In 1793, a ship captain gifted a few cattle to a Hawaiian king. It might have looked like a friendly gesture at the time, but the effects lasted for generations. The National Park Service explains that Captain George Vancouver brought cattle to Hawaii Island as a gift for Kamehameha. The Hawaiian king ordered that the animals roam free. Over the years, the herds grew, and they became a dangerous headache. Within a few decades, they were damaging farms, forests, and the lives of people nearby.
Kahuku, located on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa, shows how long the story lasted. In 1861, a pulu dealer by the name of Charles Harris purchased the land, which measured 184,298 acres, for $3,100. However, on July 3, 2003, Kahuku Ranch became public land as part of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The Nature Conservancy helped bridge the $22 million purchase price.
Kahuku was one of the oldest ranches in the islands, but ranching in Kahuku was difficult due to its remoteness, lack of water , ruggedness, and volcanic eruptions.
Kahuku’s pulu, timber, and thousands of wild cattle and goats were considered attractive resources, and Hawaiians had long caught wild cattle there for household use and for market, according to the park service. Today the land is managed to preserve its scenery, wildlife, and historic objects for the enjoyment of future generations.
