John T. Waterhouse
Year Inducted: 2002
Kipukai Ranch | Kipukai
On a parcel of land isolated by mountains and ocean, John Waterhouse cultivated an endangered species: the self-sustaining Hawaiian-style family ranch.
Only nine miles from Lihue, Kipukai Ranch is a remnant of a bygone era, when a ranch was a self-contained community, and fish, game, wild fruits and livestock were enough to put dinner on the table many times over.
John, an executive and board member with Alexander & Baldwin, spent his weekends at the ranch, and he built it up from scraggly pasture to a thriving home. He sank wells, developed the pasture, improved his cattle herd and imposed strict controls on the harvesting of natural resources.
After John’s death, Kipukai Ranch passed to his nieces and nephews on the understanding that when their generation is gone, it will become the property of the state, for the enjoyment and education of the people of Hawaii.