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Haleakala Ranch Company History
The story of the Haleakala Ranch spans a history of over 100 years, was
guided by some of the most prominent and colorful individuals in Hawaii
and includes the raising of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, pineapple and
corn. Out of these early beginnings also emerged Haleakala Dairy and
Maui Land and Pineapple Company.
In 1888, H. P. Baldwin was present at the organizational meeting of the
present ranch as "a proposed purchaser of certain shares of stock," and
was elected treasurer. By 1890 Mr. Baldwin had purchased a portion of
the company and was elected president.
In 1899 Louis von Tempsky was hired as manager. His outstanding
knowledge of horses and cattle, along with his love for the people and
the land, enriched the company. He organized the first polo game on
Maui. His eldest daughter, Armine, wrote many books about Hawaii. Her
most famous, Born In Paradise, is the story of her youth, growing up on
Haleakala Ranch.
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Harry A. Baldwin (1871 - 1946)
During the 2nd
decade of the 20th century, Hawai‘i was a territory of the
United States. Harry A. Baldwin (1871-1946), oldest child of
Henry Perrine and Emily Alexander Baldwin, became President
of Haleakala Ranch in 1912.
Horses were
Harry’s passion, and riding was his respite. He kept a
private stable at Kaluanui, his estate in Makawao (now known
as Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center), and raced some of his
favorites at the Maui County Fair. Occasionally, he joined
his athletic brothers, Sam and Frank, on the polo field,
beginning a Baldwin Family tradition that continues today.
Harry roamed Maui’s pastures and plantation fields until the
end of his life in 1946 – tall, straight and always easy in
the saddle.
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By 1916, H. P. Baldwin's
eldest and youngest sons, Harry and Sam, had acquired substantially all
of the shares of the Ranch and upon the retirement of Louis von Tempsky,
Sam moved his family to Maui and became manager. Sam's son, Manduke, and
grandson, Peter, became subsequent managers and presidents of the ranch.
In 1927 the Ranch entered into a land exchange with the Territory of
Hawaii, in anticipation of the creation of Haleakala National Park. The
exchange involved over 9,500 acres, including much of Haleakala Crater.
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Samuel Alexander Baldwin (1885 - 1950)
President 1947 to 1950
Through the
turbulent 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, Samuel Alexander Baldwin
saw the beginning and end of two World Wars, Prohibition and
the Great Depression. He was the manager of Haleakala Ranch
for most of his life and president for the last three years.
He moved to Maui from Honolulu, and in 1918 built a home at Kapalaea with his wife Kathrine, where they raised five
children.
Polo playing was
a significant part of Sam’s life, and he won many matches
with his brothers, Harry and Frank, and his nephew Edward, around the
islands. He was also very involved in getting the horse
races established at Maui County Fair. From the 1920’s-30’s
Sam and his wife Kathrine traveled a lot, by ship and by
train, across country and into Asia and New Zealand. Their
children were attending prep schools and college back East
at this time.
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To this day the Sam and
Harry Baldwin families maintain the ranching tradition and the heritage
of five generations. Preservation and conservation are key parts of our
vision. In 1983 the Ranch signed a perpetual conservation easement with
The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii to manage 5000 acres of valuable
watershed, including protected and endangered species. We continue to
partner with state, county and Federal agencies and programs to improve
and preserve the land and its resources.
Haleakala Ranch is committed to preserving and maintaining its rich
heritage and traditions for future generations.
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