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Collectively, they were known as the "Big Five." In practice, however, the designation was a severe understatement. Big? For more than half-a-century, they essentially ran Hawaii.
From the late 19th century through the mid-1900s, Hawaii fell under the economic rule of a consortium of companies: Alexander & Baldwin Inc., founded in 1895, was in shipping, sugar and pineapple, American Factor (Amfac), founded in 1849, had sugar, insurance and land development, Castle & Cooke Inc., founded in 1851, was in pineapple, food packing and land development, C. Brewer...