Waipahu, Hawaii

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Waipahu is a former sugar plantation town and now census-designated place (CDP) located in the ʻEwa District on the island of Oʻahu in the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. As of the 2000 Census, the CDP population was 33,108. The U.S. postal code for Waipahu is 96797. Waipahu is a name of an artesian spring. In Hawaiian, Waipahu is derived from wai, meaning water, and pahū, meaning "burst or gush forth". The early Native Hawaiians took pleasure in the cool and clear water gushing from the ground and named this spring Waipahu. Before the Western civilization set foot in Hawaii, the Hawaiians considered Waipahu to be the capital of Oahu. Royalty in the Kingdom of Hawaii would often gather and enjoy the fresh water from the spring Waipahu. In 1897, Oahu Sugar Company was incorporated and its Board of Directors named the sugar mill site to be at a place called Waipahu. The Company's managers from 1897-1940 were: August Ahrens (1897–1904); E.K. Bull (1904–1919); J.B. Thomson (1919–1923); E.W. Greene (1923–1937); and Hans L'Orange (1937–1956). Oahu Sugar Company shut down plantation operations after the 1995 harvest. In 1923, the athletic field now known as Hans L'Orange Park was built. and is located in Waipahu. Today, the park is home of the West Oahu CaneFires minor league baseball team in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. In 1973, the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawai'i purchased 40 acres (160,000 m) opposite the Waipahu sugar mill to establish the Waipahu Cultural and Garden Park. The park matured and is known today as the Hawai'i Plantation Village. Hawai'i Plantation Village is a living history museum located in Waipahu. In 1997, the Governor of Hawaii, Benjamin J. Cayetano, proclaimed the months of June 1997 through November 1997, to be Waipahu Centennial Celebration Months. Many activities and events were held to celebrate Waipahu Centennial. Waipahu is the home to the 2008 Little League World Series Champions from Waipi'o Little League. They defeated Matamoros, Mexico 12-3 in the final game on August 24, 2008. Waipahu is located along the northern shore of both Middle Loch and West Loch of Pearl Harbor. Waipahu contains two (high) school districts with some students attending Waipahu High School with others attending Pearl City High School.