William Hyde Rice (July 23, 1846 – June 15, 1924) was a notable politician, businessman and landowner on Kauai. His parents were protestant missionary teachers on Oahu who moved to Kauai in 1854 where his father became manager of a sugarcane plantation. In 1872, at the age of 26, Rice formed Lihue Ranch and Kipu Plantation. Rice was appointed the last Governor of Kauai in 1891 by Queen Liliʻuokalani, whom he later helped to depose during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
Rice was a student of Hawaiian legends and wrote a book (Hawaiian Legends) that can be found online at the Bishop Museum. This is a very interesting book that, among other things, provides in-depth information on the mythical Menehune. Rice finished the book in 1923, shortly before his death in 1924. On the one year anniversary of his death, Rice’s Japanese friends erected a monument in his honor that still stands across the road from the Outfitters Kauai Kipu Ranch office.
Location at Google Maps
William Hyde Rice Monument Photos
The monument reads:
ERECTED IN LOVING MEMORY
BY HIS JAPANESE FRIENDS
JUNE 15, 1925
This stand of mature Norfolk pines with massive trunks is adjacent to the monument.
This is a very picturesque area of Kauai!
The monument is located across from the Outfitters Kauai Kipu Ranch Zipline office.