Grove Farm Homestead & Sugar Plantation Museum, Kauai

This 100-acre sugar plantation has the oldest surviving set of plantation buildings, furnishings and orchards in Hawaii. In 1864, during the American Civil War, George N. Wilcox leased the struggling farm and built a home for himself and his nieces. As the war continued to rage between the North and the South, agriculture in the southern United States was destroyed. This made sugarcane farming a prosperous venture in Hawaii.

Wilcox transformed his arid land from a struggling farm to a successful sugar plantation. In 1978 the home became a museum that highlights the family's life and rise to fortune. Lovingly cared for over the years, the main house remains in pristine condition. The land is still a working farm, complete with animals, that transports you back in time. The Wilcox family, and life as it was, come alive through the guides’ stories. The grounds also include a washhouse, teahouse and guest cottage.

The two-hour-long guided tours move at a relaxed pace through the buildings, gardens and grounds. The guides are all local Kauai residents who are familiar with life on the island.