Robert Gordon “Boy” von Tempsky
Year Inducted: 2022
Erewhon Cattle Station | Maui
Ulupalakua Ranch | Maui
Kaupō Ranch | Maui
“Boy” von Tempsky was born September 24, 1896 at Makawao, Maui. His parents were Randal von Tempsky and Dora Melville Dowsett.
Boy was educated by a family governess until he was of age to be sent to grammar school in Berkely, CA. Later he was sent to Punahou for his first two years of High School. His mother became desperately ill in 1913 and Boy had to drop out of school and return home to help his mother, Dora, with the 5,000-acre ranch.
Boy’s father Randal passed away on Nov 2, 1898 at the very young age of 42 due to an aneurysm. Dora ran the ranch dairy with hired help. When she became ill, Boy returned home, but his mother sent him to be schooled by Alfred Hartwell Carter, the manager of Parker Ranch. She wanted him to learn all aspects of the cattle business. He lived with his mother’s cousin Aunt Elizabeth “Tootsie” Dowsett in Waimea.
Upon his return from Parker Ranch in 1915, at the young age of 17, Boy managed all responsibilities of the dairy production. They raised Holstein X Jersey cows. They produced and processed milk and butter for sale that was delivered to Kahului by oxen drawn wagons. About 1917, the mainland markets came to Maui to compete with the local dairy businesses. The local dairies could no longer compete with the cheaper mainland prices. At that time, Boy sold all the dairy cows and purchased Hereford cattle from Parker Ranch to start his cow-calf ranch. “Erewhon Cattle Station” became the name of the family business and the ranch. While running the upper lands of the ranch with his cattle, he developed new grasses imported from New Zealand on the lower property, prepared the fencing, corrals and land for renting.
Boy married his sweetheart, Mary Sophia von Schrader on September 15, 1919 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Mary or better known as “Mamea” was the niece of Dr. James Harvey Raymond of the Rose Ranch (now Ulupalakua Ranch). She was raised by her uncle “Kauka” James Harvey Raymond and his wife Phoebe Dowsett. Boy and Mamea were married for fifty-three years and lived all of their lives on Erewhon Cattle Station Ranch. They eventually had two sons, Robert Gordon von Tempsky Jr. (aka Ski) and Raymond Montgomery von Tempsky.
About 1929, Boy entered into an agreement with Ulupalakua Ranch, under the ownership of Frank Baldwin. Ulupalakua leased Erewhon ranch properties, and Boy then became an assistant manager at Ulupalakua Ranch. There he built the slaughter house to help the ranch become complete and self-sustainable. Boy built the rodeo grounds at Ulupalakua and became the founder of the “Ulupalakua Days Rodeo” in 1939 reestablishing rodeo on Maui.
After 20 years spent on Ulupalakua Ranch, Boy resigned in 1948 and was asked to step into the management of Haleakala Motors Car Sales in Wailuku, Maui. He said “All of his life has been with cattle”, this was definitely a new venture for his future. After working at Haleakala Motors for 10 years, 1948-1956 he wanted to go back to the ranching business, while at Haleakala Motors he still managed his own ranch leases, later leasing ranch lands to Haleakala Ranch. He was hired by Dwight Baldwin’s Kaupō Ranch Limited for a five year contract in 1957. After the five year contract, Boy was asked to stay on as a director/supervisor of the Denman & Lackey Ranch holdings owned by two Texan Cattlemen at Kaupō Ranch.
Boy was very community minded and was active in many community activities and boards, He was a fire warden in the Waiakoa district for 35 years. He helped to organize the Maui Vegetable Growers Association. He was active with Maui’s Horse Racing Association and promoted the Maui County Fairs with the Rotary Club. He loved the sport of polo and enjoyed watching his son Gordon compete in matches. He rode as the Grand Marshal of the 3rd Annual Makawao Parade in 1967. Erewhon Ranch lands where also given, at a minimal cost, to the Catholic Community to build the Holy Ghost Church. Also, a lease was drawn up with the County of Maui to build the Kula Community Center. Boy von Tempsky also ran a concession at Haleakala Crater. The von Tempsky family ran the first trail ride tour into the crater. They also ran the Haleakala Mountain Lodge, “Puʻu Niahiau” which was later used for an Army base from 1940-1946.
Robert Gordon “Boy” von Tempsky passed away on June 24th, 1976 at 79 years of age on his beloved Erewhon Ranch lands. He was a servant to the land and his family. Ua Mau ke Ea o Ka Aina I ka Pono o Hawaiʻi.