Shops at Koloa Project Information

History of Koloa's Monkeypod Trees

Two monkeypod seeds were been brought to Hawai‘i from Mexico by Mr. Peter Brinsdale who was the American Consul in 1847.

The seeds were germinated and the seedlings planted. One was planted in Koloa. The second seedling was planted at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Wood, whose home was at the corner of Hotel and Bishop Streets in downtown Honolulu. This tree was removed when the Alexander Young Hotel was built on the site. The Executive Center occupies this site todaty.

Mr. Brinsdale was associated with Koloa Plantation in some capacity and the surviving first monkeypod tree planted in Hawai‘i still survives in Koloa.

The monkeypod tree is the signature of Koloa Town. The trees line Koloa, Weliweli, Waikomo and Po‘ipu Roads.  They enhance the character and atmosphere of Hawai‘i’s first plantation town.

Here is an interesting National Geographic Article on moving a big tree.