Parker Ranch facts for kids
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Parker Ranch is a very old and large cattle ranch located on the Big Island of Hawaii. It's in the United States and is currently managed by a special group called a trust. This trust makes sure the ranch helps good causes.
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The Ranch's History
How Parker Ranch Started
Parker Ranch began in 1847. This makes it one of the oldest ranches in the entire United States. It was even around before many famous ranches in places like Texas.
The ranch was started by a man named John Palmer Parker. He helped Kamehameha I, the king of Hawaii, get rid of wild bulls on the island. Because of his help, King Kamehameha gave him land. John Parker then used this land to create the ranch.
From 1899 to 1937, the ranch was managed by Alfred Wellington Carter. He helped the ranch grow and become even more successful.
Parker Ranch During World War II
During World War II, a part of Parker Ranch was used by the United States Marine Corps. It became a training base called Camp Tarawa. The Second and Fifth Marine Divisions trained here. They prepared for a very important battle called the assault of Iwo Jima.
Later Years and the Trust
The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel was built on land bought from Parker Ranch. A businessman named Laurance S. Rockefeller developed this famous hotel.
The last owner of the ranch was an actor named Richard Smart. He passed away in 1992. After his death, the ranch was put under the care of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust. This trust helps several important organizations. These include the North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Hawaii Community Foundation, and Parker School.
Modern Ranching and Community Support
In 2014, Parker Ranch teamed up with Ulupono Initiative. They started a new company called Paniolo Cattle Company. Their goal was to produce more local, grass-fed beef for the entire state of Hawaii. They began with 1,400 cattle raised at Parker Ranch. This greatly increased the amount of grass-fed beef available in Hawaii.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parker Ranch had to cancel its yearly July 4th rodeo. However, they still helped the community. They donated 6,500 pounds of grass-fed beef to people in need in Waimea. This beef was given out by The Food Basket food bank.
About Parker Ranch
Size and Scope
Parker Ranch is one of the largest cattle ranches in the United States. It covers about 130,000 acres of land on the Big Island. That's a huge area!
The Paniolo Cowboys
A cowboy on Parker Ranch is called a paniolo. This special Hawaiian word comes from the Spanish word Español, which means "Spanish." The first cowboys in Hawaii were Spanish-speaking and came from Mexico. The Hawaiian language doesn't have an "s" sound, so "Español" became "paniolo."
Visiting the Ranch
You can visit two of the ranch's old homes, Puuopelu and Mana Hale. They are open for free self-guided tours. You can find them at 66-1304 Mamalahoa Highway, just outside of Waimea town. This is also where the main offices for the ranch are located.
The Parker Ranch Arena and a racetrack are located off the Hawaii Belt Road. The ranch holds its annual July 4th Rodeo and Horse races at this historic spot.
Family tree
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