Parker Ranch is a working cattle ranch located near the town of Waimea. It is now a charitable trust. The ranch was founded in 1847 and is one of the oldest ranches in the United States, pre-dating many mainland ranches in Texas and other southwestern states by more than 30 years. Spreading approximately 135,000 acres (550 km2) of the island, Parker Ranch is also among the country’s largest cattle ranches.
A cowboy on the ranch is called a paniolo (Hawaiian pronunciation of Spanish: Espanol), since the first cowboys were Spanish-speaking and came from California. The Hawaiian language does not have the sound and the letter "s".
During World War II, it was used as a United States Marine Corps training base. The Third Marine Division conducted maneuvers there in preparation for the assault of Iwo Jima. The ranch continues to be used by the Marine Corps for exercises today.
The founder of the Ranch was John Palmer Parker who assisted Kamehameha I in ridding the island of wild bulls and was granted land which he later established the ranch with. The last owner of the Ranch, the actor Richard Smart, died in 1992, after which the Ranch is governed by the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust.
Two of the ranch's historic homes, Puuopelu and Mana Hale, are open for tours.
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