# Matson, Inc. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matson%2C_Inc. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Matson%2C_Inc..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matson%2C_Inc. > Source revision: 1339907228 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American shipping company}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Matson, Inc. | logo = Matson logo.jpg | image = Matson GGB.JPG | image_caption = A Matson container ship passing under the [Golden Gate Bridge](/source/Golden_Gate_Bridge) in [San Francisco, California](/source/San_Francisco%2C_California), US. | type = [Public](/source/Public_company) | traded_as = {{Unbulleted list|{{NYSE|MATX}}|[DJTA component](/source/Dow_Jones_Transportation_Average)|[S&P 600](/source/S%26P_600) component}} | founded = {{start date and age|1882|04|10}} (as Matson Navigation Company) | location = [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu), Hawaii, U.S. | key_people = Matthew J. Cox {{nowrap|([Chairman and CEO](/source/Chairman_and_CEO))}} | area_served = United States | industry = [Shipping](/source/Shipping_company), [navigation](/source/navigation) | products = | revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|3.42 billion|link=yes}} (2024) | operating_income = {{increase}} {{US$|551 million}} (2024) | net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|476 million}} (2024) | assets = {{increase}} {{US$|4.59 billion}} (2024) | equity = {{increase}} {{US$|2.65 billion}} (2024) | num_employees = 4,356 | num_employees_year = 2024 | parent = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|https://matson.com}} | footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/3453/000155837025001875/matx-20241231x10k.htm |title=2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |date=February 28, 2025 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}} }} [[File:House flag of Matson, Inc.svg|thumb|[Maritime flag](/source/Maritime_flag) of Matson, Inc.]] '''Matson, Inc.''', is an American [shipping](/source/shipping_company) and navigation services company headquartered in [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu), Hawaii. Founded in 1882,{{cite web |url= http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=2524109|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110221103259/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=2524109|url-status= dead|archive-date= February 21, 2011|title=Company profile Matson, Inc. |publisher=Businessweek |access-date=14 March 2013}} Matson, Inc.'s subsidiary Matson Navigation Company provides ocean shipping services across the [Pacific](/source/Pacific_Ocean) to Hawaii, Alaska, [Guam](/source/Guam), Micronesia, the [Pacific islands](/source/List_of_islands_in_the_Pacific_Ocean), China, and Japan. ==History== [William Matson](/source/William_Matson) (1849–1917) founded Matson Navigation Company. He was born in [Lysekil](/source/Lysekil_Municipality) in [Västra Götaland County](/source/V%C3%A4stra_G%C3%B6taland_County), Sweden, and orphaned during childhood. He arrived in [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) after a trip around [Cape Horn](/source/Cape_Horn) in 1867. Working aboard the Dickel family yacht, he struck up a friendship with tycoon [Claus Spreckels](/source/Claus_Spreckels), who financed many of Matson's new ships. In 1882, he sailed his three-masted schooner ''Emma Claudina'' into the [Hilo Bay](/source/Hilo_Bay) of the [Hawaiian Islands](/source/Hawaiian_Islands).{{cite web|last=Middlemiss|first=Norman|title=Matson Lines The Hawaiian Shipping Company |url=https://www.shippingtandy.com/features/matson-lines/|website=shippingtandy.com |publisher=Shipping News Today and Yesterday |access-date=April 4, 2023 |date=November 9, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/matson-orders-three-more-panamax-lng-boxships-from-philly-shipyard|title=Matson Orders Three More Panamax LNG Boxships From Philly Shipyard|website=maritime-executive.com|publisher=The Maritime Executive|date=November 2, 2022|access-date=April 3, 2023}} The enterprise began in the carrying of merchandise, especially of plantation stores, to the islands and returning with cargoes of sugar, later expanding interests at each end of the line.{{cite web|url=https://cypresslawnheritagefoundation.org/william-lurline/|title=William Matson & Lurline Matson Roth|website=cypresslawnheritagefoundation.org|date=4 September 2020 |publisher=Cypress Lawn Heritage Museum|access-date=April 5, 2023}} In 1924, Matson completed the [Matson Building](/source/Matson_Building), designed by [Bliss](/source/Walter_Danforth_Bliss) and [Faville](/source/William_Baker_Faville), at 215 [Market Street](/source/Market_Street_(San_Francisco)) in San Francisco.{{cite web|url=https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/991/|title= Matson Lines Building, South of Market, San Francisco, CA|website=pcad.lib.washington.edu|publisher=Pacific Coast Architecture Database|access-date=April 5, 2023}} It featured an observation tower and cupola at the northern corner of the building that enabled company executives to see its ships coming through the [Golden Gate](/source/Golden_Gate). The company later sold the building to [Pacific Gas and Electric Company](/source/Pacific_Gas_and_Electric_Company), whose general office was next door at 245 Market. PG&E has incorporated the former Matson Building into its general office complex, keeping Matson-specific details such as elevator doors with detailed maps of Hawaii on them. For a brief period after [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Matson operated an airline using [Douglas DC-4](/source/Douglas_DC-4) aircraft between the Pacific Coast and Hawaii. The airline ultimately ceased operations because of political pressure from [Pan American World Airways](/source/Pan_American_World_Airways), which resulted in inability to obtain federal government scheduled operating authority. On December 1, 2011, Matson's then-parent company [Alexander & Baldwin](/source/Alexander_%26_Baldwin) announced that its board of directors approved a plan to split A&B and Matson into two separate companies. As part of the plan, Matson would leave [Oakland, California](/source/Oakland%2C_California), to become a [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu)-based company. The two companies are now traded separately.{{Cite web |last=Star-Advertiser |first=Honolulu |title=Alexander & Baldwin to split into 2 publicly traded companies - Hawaii News - Honolulu Star-Advertiser |url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/134862378.html?id=134862378 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229053358/http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/134862378.html?id=134862378 |archive-date=2011-12-29 |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=www.staradvertiser.com |url-status=live }} In 2015, Matson, Inc., acquired [Horizon Lines](/source/Horizon_Lines), formerly its main competitor in the United States domestic market, for $469 million.{{cite news | last =Schwing | first =Emily | title =With Matson acquisition final, Horizon Lines no longer exists | newspaper =KTOO | location =Juneau, United States | date =5 June 2015 | url =http://www.ktoo.org/2015/06/05/matson-acquisition-final-horizon-lines-no-longer-exists/ | access-date = 5 June 2015}}thumb|upright|Historical image from Matson Lines promoting their Hawaiian hotels Joining two [Aloha-class freighter](/source/Aloha-class_freighter) [sister ships](/source/sister_ships) delivered to Matson in 2018 and 2019; in November 2022, the company again contracted [Philly Shipyard](/source/Philly_Shipyard) to build three new {{TEU|3,600|first=yes}} [Jones Act](/source/Merchant_Marine_Act_of_1920) compliant container ships at a cost of $1 billion.{{cite news | last =Segal | first =Dave | title =Matson Inc. to buy 3 vessels totaling $1 billion; profit falls | date = November 3, 2022 | url =https://www.staradvertiser.com/2022/11/03/hawaii-news/matson-to-buy-3-vessels-totaling-1-billion-profit-falls/ | publisher = Star Advertiser | access-date = April 3, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Matson Orders Three LNG-fueled Containerships from Philly Shipyard |url=https://www.marinelink.com/news/matson-orders-three-lngfueled-500665 |website=MarineLink.com |publisher=Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. |access-date=April 3, 2023 |date=November 2, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/matson-orders-three-more-panamax-lng-boxships-from-philly-shipyard|title=Matson Orders Three More Panamax LNG Boxships From Philly Shipyard|website=maritime-executive.com|publisher=The Maritime Executive|date=November 2, 2022|access-date=April 3, 2023}} ==Passenger ships== thumb|SS ''Lurline'' in the 1930s thumb|SS ''Monterey'' during World War II Primarily a conveyor of freight; from 1908 on, Matson introduced into service a number of passenger liners to capitalize on the burgeoning tourist trade.{{cite news |url=http://www.usmm.org/matson.html |title=YACHT LURLINE FIRST IN PORT |publisher=Los Angeles Herald, Volume 35, Number 291|date=July 19, 1908 }} Matson took over the [Oceanic Steamship Company](/source/Oceanic_Steamship_Company) in May 1926.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1926/05/16/archives/matson-buys-oceanic-line-acquires-routes-to-south-seas-and.html|title=Matson Buys Oceanic Line |agency=Associated Press |work=The New York Times |date=May 16, 1926 |orig-date=May 15, 1926 |page=11 |access-date=December 21, 2025}} From the early 20th century through the 1970s, Matson liners sailed from the west coast ports of [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco) and [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) to [Honolulu](/source/Honolulu) and points beyond, including a handful of South Pacific ports of call as well as [Sydney](/source/Sydney), Australia and [Auckland](/source/Auckland), New Zealand. Two of their earlier [cargo liner](/source/cargo_liner)s, {{SS|Maui|1916|2}} and {{SS|Wilhelmina||2}}, were the first passenger ships to place their engines aft. Among the "white ships of Matson" were ''[Malolo](/source/SS_Malolo)'' (rechristened ''Matsonia''), ''[Lurline](/source/SS_Lurline_(1932))'', ''[Mariposa](/source/SS_Mariposa_(1931))'', and ''[Monterey](/source/SS_Monterey)''.{{Cite book|last=O'Brien, Duncan, 1967-|title=The grand manner of Matson|date=October 2014|isbn=978-0-9686734-3-0|location=Victoria, B.C., Canada|oclc=881138788}} With the advent and expansion of routine air travel between the mainland and the islands, Matson's passenger service was greatly diminished, and the liners were eventually retired from trans-Pacific service and virtually gone by the end of the 1970s.{{cite web |url=http://www.matson.com/bos/history_sec0101.shtml |title=History of the Matson Fleet |publisher=Matson Navigation Company |access-date=2009-08-23 |archive-date=2009-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712042814/http://www.matson.com/bos/history_sec0101.shtml |url-status=dead }} ==Hotels== In 1925, Matson acquired a controlling interest in the historic [Moana Hotel](/source/Moana_Hotel) on [Waikiki](/source/Waikiki) on the island of [Oahu](/source/Oahu). They constructed the nearby [Royal Hawaiian Hotel](/source/Royal_Hawaiian_Hotel) in 1927. In 1952, they built the SurfRider Hotel (today a wing of the Moana), followed by the [Princess Kaiulani Hotel](/source/Sheraton_Princess_Kaiulani_Hotel) in 1955.{{Cite web |title=Historic Hotel Waikiki |url=https://www.royal-hawaiian.com/history-overview/ |access-date=2026-02-22 |website=Royal Hawaiian Resort |language=ja}} Matson sold the four properties to [Sheraton Hotels](/source/Sheraton_Hotels) in 1959. == Current fleet == Matson's current cargo fleet of U.S.-flagged vessels include:{{Cite web|title=Matson's Fleet|url=https://www.matson.com/track-matsons-fleet.html/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Matson.com|language=en-US}} * ''Anchorage / Kodiak / Tacoma'' (sister ships) * ''Daniel K. Inouye / Kaimana Hila'' (sister ships - [Aloha Class](/source/Aloha-class_freighter)){{cite web|url=https://www.phillyshipyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/3600_TEU_data_sheet.pdf|format=PDF|title=Aloha Class 3,600 TEU CV-LNG Ready|website=Phillyshipyard.com|access-date=2026-02-05}} * ''Imua II / Liloa II'' (sister ships) * ''Kamokuiki'' * ''Lihue'' * ''Lurline / Matsonia'' (sister ships - [Kanaloa Class](/source/Kanaloa-class_freighter)){{cite web|url=https://nassco.com/wp-content/uploads/Matson-Kanaloa-Class-ConRo_Fact-Sheet-2016.pdf|format=PDF|title=Matson Kanaloa Class ConRo|website=Nassco.com|access-date=2026-02-05}} * ''Manoa / Mahimahi'' (C9 sister ships) * ''Manulani / Maunawili / Manukai'' (sister ships){{Cite web |title=2600 Class Data Sheet |url=https://www.phillyshipyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cv2600_data_sheet.pdf |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Phillyshipyard.com}} * ''Maunalei''{{Cite web |title=2500 Class Data Sheet |url=https://www.phillyshipyard.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cv2500_data_sheet.pdf |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=Phillyshipyard.com}} * ''Mokihana'' (C9 with garage conversion) * ''Papa Mau'' * ''R.J. Pfeiffer'' * ''Haleakala'' * ''Mauna Loa'' * ''Waialeale'' ==See also== *[Young Brothers Hawaii](/source/Young_Brothers_Hawaii) *[Pasha Hawaii](/source/Pasha_Hawaii) *[List of largest container shipping companies](/source/List_of_largest_container_shipping_companies) ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== * {{cite book |last=Cushing |first=John E |year=1951 |title=Captain William Matson (1849–1917): From Handy Boy to Shipowner |place=New York |publisher=Newcomen Society in North America |oclc=654333478}} * {{cite book |last=O'Brien |first=Duncan |year=2008 |title=The White Ships: Matson Line to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia Via Samoa, Fiji, 1927–1978 |publisher=Pier 19 Media |isbn=978-0-968-67341-6}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Matson, Inc.}} * {{Official website|http://www.matson.com}} {{Finance links | name = Matson, Inc. | symbol = MATX | sec_cik = MATX | yahoo = MATX | google = MATX }} * {{Container shipping companies}} {{United States-flag shipping companies}} {{Dow Jones Transportation Average}} {{Authority control}} Category:Shipping companies of the United States Category:Ferry companies of Hawaii Category:Transportation companies based in California Category:Water transportation in Hawaii Category:Companies based in Honolulu Category:Companies based in Oakland, California Category:Transport companies established in 1882 Category:1882 establishments in California Category:Corporate spin-offs Category:2012 establishments in Hawaii Category:Dole plc Category:Companies in the Dow Jones Transportation Average Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:Container shipping companies of the United States Category:Container shipping companies --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Matson, Inc.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matson%2C_Inc.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matson%2C_Inc.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.