Waipahu (Hawaiian pronunciation: [vɐjˈpɐhu]) is a former sugarcane 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, United States.

[3] 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.

[5] In the early days of the plantation, each worker was assigned a number inscribed on a metal disc about the size of a silver dollar.

The 2000 and 2100 series were Portuguese laborers, 2200 Spanish, 2300 Hawaiian, 2400 Puerto Rican, 3000 Chinese or Korean, 4000 and 5000 Filipino.

The company imported laborers from many different countries including the Philippines, Japan, China, Portugal, and Norway.

[9] In 1932, the Oahu Sugar Co. opened a continuation school, and allowed a half-day off from work once a week for workers to attend.

[10] During the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) planes fired at the sugar mill in Waipahu, killing a civilian and injuring seven others.

[5] In 1923, the Oahu Sugar Company field also served as the community center which featured band concerts, sporting events, and carnivals.

It was the home field of the Hawaii Winter Baseball teams the North Shore Honu and West Oahu CaneFires until 2008.

The town of Waipahu spans across three ahupuaʻa (historic Native Hawaiian land division): Waipiʻo,[14] Waikele,[14] and Hōʻaeʻae.

Waikele consists of newer subdivisions and an upscale outlet shopping center and world-famous golf course.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.2 km2), all of it land.

[21] At the time of the last survey, 14,458 people in Waipahu had a high school diploma, approximately 68.6% of the population (compared to the national average of 80.40%).

[22] 2,349 people in Waipahu also had a bachelor's degree or higher, which equates to approximately 11.1% of the total population (National average was 24.40%).

[24] The Hawaii Department of Public Safety operates the Waiawa Correctional Facility in an area near Waipahu.

The museum opened its doors on September 20, 1992, displaying original structures and replica homes of the multiethnic groups who came to Hawaii between the mid-1800s and the 1940s to work as plantation laborers.