Journey into the past at the abandoned Old Koloa Sugar Mill on Kauai, where rusted machinery and crumbling structures stand as reminders of the island's sugar-growing past.
Region: South Shore / Old Koloa Town
Highlights: The abandoned sugar mill is visible from behind a fence.
Movie Connection: Featured as a filming location for the 2019 movie Hobbs & Shaw.
Map: Google Maps
Rising above the landscape just east of Old Koloa Town, the Old Koloa Sugar Mill is one of Kauai's most striking reminders of the island's plantation history. Although long abandoned, the massive industrial complex remains an intriguing sight, attracting curious visitors interested in Kauai's agricultural heritage and forgotten places.
The Sugar Mill of Koloa (not to be confused with the ruins of an older sugar mill in nearby Old Koloa Town) was constructed in 1912 and operated for decades before closing in 1996. Today, the sprawling complex stands frozen in time, with rusting machinery, towering structures, and remnants of the plantation era slowly being reclaimed by tropical vegetation.
While the mill's heyday is long past, it briefly returned to the spotlight when it served as a filming location for the 2019 action film Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.
The mill property and much of the surrounding land are privately owned by entrepreneur Stephen Case, co-founder of AOL. A fence surrounds the site, and public access is prohibited. Visitors can, however, view portions of the mill from outside the fence, where the scale of the abandoned structures is readily apparent.
Located down a dirt road near Old Koloa Town, the Old Koloa Sugar Mill offers a glimpse into a bygone chapter of Kauai's history and serves as a powerful reminder of the sugar industry's lasting impact on the island.
