Adam Scott Hai, Sr.
Year Inducted: 2019
Kaupo Ranch | Maui
Kahuā Ranch | O'ahu
Adam Scott Hai, Sr. was born on February 21, 1917 to Winifred Boniface Scott Hai and Elizabeth Nani Piimauna Nohua of Kaupō, Maui. He was the second eldest child born to his parents. He had three brothers: Ephraim Hai, Abel Hai, Moses Hai and a hānai sister named Roseline “Lokelia” Kahaleauki. His mother passed in Kalaupapa, Molokai when the children were very young. He helped to care for his younger siblings which is not an easy job. He attended Kaupō School until the 6th grade, then went to work to help provide for the family. He worked on the family sweet potato farm. He worked for Kaupō Store and would drive customers home with their groceries. He also worked for Kaupo Ranch as did most young men who lived in Kaupō. Therefore, at a young age he learned the responsibility of providing financially for himself and his siblings for the necessities of life, as well as making the decisions that go along with raising children.
Adam Hai and a cousin named Andrew Piimauna left Kaupō, Maui for Oʻahu where they both worked for the Hawaiian Pineapple Ranch as cowboys. Later, due to all of his hard work and determination, he became the Foreman of Kahuā Ranch, Feedlot Division located in Waialua, Oʻahu. Adam was very dedicated to his career as a cowboy and rancher. He was reponsible for overseeing the ranch and making sure everything was going well: cattle roundups, branding, pipe repairs, fences to be repaired, etc. He hauled cattle when needed, operated the trackor or bulldozer when having to clear debris or make roads in the mountains. Adam worked with Bruce Beerman (the manager), Tom Kanakaole, Richard Kahana and his sons Richard Jr. and Rodwin (Bobo), Peter Kama, Steven Mokulehua the cattle truck driver, Alex Napier, Bobby Napier, and Atherton Richards whom he always spoke of highly. Even with all of his accomplishments, Adam was a very humble man. He was well liked and well known in the Waialua Community.
On May 16, 1951, Adam married Nani Elizabeth Kauiaa Ku and had four children: Adam Hai, Jr., Allen Hai, Nani Hai, and Momi Hai. As children, we had the wonderful opportunity of living on the ranch and having front row seats watching the cattle roundups, brandings, castrations, etc. We would go with Dad to check on the cattle in the mountains. He would stop along the way to pick-up mangos, plums, tamarind pods, mountain apples, or whichever fruits were in season. Once we went to get Christmas trees and the brake shoe on our Jeep broke. We were high up on the mountain. It took a couple hours for my dad to fix it but he did, and managed to get us home safely.
To live the life of a cowboy/rancher and survive, Adam needed to learn many different trades and it was all on the job. Not only was he working the cattle, but he needed to be a mechanic when needed, a plumber when needed. Adam was a jack-of-all trades. There was nothing Adam and the cowboys could not accomplish. The projects no matter how difficult were always successfully completed. Adam loved his life as a cowboy.
Adam Hai worked for Kahuā Ranch until he retired in 1982. He passed on April 21, 1983 six months after retiring.