Resort - History

Brief Resort History
 

• The Golf Course, Club House and Hotel were first opened in 1969 as the Makaha Inn & Country Club. The owner was a man by the name of Chin Ho. Chin Ho was the inspiration for the character, by the same name, in the classic Hawaii 5-0 Television Series.

• The architect of Makaha Resort was William Pereira; the same gentleman who designed the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, CA.

• From 1982 to 1995 the property was managed by Sheraton Hotels but was still owned by A.N.A. The property was known as the Sheraton Makaha Resort & Country Club.
 
• The resort’s current owner, Northwynd Resorts Ltd., a Canadian company, purchased the Resort and Golf Course in February 2004.

 
Makaha Valley Historic Facts 
 

• Only a mile from Makaha Resort is an ancient Hei'au. It is found deep in Makaha Valley and is one of Hawaii's best maintained archeological sites. The Kane'aki Hei'au was built in the fifteenth century and was known to be both an agricultural hei'au and a war temple. Having researched the site, archaeologists believe the hei'au first served Lono, the god of agriculture and peace, then later was dedicated to Kü, the god of war. At this point human sacrifices were performed on the first prisoners of war.

• Makaha Valley in early times was pre-dominantly used for the cultivation of taro and sweet potatoes. Roughly from 1880 through the mid 1900’s, Makaha Valley also used sugarcane.

• The sugarcane plantations in Wai‘anae helped in the birth of O‘ahu’s railroad. The railroad was in full working operation from 1895 thru 1946. It still runs today but only from Ewa Beach to Ko Olina.

• In the mid-1800’s to the early 1900’s horse trading was extremely profitable and served as a new source of income for those who were once farmers in Makaha Valley and Wai‘anae.

• Around 1850 peacocks were introduced to Makaha Valley. They came from the Japanese Government as a gift to Kamehameha V.