Mahamoku
Mahamoku
Mahamoku is the third of three historic site museums operated by Waioli Corporation, a nonprofit public charity. Together, these three properties preserve a rare and deeply connected story—the first three generations of the Wilcox family on Kauaʻi—through homes, landscapes, and cultural collections that span centuries of island history.
This unique trio of sites includes:
- Ancient Hawaiian agricultural systems
- The 1836 Waioli Mission House, home to Abner and Lucy Wilcox
- An 1850s sugar plantation homestead lived in by their son, George N. Wilcox
- And Mahamoku, a 1914 Hanalei beach house built by George’s niece, Mabel I. Wilcox
Mahamoku is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, recognizing its cultural significance and exceptional integrity.
Extended Museum Experience
A Home Preserved Through Time
Mahamoku’s house and original landscape have endured storms, hurricanes, tidal waves, and decades of use. Its longevity is largely credited to the thoughtful care and maintenance of its designer and builder, Miss Mabel Wilcox, who insisted on moderate, respectful use by her guests—an approach we continue to honor today.
Often affectionately described as a “wooden tent,” Mahamoku remains an exceptionally authentic 1914 beach house. Because many features remain as they were originally built, the home requires a gentle, subdued use to help protect its fragile structure and historic contents.
The Mahamoku House
Designed by Mabel Wilcox and her brother Charles, Mahamoku is a rustic, two-story board-and-batten, single-wall beach house on Hanalei Bay. Highlights include:
A main room with window-seat lining
A pantry and full kitchen
A broad, covered lanai overlooking the bay
Sleeping areas
First floor:
Two bedrooms with full-size beds and a shared bathroom between
Second floor:
a sleeping loft with four single beds
Additional facilities include a bath/shower attached to a two-car garage adjacent to the caretaker’s house.
The home remains furnished with its original handmade pieces crafted by builder Sam Itchioka, along with period linens, kitchen utensils, and dishes. Due to the fragile nature of these items, guests are asked to handle all furnishings and household pieces with great care.
Preservation & House Guidelines
As with all historic house museums—and because of our commitment to preserving Mahamoku in its entirety—visitors are required to follow site guidelines designed to protect the house and its original furnishings.
Because the windows were built without screens, occupants (then and now) sleep under mosquito nets. To help preserve the home and ensure responsible use, overnight occupancy is limited to six (6) people.
