Walter "Wala" Stevens
Year Inducted: 2013
Parker Ranch | Hawai'i
Walter “Wala” Stevens was born on October 10, 1931 to Annie Lincoln Stevens and Charles Stevens Sr. He lost his father at a very young age, and his mom later married John Keonaona “Makua” Stevens, who was instrumental in mentoring Walter into a fine horseman.
As a young boy, Walter loved horses and would ride them whenever his stepfather, Makua, brought them home. Makua was a lifetime paniolo at Parker Ranch and taught Walter all the aspects of horse training. On Saturdays and school holidays, Walter followed him on horseback while Makua worked with the cowboy gang.
Charles Kimura described Walter as the best horseman and horse trainer Parker Ranch ever produced. His horses were very gentle and had a good rein on them, which enabled them to work and separate cattle exceptionally well. The paniolo were elated to have one of Walter’s trained horses for their work string.
Over his 47 years of working for Parker Ranch, Walter was assigned to various sections and divisions in the cattle department and did an outstanding job at every position. His job assignments included breaking and training horses, working with registered Hereford cattle at the Makahalau section, working at Puʻuʻōpelu Stables, and Superintendent of Keʻāmuku and Humuʻula sections.
Like the horses he trained, the cattle in his sections and divisions were well maintained. He always planned ahead to improve the areas he was responsible for and made sure adequate water, grass and minerals were available to the animals all the time.
Behind a great paniolo like Walter was a wonderful wife. In Walter’s case, she was Annie Elizabeth “Dudu” Ah Fong Stevens. Together they had three daughters: Lehua Stevens Hoopai, Maile Stevens Ballesteros, and Kehau Stevens Kato, 10 grandchildren and five great grand-children.
On the weekends he took his wife and daughters to work on the ranch and taught them the values of life as a paniolo and how to appreciate and care for the animals, land, and gear that are part of the paniolo tradition.
He mentored a lot of paniolo and some of them continue to ranch today such as Godfrey Kainoa, Wayne Tachera, and Billy Andrade and his son-in-law Kimo Hoopai. His two grandsons still carry on the paniolo lifestyle: Shane Hoopi and Jesse Hoopai.
Walter worked under eight managers at Parker Ranch and all of them had the highest respect and regard for his ability as a cattleman and horseman. He passed away on September 26, 1994.