James Richard “Casey” DeSilva, Sr.
Year Inducted: 2001
Hanaipoe Ranch | Hawai'i
Shipman Ranch | Hawai'i
Nobriga Ranch | Hawai'i
Pu`u O`o Ranch | Hawai'i
Hualalai Ranch | Hawai'i
Pu`u Waa Waa | Hawai'i
“Casey” began working at Hanaipoe ranch on the slopes of Mauna Kea as a young boy. This was the start of his life as a paniolo, working for many Big Island Ranches. An indispensable all-around ranch hand and horse breaker, “Casey”’s career included work on the Shipman Ranch, Nobriga Ranch, Pu`u O`o Ranch, Hualalai Ranch, Pu`u Waa Waa Ranch and probably others too numerous to mention. “Casey” was given his nickname by other cowboys who say he once was very notorious for riding any bucking bronc in the islands and he was as good as the world champion, Casey Tibbs. He later told his secret. He would round up the ranch horses who liked to buck and “buck them out”. It must have worked because Casey DeSilva later became the State Champion saddle bronc rider.