MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORY

Mountain View is also among those towns in the Big Island that played a part in the Hawaii's sugar industry. The east coast of the Big Island has fertile soil and ideal climate conditions that are perfect for raising sugar canes. Even before the arrival of colonizers, native Hawaiians already grew sugar cane in their yards. It was only during 1834 that people caught on and established the first successful sugar plantation.

When the sugar industry continued to prosper during that era, the need for a transportation system also increased; thus a railway was built. The Hawaii Consolidated Railroad (also known as the Hilo Railroad) connected the city of Hilo to Mountain View. This then most expensive railway is used to transport sugar to different towns; from Hilo to Mountain View, to Laupahoehoe, Pahoa, and Paauilo. Like the other places in the Big Island, Mountain View's history is rooted to the state's sugar trade. When the sugar industry was at its peak, agricultural workers in sugar companies are the highest paid in the island. Many native Hawaiians and immigrants came to Mountain View and nearby towns to work in sugar companies. In turn, these sugar companies provide the towns with important edifice and recreational parks. Many towns blossomed under the sugar industry, and Mountain View was among them.

Coffee is also involved with Mountain View history. When the sugar industry slowly declined during the late 20th century, people have looked for other agricultural alternatives. Coffee was seen as a practical substitute for sugar cane. Nowadays, Mountain View is known for its coffee mills, the most famous of which is the Hilo Coffee Mill.
SOURCE: http://www.hawaiistateinfo.com/mountain-view.php