Loyal to the Land – The Legendary Parker Ranch, 1992–2022, Volume 4, An Enduring Sense of Place

Waimea, Hawaiʻi, inhabited by humankind for more than twelve centuries, has been home to Parker Ranch for 175 storied years. The history of this land is lovingly chronicled in the book series, Loyal to The Land: The Legendary Parker Ranch, written by longtime ranch veterinarian and kamaʻāina, Dr. Billy Bergin.

This fourth and final volume, An Enduring Sense of Place, recounts the evolution of Parker Ranch from the passing of venerable owner Richard Smart in 1992 through the following three decades. The author utilizes a variety of uncommon sources―his vast personal experience, interviews, direct observations, letters, news stories, and Parker Ranch annual reports, memos, and strategic plans―to paint a multifaceted picture of executive operations as well as the interpersonal relations and daily life of the ranch ʻohana.

This book opens with the final years of Dr. Bergin’s tenure. At that time, the ranch was transitioning from sole-owner oversight by Smart, to governance by trustees who had to deal with a land-rich, cash-poor, sprawling Hawaiian ranch. As the author witnessed, the challenges confronting the ranch were considerable. The exodus of veteran employees under the Voluntary Separation Program left a younger generation of cowboys without mentorship, leading to unintended cattle loss, distrust in management, and a decline in morale. Still, the ranch endured. In the ensuing decade, a sense of organizational calm emerged when trusteeship was separated from management. CEO Chris Kanazawa’s receptiveness to field leadership and community engagement proved to be an effective business strategy. In more recent times, the horse program and the Paniolo Cattle Company witnessed progressive remodeling by CEO Neil ”Dutch” Kuyper. The Paniolo Power initiative looks toward a sustainable future using wind, sun, water, and geothermal energy sources.

At its core, this volume is a celebration of the men and women of Parker Ranch, who are, in the words of Smart, “the ranch’s greatest assets.” Anyone who ever worked at Parker Ranch remains connected to this special place at the heart of Waimea; the stories presented here are expressions of their enduring loyalty to the land.