Francis Napua Poouahi
Year Inducted: 2013
Kaupo Ranch | Maui
Francis Napua Poouahi, or “Uncle Frank,” was born at Kaupō, Maui on June 19, 1938 to Joseph Keawe Poouahi and Caroline Kekahuna Poouahi. He attended Kaupō School until the 8th grade. For a short time in 1956, he went to work in the pineapple fields for Libby Pineapple Co. in Lahaina. In 1957, missing the paniolo way-of-life he grew up in, he went to work part-time for the Bill Eby Ranch in Honolua, Lahaina.
He returned in 1958 to Kaupō and worked for a short time for Lillie Marciel doing mostly land clearing by hand. On April 1st 1959, his dream came true, Uncle Frank was hired by Kaupo Ranch to follow in the footsteps of his father Keawe Poouahi, a true paniolo. On December 22, 1962 he married Melva Kahaleauki, the love of his life and together they had three children: Evangeline, Francis Jr. and Doris. After 43 years of service, Uncle Frank retired from Kaupo Ranch in 2002.
During his years at Kaupo Ranch, Uncle Frank became a true asset to the ranch. When cattle work season came around for branding and weaning, Uncle Frank was the man at the gate. He was excellent at watching the gate on horseback, and still is today whenever there is corral work. When it was time to bring the cattle down from Naholoku, Uncle Frank was the one you wanted to be next to. He knew every trail, every wash, and where the cattle would want to break.
Uncle Frank was excellent on horseback, with a skin rope, and loved to enter the ʻUlupalakua, Kaupō, and Hana ranch rodeos. He was just as good on the D-6 dozer and cleared hundreds of acres of land and put in the roads that we, at Kaupo Ranch, travel on today. Whenever there was a need for someone to step into the job of waterman, or truck driver to haul cattle, or truck driver to pickup freight or fuel, Uncle Frank was the one you could count on.
Today, whenever anyone has a question regarding Kaupo Ranch, Uncle Frank is the go-to person. He will let you know whether or not your solutions to ranch issues will work. He is still very active, still lives on the ranch, and still very willing to lend a hand. Co-workers say “he is one of our greatest assets”.
In 2011, the house of Representatives of the State of Hawaii recognized Frank Napua Poouahi as a “Maui Paniolo Living Treasure,” thus recognizing Frank’s lifelong and exemplary contribution to the paniolo way-of-life.