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KENNETH “BLACKIE”
FREITAS
Haleakala Ranch,
Maui
Born
in 1941, Blackie was raised on the
121-year-old Haleakala Ranch.
In September 2008, he was recognized
for 50 years of service, surpassing his
father’s 49 year record. Blackie continues
his role as the Ranch’s General Foreman
with no plans to retire soon because “the
Ranch is my life.”
He has been married to his longtime
sweetheart, Rose, for over 49 years. They
have two children, four grandchildren and
two great-grandchildren.
 A
4th generation employee of
Haleakala Ranch, he follows in the footsteps
of his father, Ernest Freitas, grandfather
Louis Freitas, and great uncle Joe
“Francis” DeRego.
Brother Leroy “Blondie” Freitas
was also a Ranch employee with over 45 years
of service.
Blackie worked with his father doing
maintenance and started working full-time in
1958 for 67 cents an hour.
When his Dad retired, he became
Foreman.
Current Cattle Manager
Greg Friel
refers to Blackie as the backbone of the
ranch, helping him to train the next
generation.
Presently he maintains the water
system with its pipelines, reservoirs, and
tanks spread over the 30,000 acre Ranch.
Blackie created the first tire-water
trough system, used on Haleakala Ranch and
other ranches as well.
He is responsible for corral
construction and helped design and build the
Haleakala Pen, the Old Scale Pen, and
others. There isn’t a part of the Ranch he
doesn’t know.
Blackie has fond memories of growing up and working and playing on the
Ranch.
As a teenager, he delivered milk for
the Haleakala Dairy.
Blackie worked in the slaughterhouse
and was also a stable boy under Johnny
Sakamoto.
Although times have changed Blackie
retains the standards of the old ways that
he learned from his forefathers and under
the leadership of Richard “Manduke”
Baldwin and Manduke’s son, Peter Baldwin.
Blackie
is well known for his one-of-a-kind
beautiful, handmade, stainless steel horse
bits and spurs. Also Blackie makes all of
the Haleakala Ranch’s branding irons.
Blackie
has worked with and learned from notable paniolo
legends from yesterday and today: Louis
Freitas, David Ventura, Harold Amoral,
George “Sonny Boy” Manoa, Henry Silva,
Benji Rollins, and Glen Souza.
His love for Haleakala Ranch, the
preservation of his paniolo heritage make
him worthy of the honor of being inducted
into the Hall of fame.
Blackie
is well known for his one-of-a-kind
beautiful, handmade, stainless steel horse
bits and spurs. Also Blackie makes all of
the Haleakala Ranch’s branding irons.
Blackie
has worked with and learned from notable paniolo
legends from yesterday and today: Louis
Freitas, David Ventura, Harold Amoral,
George “Sonny Boy” Manoa, Henry Silva,
Benji Rollins, and Glen Souza.
His love for Haleakala Ranch, the
preservation of his paniolo heritage make
him worthy of the honor of being inducted
into the Hall of fame.
 
Photos
by Robert Gonzalez
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