Leighton Kaleialii Beck
Year Inducted: 2003
Ka`Alu`Alu Ranch | Hawai'i
Hawaiian Ranch | Hawai'i
Kaupo Ranch | Maui
By the time he started at Kaupo, Leighton Beck had already been a paniolo for 21 years on the Big Island, working at the same ranch as his father before him. He had already learned the many skills of a cowboy of that era, making his own skin ropes, saddles and tapaderos, training and shoeing his own horses, doctoring cattle, delivering calves. . You name it.
It was no surprise that Leighton worked his way up from ranch hand to foreman, and no surprise that he was noticed by others. In 1969 he was recruited as Assistant Ranch Manager at Kaupo Ranch on Maui. He was to spend the next 29 years at Kaupo, eventually becoming ranch manager. He contributed to improving the infrastructure of the ranch, such as the water system, the cross fencing and the pastures, before he retired in 1998.
After growing up chasing cattle in the lava lands of the Big Island, Beck took naturally to the rugged country around Kaupo. He lived up to his reputation as an excellent roper, cattleman and horseman. He was equally skilled handling wild or tame cattle and was said to be able to rope anything that moved on any kind of terrain. Like a true cowboy, he broke many a bone in his line of work, but always had “lots of guts” and a great sense of humor.
A few things that his close friends know about Leighton are that he was a great cook, liked to read western novels and loved to whistle. We can imagine that he developed those passions while out on the range, where he loved to be.
The following poem was written by Soot Bredfhoff and read at the 2003 Paniolo Festival in memory of
Leighton:
For Leighton
We know there’s a cowboy heaven.
It’s told of in song and prose.
And for na Paniolo from Hawaii.
The gates will never be closed.
Leighton has checked in up there
To see his wonderful Ka’u gang.
There’s Johnny and Frank and Aola
And many many more.
They sang and they laughed together
And no one had time to snore.
Then he met with his Kaupo brothers
Nahale, Keawe, Aloof and Tito.
And they sang and they laughed some more,
Remembering the old Christmas parties
When some folks passed out on the floor.
Soon they’ll all saddle up together.
Through the heavenly country they’ll ride.
Just a helluva bunch of cowboys
With pipi ahiu to be caught and tied.
Leighton will ride Mapuana one day,
And Eby Girl the next.
Then Ho’oheno and Comanche,
When the other two need a rest.
And na Paniola still down here
Will keep doing the honorable job they know.
And sometimes they’ll think of those riders up there
And tell them – “A Hui Hou”-
Until we meet again.
- Soot