Paniolo Pride: Parker Ranch Continues To Fulfill Richard Smart’s Vision With Food Bank Partnership

By Chelsea Jensen West Hawaii Today

Vehicles are directed through The Food Basket's Ohana Food Drop on Friday in Waimea. Parker Ranch partnered with The Food Basket for the nonprofit’s 152nd Ohana Food Drop with a special paniolo treat for the North Hawaii community in lieu of the legacy ranch holding its annual Fourth of July rodeo. (Chelsea Jensen/West Hawaii Today)

The old Hawaiian saying “‘A‘ohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia” — “No task is too big when done together by all” — rang true Friday in Waimea.

Parker Ranch partnered with The Food Basket for the nonprofit’s 152nd Ohana Food Drop with a special paniolo treat for the North Hawaii community in lieu of the legacy ranch holding its annual Fourth of July rodeo. The rodeo, which would have marked its 61st running this year, typically attracts thousands, connecting the ranch with the larger community.

“Rodeos are a big tradition in ranching communities across the country, especially on the Fourth of July to recognize Independence Day. Richard (Smart, the final heir to the ranch) had started it,” said Parker Ranch CEO Dutch Kuyper, explaining that any revenue’s generated by the event were offset by expenses. “Historically, the rodeo was really one of our community outreach activities, promoting ranching and promoting the community.”

But with COVID-19 putting a damper on social events, “we thought, a way to give back would be to participate and support the food drive. And, last year, we had a lot of fun doing it and we though doing it again would make a lot of sense,” he said.

Friday was the second year Parker Ranch canceled the popular event, opting again to support the community with 6,000 pounds — three tons — of its locally produced grass-fed beef. Dozens of employees volunteered their time, joining The Food Basket, National Guard and others, to load each of the hundreds of vehicles with 10 pounds of the healthy protein at Spencer Kalani Schutte District Park in Waimea.

“The pandemic has impacted nearly all aspects of our local economy. We are hopeful for a strong recovery in Hawaii and want to support those families still in need. Food is an essential need just like shelter and health care. We have seen giving back in this way helps those who have been the most affected during these times,” said Kuyper.

Parker Ranch Livestock Business Operations Manager Jacob Tavares echoed Kuyper’s sentiment, noting that ensuring the community is fed is so important.

“We’re bummed about not being able to do the rodeo again this year, but this is a great opportunity to meet the needs of our community,” he said, noting that the donation further supports the community because it’s raised, slaughtered and butchered locally, thus creating local jobs.

“We’re still feeling the impact of COVID-19, and food security is something a lot of us are struggling with. Parker Ranch is very proud to support the community,” he said.

The giving is what Smart, the sixth-generation and final heir to Parker Ranch, would have wanted the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust to do for the community, said Kuyper. Smart’s 1992 death marked an end to the Parker reign over the ranch, but he left the ranch in a trust to support health care, education and charitable giving through named beneficiaries in the Waimea community. They are North Hawaii Community Hospital, Parker School, Hawaii Preparatory Academy and the Hawaii Community Foundation.

“The health and well-being of our community is at the core of our values and mission. I think Richard Smart would have wanted us to give back in this way given that he left the ranch to the Trust for the benefit of health care and education in Waimea and North Hawaii. Our local grass-fed beef continues to see strong demand and excellent acceptance in the market, and we wanted to share some of it in this way with our community,” Kuyper said.

In addition to the beef, the food drop featured an a 15-pound bag of rice, juice, snacks, canned goods, Waimea-grown produce like cabbage from Hirayama Farms, beets, kale and daikon from Rincon Family Farms, and more.

“It’s a super, big treat and especially for the Fourth of July. If anybody wanted, they can do a cook out; they’re actually going to have great locally grown protein,” said Kristin Frost Albrecht, The Food Basket’s executive director. “It’s beautiful — and the timing is so perfect.”

Charlie Kanoo came all the way from Hilo, arriving shortly before 2 a.m. Friday, and was first in line for the event. The veteran said he made the trek because he needs to supplement his fixed income, and also shares with another elderly family. Anything else he can’t use goes to those unable to make the trip themselves.

“This has really been great,” he said of the food drop.

No date has been set for ending the program, which has served thousands of Big Island families since it got underway in April 2020, Frost Albrecht said, noting the nonprofit is continually assessing where the greatest needs are.

Three more Ohana Food Drops are slated this month: July 14 at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, July 23 at Old Kona Airport Park in Kailua-Kona, and July 27 at Naalehu Hongwanji.

During normal operations, The Food Basket aggregates food, and its 150 partners distribute it to those in need via community food pantries or soup kitchens. With those partners getting back to normal, The Food Basket is encouraging people to return to those community-based sources.

Monetary donations can be made to The Food Basket online at www.hawaiifoodbasket.org, and the organization is accepting donations of unopened foods to be distributed.