As a member of the Hilo 4-H Horse Club, Keoki learned horsemanship under the guidance of club leader Pudding Lassiter. Through rodeos, horse shows, drill teams, gymkhanas, and brandings across the island, he gained hands-on experience that deepened his respect for livestock and the traditions of ranching and stewardship. 

While still in high school, Keoki began working up the mountain with Doc Campbell at Pua ʻĀkala Ranch on the Hilo side of Mauna Kea. Weekends were spent in a cabin with Doc’s son, Jim, fixing fences, roping wild cattle, and learning firsthand what it meant to live this lifestyle. He later continued to hone his skills at Puʻu ʻŌhu Ranch under the mentorship of Jackie Pacheco and Ray Benlehr. Hard work, long hours, and humility became his standard.

After graduating from St. Joseph’s High School, Keoki worked briefly at the Panaʻewa Experiment Station before accepting a full-time position in 1980 with Morgan Brown at A Lazy B Ranch in Waimea. Morgan was widely respected as both an exceptional cattleman and a breeder of outstanding Quarter Horses. Under his guidance, Keoki’s appreciation for good livestock and thoughtful management deepened even further.

It was during this time that Keoki met his future wife, Lisa, when she returned home from college for the summer. He later moved with her to the mainland, attending horseshoeing school in Bozeman, Montana, while Lisa completed her Animal Science degree at Colorado State University.

Keoki and Lisa returned home and were married at Annunciation Church in Waimea in 1983. During these years, Keoki worked at SC Ranch under Dutch Schuman and Walter Slater, and at Hualālai Ranch for Franklin Boteilho, continuing to build a reputation as a dedicated and capable cattleman. In 1986, the couple returned to the mainland to further their education at Washington State University, where Keoki earned a degree in Agricultural Business while Lisa completed her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

In 1990, they returned home with their two children, JW and Justina, and Keoki once again joined SC Ranch. With the strong support of Dutch and Kerrie Schuman, and the mentoring of Walter Slater, Keoki expanded his role in the beef industry. He served on the NCBA Executive Committee as the Region VI representative, as president of the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council, and as president of the Hawaiʻi Cattle Producers Cooperative Association. Throughout it all, his love for livestock and thoughtful stewardship remained at the center of his life and work.

In 2002, Corky Bryan, then Vice President of Livestock Operations, approached Keoki about joining Parker Ranch. With the blessing of his long-time employer, Dutch Schuman, he accepted the position. He was excited not only to be working with such a legacy ranch but also to be able to take advantage of the ranch’s generous benefits which included tuition assistance for his two children.

Keoki joined Parker Ranch during one of the most challenging periods in its history and has remained steadfast in his commitment to the brand for the past 24 years. His leadership extends far beyond the pasture; he works seamlessly alongside cowboys, administrators, accountants, and fellow managers, earning the respect and trust of everyone around him. During his tenure, Keoki has focused on improving animal handling, transportation methods and horsemanship. Widely regarded as a source of guidance and wisdom, Keoki leads by example and with integrity. Growing up on the Big Island, he admired the older cowboys roping wild cattle and dreamed of becoming one himself—a dream he fulfilled through hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Recently, Parker Ranch received several national honors, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s 2025 Cow-Calf Beef Quality Assurance Award and the American Quarter Horse Association’s 50-Year Cumulative Breeder Award in 2021 and the coveted Best Remuda Award in 2026, honoring excellence in breeding and raising Quarter Horses in a working ranch environment. These distinctions place Parker Ranch shoulder to shoulder with some of the most respected ranches in the United States. With profound gratitude, Keoki notes these accolades highlight the legacy of Parker Ranch men and women who have preserved Hawaiʻi’s ranching heritage and provide bright hope for its future.

In 2021, Keoki was ordained a deacon in the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. He follows in the footsteps of many faithful paniolo who have found deep purpose in serving the land, livestock, and people entrusted to their care. Mahalo ke Akua.