KONA — What better way to celebrate Easter Sunday than to read about one of Kona’s best egg ladies?
Cheeta Wilson was born Patricia Wall in Kona. Since her brother Allan couldn’t say Patricia, Cheeta became her new name in the family, and it stuck. A fourth-generation member of a West Hawaii family that arrived here in the early 1800s, Cheeta now lives in what was once dubbed the old cowboy house for the Wall Ranch.
The ranch sits on land that was granted to Cheeta’s great-grandfather in the Great Mahele land distribution. This land reform put forward by King Kamehameha III in 1848 allowed for land ownership in Hawaii for the first time. It gave titles to land that had been owned and lived on collectively for many years. The mahele was instrumental in moving Hawaii into a more cash-driven economy where private ownership was possible for many, though sadly, not for all.
Cheeta grew up on the ranch not far from where she lives today. The cowboy house was constructed from materials salvaged from the original Keauhou School that was down near Keauhou Bay. In the early 1900s, the house became a home for ranch hands. It served in that capacity for many years. In 1970, Cheeta and her husband Ben moved into the cowboy house and started making the old cedar and redwood structure their home.
START OF IT ALL
For nearly 25 years, Cheeta worked as a tax preparer. During this time she kept horses on the 5-acre farm. Once she retired, she decided to focus more on her animals and start farming.
In addition to 250 chickens, she now also has two horses, three dogs, one cat and some “rescue” cows that were orphaned or injured on the ranch.
Cheeta admits to a lifetime love for chickens, which was first developed on her grandmother’s farm.
“I don’t have a degree in ‘chickenology,’ just years of experience taking care of chickens,” she said.
Cheeta keeps a daily routine on the farm. She’s usually up at daybreak to feed her demanding cat. She then takes a break to sit in her rocking chair and play her ukulele. She strokes her vintage Kanile’a uke so quickly that her playing hand is a blur in all of my photographs. She feeds her dogs after her morning coffee then ventures out to tend to the chickens and horses. She feeds in the morning and collects eggs in the early afternoon, then prepares them for market before her early evening feeding round. It’s a full day.
Though she used to sell her eggs on the roadside in Kealakekua, she now has a weekly stand at the Saturday Farmer’s Market in the Keauhou Shopping Center.
Though in the old days, fresh unwashed eggs were often stored without refrigeration, she is now fully compliant with the Department of Health guidelines for selling eggs. After her collecting rounds she washes, packs and refrigerates her eggs for market.
The Saturday market is open from 8 a.m. to noon. But, Cheeta reported, “My regular customers come early and I’m usually sold out in the first hour.”
A true farmer and animal lover, Cheeta’s favorite part of the day are the hours she spends outside with her chickens or horses or caring for her crops.
The day I was visiting she shared some of her tangelo crop with me and explained how she protects her veggie garden from the many marauding pigs that raid her land nightly. In fact, while I was there, two baby pigs came out to share in the horses’ breakfast.
As cute as the piglets are, the nightly invasions by their large family has reached crisis proportions for Cheeta.
They originally came to feed on her macnuts and avocados but now she has to protect parts of her farm with a series of metal roofing sections to cordon off areas where they have become problematic. The pigs not only invade and eat from her garden, but have also wreaked havoc at the hen houses eating eggs and killing chickens. Though they are a huge problem, as an animal lover, Cheeta chooses not to trap or kill them.
NATURAL CYCLES
Having spent many years in rural Kona, Cheeta has seen lots of changes in local land management. She definitely prefers the old practices which were based on nature’s rhythms. She remembers when farmers only planted lettuce, squash and tomatoes during cooler, dryer parts of the year to maximize production and minimize attacks by insects and diseases. She finds this is a way to avoid using chemicals. It may be old fashioned but Cheeta prefers to work with natural cycles.
Cheeta also finds that her chickens lay eggs in a natural rhythm. They lay more eggs during the time of year when the days are longer. During the height of winter, when days in Kona are shorter, the chickens seem to take a break from egg laying. Though some farmers put lights in their hen houses to encourage year round laying, Cheeta’s dedication to working with nature means her hens get an annual rest.
Volunteer work in the community is also important to Cheeta. She has been on the board of the Kona chapter of the Hawaii Farm Bureau as a way to help local farmers. She is looking forward to helping the board come up with projects that benefit local agriculture and West Hawaii farmers.
When I asked what advice Cheeta could offer to those interested in raising chickens, she declared, “You gotta love chickens and be sure you have space for them to roam.”
She also felt it was important to warn those who want to raise chickens of the problems with mongoose and pigs. Finding access to a regular supply of good quality feed is also an issue she has encountered in Kona. Though she prefers to buy local, she’s considering finding a mail order source for food for her hens.
Yet, she continues to find ways to cope with the problems that arise on her farm and plans to continue being a good “chicken mama” for the years to come.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living in a dryland forest north of Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Friday: “Pesticide Safety Training for Growers” from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at Daylight Mind Coffee Company at 75-5770 Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. Hands on pesticide safety training. Free. For more information or to register call Amy at 209-499-4019 or email her at amy@agsafe.org
Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Volunteers will be able to help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Call Peter at 323-3318 for more information.
Farmer Direct Markets
Wednesday: “Hooulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” from 7 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
“Waimea Town Market” from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” from 7 a.m. to noon next to Thelma Parker Gym in front of Thelma Parker Library.
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Tuesdays &Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu – 322-4892
Mon., Tues. &Fri: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu
