Sugar Cane fields?

Question

Any remnants of sugar cane fields exist for viewing?

Sugar cane was soooo integral, one would think it would still be growing somewhere on the island.

Mahalo.

Answer

Sugar cane was indeed a major part of Maui’s history and economy for over a century, but large-scale commercial production ended in 2016 with the closure of the last sugar plantation. Today, most of the former sugar cane fields have been repurposed for other agriculture, resorts, or development, so active fields are rare.

However, there are still a few places where visitors can see remnants of sugar cane cultivation or experience it in some way:

Maui Tropical Plantation: Located in Wailuku, this plantation features landscaped fields, historical exhibits, and remnants of sugar cane. Visitors can see small plots of growing sugar cane and learn about its history in Maui.
Maui Pineapple and Former Plantation Areas: Some former sugar cane fields have been converted to other crops or left as open fields. You can drive through areas like Kihei, Lahaina, and Upcountry Maui to glimpse the vast fields, although they are not actively harvested for sugar.
Historic Exhibits and Museums: The Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum (in Kahului) preserves machinery, photographs, and artifacts from Maui’s sugar industry, providing context even though the fields themselves are mostly gone.

For travelers interested in photography or history, a scenic drive through the central valley of Maui—passing old plantation towns like Puunene, Kahului, and Pukalani—can provide views of expansive fields, some still growing sugar cane for demonstration or small-scale local use.

While you won’t find large-scale commercial sugar cane operations anymore, the combination of preserved fields, museums, and plantations gives a sense of its historical significance on the island.