Theodore Sonny Akeni Akau Jr.
Year Inducted: 2022
Parker Ranch | Hawai'i
Theodore Sonny Akeni Akau Jr. was born on July 21, 1927 in Kawaihae to Mary Keawe and Theodore Akau Sr. He had two sisters, Eunice and Elizabeth, and a younger brother, Abraham Akau, who was also an inductee to the Paniolo Hall of Fame.
Sonny met the love of his life, his songbird, at a baby luau in Kohala, Hawaiʻi. Her name was Rita Leialoha Lukela Lincoln. It was love at first sight. Their first date was horseback riding on the hills of the Kohala mountains. On June 16, 1951 at the Hongwanji Mission in Kamuela, they got married. They had five boys and one girl. The boys were Arthur, Arnold, Arden, Archer, Armand, and daughter Theodora. There were 18 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Sonny gave his life to two things, family & his job. He was a rough rider/paniolo cowboy first, then as supervisor for agronomy/heavy equipment. With only a 7th grade education, he was very grateful/humble for his position at Parker Ranch. He retired from Parker Ranch after 45 years. He always remembered a special bond with Uncle Richard Smart & his personal secretary Kiyomi Yoshimatsu. Mr. Smart (uncle Richard) took care of ALL of his Ranch families. Sonny was grateful for all the times Mr. Richard Smart paid for all the medical bills for one of Sonny’s sons born with serious head and neck problems.