David “Hogan” Kauwe
Year Inducted: 2022
Parker Ranch | Hawaiʻi
Tongg Ranch | Oʻahu
David “Hogan” Kauwe was born June 2, 1886, on Parker Ranch at a homesite next to the slaughterhouse. His father John Kauwe was a saddle maker. His mother was part English and part Māori from New Zealand. He attended school in the old Waimea school house until the age of 13 when he took a job with the county doing pick and shovel work.
In 1899, Hogan got a job with Tom Lindsey’s cowboy gang making $18 month and free poi. It was the highlight of his life. In 1901, he met Parker Ranch manager, Mr. Alfred Carter at a branding in Puhihale Corral. Just one year later, Mr. Carter moved Hogan to work with the roughrider gang. Hogan along with Barney Judd were among the first rough riders.
One of the darkest times in Hogan’s life came when he was riding a horse on the Waipio trail, and the horse keeled over. Hogan believed the horse had heart problems but Mr. Carter had a different view of the situation and fired him. Through the darkness came light because during this time Hogan met the love of his life, Rena Mainaaupo, while roping with Ikua Purdy. Rena Mainaaupo is the daughter of Kalipo Mainaaupo who was also the grandfather of Billy Boy Lindsey. Rena and Hogan were married a short time later and remained together for life living on the 13-acre ranch that remains in the family today.
In 1907, Hogan went to Mr. Carter and asked for his job back. Mr. Carter put him to work cutting māmane fence post. He worked with the fence foreman, Martin Campbell, building the Mauna Kea boundary-line fence. A short time later, Carter put him back on the Cowboy gang where he stayed until his retirement in 1957. “Those were the happiest days of my life. Sometimes I was acting foreman, or assistant foreman.” He had several bad accidents over the years. In June of 1936, he fell from his horse near the Pauwanui paddock and broke his ankle. His horse returned to the corral without him. All the paniolo instantly knew something was wrong and set out to find him. Two hours later they located him, and he remained off work to heal for 16 months.
He was one of the first to be hired in the famous Cowboy Gang and he was the last surviving member of the group. They worked together and they had fun together. If there was any trouble, they were all in it together. They always helped each other out. They would hang out at the back of Akona’s store (where this photo was taken). In 1957, he retired from Parker Ranch. However, he just couldn’t sit still so, he continued to work a few days a week riding and checking irrigation lines on the ranch. He would then work 6 months out of the year on Oʻahu with Ruddy Tongg working and branding cattle.
The love of the paniolo lifestyle and heritage was passed down from Hogan “Big Papa” to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He taught them how to ride horses, sort cattle, even make their own ʻili (skin ropes). His grandsons Iasas Kaleikula and David Kaula were roughriders and saddle makers for Parker Ranch. His only great granddaughter Georgieanna (Spencer) Hopfe rounded cattle with him at the Tongg Ranch and was a Paʻu Rider. His two times great grandson Dustin Hopfe works with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) treating injured Rodeo athletes. In the four generations of his ʻohana, his legacy of the paniolo values and way of life are just as strong today as they were back then.