii's second Whole Foods Market,{{cite web | title=Transforming Kailua Town | website=starbulletin.com | date=August 12, 2007 | url=https://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/08/12/business/story01.html | access-date=July 28, 2023}} and additional parking.{{cite news |title= Iwi found at First Hawaiian’s Kailua site |author= Nina Wu |newspaper= Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date= June 24, 2008 |url= http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/06/24/business/story04.html |accessdate= October 18, 2010 }} A two-story retail and office building was to be set back from streets by {{convert|15|ft|m}} to allow for wider sidewalks and outdoor dining areas.

In 2014, most of the properties managed by Kaneohe Ranch were sold and Carlton K.C. Au was appointed president of the organization.{{cite web | title=Kaneohe Ranch CEO Mitch D’Olier retires after land sale | website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser | date=January 6, 2014 | url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2014/01/06/breaking-news/kaneohe-ranch-ceo-mitch-dolier-retires-after-land-sale/ | access-date=July 28, 2023}} Au succeeded H. Mitchell “Mitch” D’Olier who had led Kaneohe Ranch for 22 years.{{cite web | title=Oahu Meeting-D’Olier | website=Family Business Center of Hawai’i | date=April 14, 2014 | url=https://fbcofhawaii.org/events/oahu-meeting-dolier/ | access-date=July 28, 2023}}

Kaneohe Ranch has donated lands to the following:

• Castle High School
• Castle Medical Center
• Marine Corps Base Hawaii
• Kawai Nui Marsh
• Hawaii Loa College
• Windward Community College

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509094354/http://www.kaneoheranch.com/ Kaneohe Ranch Management Limited]
• [http://www.castlefoundation.org/ Harold K.L. Castle Foundation]

Category:Companies based in Hawaii

Category:Real estate companies of the United States

Category:Oahu

Category:1894 establishments in Hawaii

Category:Ranches in Hawaii

Category:Companies established in 1894