James M. Greenwell
Year Inducted: 2001
Kohala Ranch | Hawai'i
Parker Ranch | Hawai'i
Palani Ranch | Hawai'i
Born in Kona, James M. Greenwell is the grandson of Henry N. Greenwell who arrived in Hawaii in 1850. After adventurous years growing up on the family ranch at Hualalai, which included such fun as lassoing wild turkeys out of trees at night, James was hand-picked by the legendary A.W. Carter to to run Kohala Ranch a section of Parker Ranch at Puuhue. He was just 18 years old. At the ripe age of 24, he was named manager of Hawaii Meat Company, the production and marketing operation of Parker Ranch, which was located on O`ahu. This was Hawaii’s largest meat marketing outlet, serving the needs of local producers and was a stabilizing influence in the market. Following the difficult war years, James became one of the industry’s guiding forces in the transition from a grass-finished beef industry to a cow –calf industry geared to the demands of a market for grain-fed beef. Under his leadership, Hawaii Meat Company opened Hawaii’s first commercial scale, modern feedlot at West Loch. This was then expanded and moved to Campbell Industrial Park. After retiring from Parker Ranch/Hawaii Meat Company, James became president of his family’s Palani Ranch in Kona. He developed and successfully marketed the exceptional beef known as “Kona Brand Yearling Beef”. Mr. Greenwell, now 86 and retired in Kona after a distinguished career as an innovative and visionary leader in Hawaii’s cattle industry, still has an adventurous story or two to tell. Ask him about the time he roped a loose cow on the road from his car.