1. In 1847, Parker Ranch was founded by John Palmer
Parker, a seafaring young man from Newton,
Massachusetts who married Kipikane, the grand-
daughter of King Kamehameha. John Palmer Parker
and his wife purchased their first 2 acres of land on the
slopes of Mauna Kea for the sum of $10.
Over the next 100 years, Parker
Ranch grew into one of the largest
cattle Ranches in the United States.
At its largest, it was a whooping
500,000 acres. Today the Ranch
comprises of 130,000 acres with
approximately 19,000 head of Angus/
Charolais cattle and 125 Quarter
horses. There are over 850 miles of
fence, over 300 paddocks, and 15
corrals.
John Parker purchased 640 acres in 1850,
another 1,000 acres the next year, and
leased land in the Waikoloa region from
Kamehameha III. This king was the person
responsible for bringing paniolo to Hawai'i in
the early 1820’s , inviting Spanish-Mexican
vaquero (cowboys) from California to help
train Hawaiians to rope and handle cat-
tle. Because they spoke Spanish (Español),
they were called “paniolo” and the island
embraced their rich tradition of music, colorful
culture, family values, and hard work, all of
which lives on to this day at Parker Ranch.

2. In 1960, Richard retired from theatre and came
back to the islands to take over management
of the Ranch from the aging legendary Ranch
manager A.W. Carter. Richard took on an
active and forward thinking role in the Ranch
and in the community.
Prior to Richard’s death in 1992, he
created the Parker Ranch Foundation
Trust, for one overarching the
betterment of the Waimea community
he loved. In particular, his vision for the
Trust specified that Parker Ranch
income would be used to support and
improve healthcare, education, and
charitable giving.
Today, Parker Ranch Foundation Trust
continues its forward thinking efforts, thru its for
profit company, Parker Ranch Inc..
The Ranch is the 9th largest cow and calf
operation in the U.S. and produces
approximately 10 million pounds of beef.
In addition, in 2013 the Ranch embarked with it
comprehensive integrated energy planning
effort to explore the possibility of reducing the
cost of electricity for the Waimea community by
utilizing the Ranch’s energy resource rich
lands.
Richard Smart, a sixth generation
Parker descendant and final heir to
Parker Ranch, was born in 1913.
Richard was a gifted actor and
musician and had a wonderful career
in theatre performing on Broadway
and across Europe.

3. “To maintain and improve a unique quality of life in the Waimea area by providing perpetual
support for designated beneficiaries engaged in healthcare, education and charitable support,
through the sound management and prudent investment of Trust assets.”
Parker School Trust
Corporation
The Richard Smart Fund is a component of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation.
The fund currently supports several programs that benefit the Waimea community
including post-secondary education scholarships for first generation students, the
Ho’ohui ‘O Waimea grant making program to support community engagement,
organizational capacity building grants and support for Waimea organizations
participating in the HELP leadership development programs.
Founded in 1949, Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy (HPA) is one of the premier
independent, co-educational college-preparatory boarding and day schools
in the Pacific Region attracting students from around the world. The school,
recently recognized as one of the first-ever U.S.
Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, offers a full range of
academic and extracurricular opportunities for 600 students in grades K-12
on two campuses in the heart of the island of Hawai‘i.
NHCH, an affiliate of the Queen’s Health Care System, is a private, non-profit;
community owned and locally governed hospital serving more than 30,000
residents and visitors in North Hawaii. NHCH delivers high-quality care on a
consistent basis. NHCH combines high tech capability with a commitment to
honoring blended-care practices and procedures centered on patient needs,
creating a healing experience for the whole person – mind, body and spirit.
Parker School is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory day
school with over 260 students in grades K through 12. In a dynamic small-
school setting, Parker provides: a rigorous academic curriculum taught by
exceptional, accessible educators; enriching extracurricular activities;
meaningful community service opportunities; and strong athletics.
Parker School Trust Corporation also supports the Waimea Community
Education program which was formed to meet the educational needs of North
Hawaii residents, providing the community with quality, affordable instruction
for job training and development of professional skills, in addition to learning
opportunities for personal enjoyment.