During the reign of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Kaka'ako was a prosperous community known for its agricultural terraced farmland and thriving fisheries with fishponds and salt ponds. In the Hawaiian culture, salt, due to its food preservation properties, was valued as gold. It is also said that King Kamehameha himself, along with his family, took residence in Kaka'ako.
With the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands, Kaka'ako slowly became the center of trade where foreigners would dock their ships and trade with the Hawaiian community. Along with their goods for trade, foreigners also brought with them many diseases that the Hawaiian population was not prepared for, including smallpox. Kaka'ako, being a center of commerce, became the breeding ground
With the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands, Kaka'ako slowly became the center of trade where foreigners would dock their ships and trade with the Hawaiian community. Along with their goods for trade, foreigners also brought with them many diseases that the Hawaiian population was not prepared for, including smallpox. Kaka'ako, being a center of commerce, became the breeding ground