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.

• Billy Bergin, Author

  Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, Dr. Billy Bergin spent more than seven decades working in the ranching industry, first as a ranch hand and later as a veterinarian. He is the author of six books on the history of ranching in Hawaiʻi.

• In this final volume, [Dr. Billy Bergin] takes the reader on a ride through ʻoawa (gulches) and kuahiwi (mountains) of [Parker Ranch]'s history, revealing the changes and transitions of governance of the ranch, its management, and its personnel. . . . At the very core of this last volume, Dr. Billy Bergin celebrates and recognizes the loyal, hard-working men and women of Parker Ranch for their passion and commitment to the ranch. Dr. Billy Bergin should also be acknowledged and applauded for his detailed and comprehensive work on his Loyal to the Land book series. His personal experiences and personal relationships gave insight into Parker Ranch's storied and rich history, emphasizing the heart and soul of Parker Ranch, the po'e (people) and their aloha for the 'Āina Paka. Mahalo nui ho'i (great admiration) to Dr. Billy Bergin for his invaluable work and for being a true kanaka aloha 'āina (loyal to the land).
  —Matthew Kainoa Wong, Hawaiian Journal of History