Editor’s note: West Hawaii Today, in conjunction with Kona Historical Society, is pleased to present readers a weekly feature called “Historic Kailua Village.” The articles and accompanying photographs have been compiled by the society and were published in a booklet entitled “Kona Historical Society’s Historic Kailua Village Map.”
The ranching industry in Kona
The ranching culture in Kona predates that of the American Old West by at least 50 years. Exporting beef products, hides, butter, and salted meat was a major industry in Kona between 1850 and 1950.
Beginning in the 1890s, cattle were driven down from the mauka (mountain) ranches to holding pens on Palani Road near the present-day Kona Seaside Hotel and on Alii Drive near what is now Coconut Grove Marketplace, located south of town.
From these areas cattle were driven to Kaiakeakua Beach and into the water for shipping via vessel to Honolulu.
Even with tall horses and cowboys with special seafaring skills, driving cattle into the ocean was a dangerous task, and many a horse got gored.
The cowboys would lead each cow into the water with a “tail man” ready to help if needed. The animals would then be tied to longboats for their ride out to the steamship, where they would be hoisted up onto the deck one-by-one and taken to market in Honolulu.
Copyright 2005 Kona Historical Society. Reprinted by permission.