William Miki Kalaniopio, Sr.
Year Inducted: 2013
Ulupalakua Ranch | Maui
Hana Ranch | Maui
Born in Lahaina, Maui, to Mary Makaena, William Miki Kalaniopio, Sr. was a full-blooded Hawaiian. In his early childhood he was a hanai of his Kalaniopio grandparents. Later, he moved up-country and was raised by his adopted parents Hua and Annie Kaʻili Kekiwi of Kula, Maui.
William Miki had a passion for working with cattle and horses. Growing up in ʻUlupalakua allowed him the freedom to learn and work hard at it. In order to help his ʻohana, he withdrew from school after the 8th grade. He started working for ʻUlupalakua Ranch until he joined the military service. In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was a proud veteran of the Korean War. He was a recipient of the “Purple Heart.”
After his service in the military, William Miki moved to Hana, Maui where he began working for Hotel Hana-Maui as a mounted tour guide for the riding stable. Hana Ranch manager John Hanchett saw much greater potential in William Miki and hired him as a ranch hand in 1955. He quickly excelled in horsemanship and cattle handling.
Shortly after arriving in Hana, William Miki met the love of his life; Martha Koko, and they were married on January 19, 1957. Together they proudly raised five children, Mapuana, Noelani, Miki Boy, Gordon, and Aaron.
In 1965, William Miki became Acting Head Cowboy and that same year, Ranch Cattle Foreman. He was promoted to Ranch Supervisor in 1972, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.
At Hana Ranch, William Miki developed a small crew of cowboys equipped to deal with the unique challenges of ranching along the Hana coast where high humidity and frequent showers brought heavy fly infestation. He rode his horse in the pastures each calving season to ensure that baby calves were caught and doctored for fly strike and skin infections. He was also responsible for getting fat cattle to market, as well as feeder calves to the Oʻahu feed lot. This was a challenge from Hana because the trip to Kahului for barging was a six-hour trip by truck over treacherous roads.
In the early 1970’s until the late 1980’s, Miki had the opportunity to work with veterinarian Dr. Billy Bergin and Sonny Keakealani of Waimea. It was the most rewarding experience for him.
William Miki is remembered as a man with a sense of humor, strong in his convictions, steadfast, a giving person, very loving, patient and understanding, one that you could always count on. He was humble and down to earth and loved the paniolo lifestyle.