Keomoku Bread Oven

In 1899 the Maunalei sugar company converted the old fudging village of Keomoku into the hub of industry on Lana'i. Sometimes referred to as a "Portuguese Bread Oven" , the oven was actually made around 1899 by skilled Japanese stone masons who came to Lana'i to help build the sugar mill and water works. Sense basalt lava rock was cut by hand with chisels , and set in place with mortar made from baked coral. Mortar was also used to cover the interior and exteriors of the oven. Fires were made in the oven, and when it was hot enough, the cooking surface was cleaned of ash and charcoal, and the bread and other foods where cooked.