Mauna Kea Oral History Appendix - Office of Mauna Kea Management

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At the time that the litigation was going on.
Yes. There had been some difficulty that had arisen between one of the heirs
That’s right.
And some of the ‘ohana and some one came in wild, wild west
[chuckles]
Six gun or something
My father had to guard the Parker Ranch office with a gun that he never…luckily, never
had a chance to use it.
And that was the office that’s near, what is Bank of Hawaii today
The old office at the present First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii.
Yes. That’s some history. You know this history that Aunty Tita is talking about now, is a
very important one to Waiki‘i also. Because you see a part, as I understand it, going
through the records. And that kauka Bergin has been able to compile from the various
A.W. Carter collections. The water was such a big issue out here in Waiki‘i. No water, the
land just, you know, it was almost…it was very difficult for a ranch operation because
cyclic, you know the changes. When the water was coming through, the litigation arose,
aunty’s papa and some of his brothers and them were the one’s that were witnesses
before the court about the need for water here. And once the water came through. How
great the difference was. They said before, they couldn’t walk cattle sometimes during
the dry times, the cattle from Waiki‘i just along to Holoholokü and out to Waimea would
die on the way.
Uh-hmm.
From lack of water. And so there was this big thing going on for a while. But I guess it all
kind of resolved itself, yes
Yes.
Mahalo! Uncle Hisa, aloha. Your full name please and date of birth.
My name is Hisao Kimura, they call me Hisa in short. I was born in Waimea, I’m going to
be honest with you, I have two birthdays.
[all chuckling]
My mother said, I was born on February 29 th , 1912. My birth certificate says…after many
years in 1929, they tried to get my birth date adjusted so I can separate my Japanese
citizenship from Hawai‘i. We were dual citizens because my parents came from Japan as
aliens, and they were aliens. Because they were supposedly being in Hawai‘i just
temporarily as contract laborers in the sugar plantation. After the three years of
contracting expired, he remained, he didn’t go back, he didn’t make enough money to go
home. So he stayed and worked on Parker Ranch from 1909 until he died. My mother
says, I was born February 29 th , 1912. My birth certificate after a while they found out from
the neighbors and witnesses that said I was born on January 15 th , 1913 so what a
contrast in life.
Gee!
[all chuckling]
So when people ask me my age, “Which age is beneficial to me”
[all laughing]
If going be a difference. But, it won’t make any difference, I’m an old man.
Mauna Kea– “Ka Piko Kaulana o ka ‘Äina”
Kumu Pono Associates LLC
A Collection of Oral History Interviews (HiMK67-050606) A:522