Mauna Kea Oral History Appendix - Office of Mauna Kea Management

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They were out hunting pigs.
Gee, I never did see that.
‘Cause Theodore used to manage the Waiki‘i section too.
Yes, he knows. He was good man that.
His daughter is very nice, Coco, Coco Hind she married Robert Hind I don’t know, one
of the younger, you never met her
No, I never did.
Oh.
In the 1930s Theodore had a young girl, daughter yet, must be the girl.
That’s her, yes. [pauses] May I still ask you some questions
Uh-hmm.
I don’t want to make humbug okay
No, no.
When you left Waiki‘i in ‘36, ‘37, you said you went back to Hilo.
Back to Hilo yeah.
What did you do in Hilo
Well, first time I walked two days when Dr. Brown told me. Okay, I got to go look for work.
Jobs were kind of scarce in those days, no more. So, I went back to the old store that I
worked for, And I ask him if he need any more help, he said, “yeah I need.” He said “two
of my men quit.” I said “but I cannot come this month, I going to stay, I promised Hartwell
Carter that I stay there until they find a replacement.” That took two months. Okay, after
that, I went back to the store to work. I worked there about two and a half years. Then I
started my chicken farm. I had a chicken farm in Hilo as well…
[Discuss period in Uncle AhFat’s life between 1937 to 1955; and event leading to his
return to work at Pöhakuloa on the Nënë Restoration Program.]
…The Territory had Wildlife Aid test, so I tried, see what I can do in there. That was
throughout the Territory. Of the 73 applicants that took the test, I came out number three.
Wow!
When the positions opened, they can pick from the first five. I still had the hog business
yet, so it was about a year and a half before they gave me a call. Then I went for
interview and the guy says, “I don’t know about you, but I’m going to tell you now, this job
is on the Big Island in a place called Pöhakuloa.” I said, “Pöhakuloa that’s by Humu‘ula
and Waiki‘i, between.” He worked there as the Wildlife Biologist before he get transferred
to Honolulu Office. We talk story, I said, “I take the job.” But you have to…I tell you, “you
can’t tell me go next week, because I still have some of my hogs. Give me month and a
half to sell off my place.”
Yes, yes. Who was the man
They called him Dick Woodworth.
Woodworth, yes, okay.
He came over there and five weeks later, I told him, “I’m ready to go up.” [chuckles]
That’s how I came to work at Pöhakuloa.
What year was that
Mauna Kea– “Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Äina”
Kumu Pono Associates LLC
A Collection of Oral History Interviews (HiMK67-050606) A:401