James William “Kimo” Hoopai Jr.
Year Inducted: 2022
Kahua Ranch | Hawaiʻi
Parker Ranch | Hawaiʻi
Kehena Ranch | Hawaiʻi
Palani Ranch | Hawaiʻi
James William “Kimo” Hoopai Jr. was born to Kimo Sr. and Leina Hoopai on November 23, 1960 in Kapaʻau, Kohala. Like his father and grandfather before him, he decided at a very early age that all he wanted to do was be a cowboy. His father recalls that Kimo started learning his cowboy skills when he was very young and he never turned back. It was his passion, he worked hard at it, and his career took him to ranches of all sizes working his way up as he went. After graduating from Kohala High School in 1978, Kimo enlisted in the Army and spent a year on the mainland before returning to join the Hawaiʻi National Guard as an infantryman where he served another 13 years in uniform. Upon his return to Hawaiʻi, Kimo went to work for Kahua Ranch in 1980 as a ranch hand. There Kimo learned all the basics of ranch work and a cattle operation.
In 1982, Kimo moved on to Parker Ranch where he started off in the breaking pen. Kimo has always loved his horses and took great interest and pride in making a good horse. He never seemed to mind a horse with a lot of spirit or even one with a predictable buck so long as the horse would settle down and give him a good honest day’s work. At Parker Ranch, he worked his way up to Section Lead Man, a position that included responsibility for administering the artificial insemination program for the purebred Angus, Brangus and Hereford herds. Most importantly to Kimo, he credits much of what he learned about horsemanship and working cattle from the priceless opportunity he had at Parker to work with and learn from the many Parker Ranch old timer paniolo.
In 1996, an opportunity at Kehena Ranch drew Kimo back to Kohala working with Toby King for the next thirteen years. During that period, they tripled the size of the ranch operation and developed the only registered Red Angus herd in the State. Toby says that words like “loyalty” and “honor” best describe Kimo. Kehena Ranch, however, was forced to shut down in 2012 when the worst drought in 100 years made the ranch business untenable.
When that door closed, a window opened at Palani Ranch in Kona where Kimo moved to become the manager of Palani’s livestock operation. He was a key part of implementing some significant modifications to herd configuration and accompanying infrastructure/water system improvements. Kimo’s greatest legacy at Palani was initiating an AI program which over the following decade produced a high-quality genetic base that will serve the ranch well for years to come.
Kimo’s riding and ranch-working career is on pause following neck surgery to fix a lifetime of hard work and cowboying. But being a cowboy at heart, he is working his way back into his cowboy life full of family, community service, staying close to his ranching roots, his music, and most importantly his relationship with the Lord. As Assistant Pastor of the Mana Christian ʻOhana Church, Kimo continues to contribute much of his time and strength in support of our community and fellow paniolo.
To sum it up, a workday with Kimo on the ranch always started very early. When all were saddled up and ready to head out around day break, Kimo would gather the crew, pause for a moment together, and then he or one of his crew would offer a pule thanking Ke Akua for the privilege of being on the land, stewarding His creation, and giving thanks for the unique honor and good fortune of being a cowboy, doing what we all love most and hopefully can continue to do for generations to come.