Walter Boteilho, Sr.
Year Inducted: 2015
Walter's Ranch | Maui
Walter Boteilho, Sr. was truly a man before his time. How can anyone explain or understand what a driven man can accomplish? Where does that drive come from? What helps him exceed all boundaries?
Walter was born the seventh child of a family of 10 on June 2, 1925 in Kaupakulua, Maui to Frank and Janet Boteilho. He attended Kealahou School which is today Haleakalā Waldorf in Kua. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War as a mule trainer. At the time, mules were used to help troops carry supplies and the wounded.
When he returned to Maui in 1951, he started his own ranch. Walter’s cattle stock increased steadily to about 900 head on approximately 6,000 acres of leased lands. At one time, his ranch was the sixth largest ranch on Maui. He would rope and sell wild cattle from the mountains to help purchase property in Hāna, Keʻanae, Nāhiku, Kula, and Kihei.
On September 8, 1953, Walter married Elizabeth Texeira (Elizabeth Varano). Together they raised five boys, Michael, Walter, Jr., Anthony, Jimmy and Andy. In order to provide for his growing family, he wore many hats… a husband, father, butcher, rancher, business man… again, a man before his time.
In 1954, he opened a meat market on Market Street in Wailuku to sell the beef and pork he raised. In 1957, he decided to return to wholesale only, providing meat to various families and mom and pop stores that are closed today: Azeka’s, Ooka’s, Yamaguchi’s, Maui Meat Market, and lastly Ah Fook’s, the only store still open today. Walter also sent some of his cattle to Hawaiʻi Feed Lot in the Campbell Industrial area on Oʻahu, as well.
He never forgot where he came from. Walter donated cattle to the Maui roping Club for rodeo use. He provided free freezer meat to various families and donated cattle for auction to various religious groups even though he was a Catholic. His saying was “We all pray to the same god. We just give God different names.”
His pastimes included hiking, rodeos, watching horse racing and traveling with his wife to Alaska and Canada and other mainland states, not to mention faraway lands like Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Shortly after his passing in 1977, he was the first cowboy to be honored in the 22nd Makawao Rodeo for his contributions to and help with getting the rodeo scene started on Maui.
Today Walter is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Varano, all five of his sons, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Rest in Love, Walter Boteilho, Sr.