Parker Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii released the following statement regarding the brush fire that has burned over 50,000 acres on the Big Island:
This is our first update since posting our initial statement on the fire yesterday (8/2 at 3:30pm).
Our current estimate of burned acreage remains the same as previously reported – over 32,000 acres of Parker Ranch pasture is burned, with a combined total of over 50,000 acres burned for all lands involved in this devastating fire. This estimate is subject to change as data is gathered and confirmed.
This fire appears to be a once in fifty years event, or 2% probability for the State of Hawaii. Unfortunately, the fire appears to have occurred largely on Parker Ranch, much more than affecting other landowners.
Firefighting operations are continuing given the sustained winds and relatively dry conditions. At least 10 bulldozers are still actively cutting firebreaks today to help prevent the fires from continuing to move and reduce the risk of further outbreaks.
We have adopted a 5-point plan to immediately address this devastation to our pasture lands:
(1) Preserve the lives of as many cattle as possible by relocating them to alternate pastures.
(2) Engage an ecological expert in rehabilitation and healing of lands after large-scale fires.
(3) Engage our cultural advisor, Ku’ulei Keakealani, who possesses a longstanding relationship with Parker Ranch, to form an advisory group to guide our thinking on how to best approach the effort to rehabilitate and heal the land, working with the ecological expert and us.
(4) Commence efforts to restore destroyed water infrastructure.
(5) Accelerate reforestation efforts, especially on upper elevation lands to enhance moisture capture and cloud formation (expect initial announcement this week).
Our cowboys are currently gathering cattle to relocate them to other pastures. We are working with other ranches and industry partners to identify alternative lands where the displaced cattle can be pastured.
We have both foresters and ecologists who we have worked with in the past available to us but want to add an expert in rehabilitation and healing the land after large-scale fires since the sheer scale of the fire can affect the ecosystem. We want to also understand if alternative grasses would be preferred given the threat posed by spittlebug to the ranches in North Kona and West Hawaii.
We have a cultural advisor who works closely with us and we have asked her to form an advisory group of cultural practitioners to assist us in giving the land our aloha during this time. This group will look particularly at ho’ola practices of healing and revitalizing the ecosystem reflecting Hawaiian values and protocols.
Those lands most suited for grazing will require new investment in infrastructure for water distribution. We have some of this infrastructure in inventory, but have also contacted our suppliers to secure the components required to enable grazing to be re-established.
We will be seeking potential collaboration and partnerships on reforestation of a portion of the Parker Ranch Mauna Kea lands (equal to at least 10% of the lands burned in this fire or about 3,300+ acres).
We will also explore expanding reforestation beyond the initial 10% of these Mauna Kea lands with the input of our forestry team and external advisers. The priority is reforestation of native species with the greatest potential to benefit the entire ecosystem. In addition, the process of selecting grasses will also reflect the optimal benefits to the natural ecosystem, not just grazing considerations.
We anticipate publishing a press release in the next 2-3 days which will include a map of the proposed initial area to be considered for potential reforestation on Mauna Kea lands owned by Parker Ranch, or about 3,300 acres. These lands are located at higher elevations than where most of the fire burned.
We would also like to express our sorrow for the losses experienced by our friends and neighbors situated on Pu’ukapu Hawaiian Homestead ranches. We share a history and deep connection to the past and want to help in any way possible.
We want to aloha our Parker Ranch cowboys and families. They have worked tirelessly these last several days to deal with this fire and its consequences. The extended ohana of the Waimea community has shown grace and gratitude in supporting us and our employees.
We would also like to specifically extend our aloha and mahalo to all the companies that made their bulldozing equipment and employees available to fight this large fire, as cutting firebreaks is a verified strategy for hindering the ability of fires to travel. These companies include Bertelmann Inc. (Kyle Hooper, Patrick Santiago, and Kamakana and Kamuela Bertelmann), Edwin Deluz Trucking & Gravel, LLC (Collin Levitro, Orson Wilcox), Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd. (Sunny Medeiros, Hano Boy Grace), Goodfellow Brothers, Inc. (Kalima Grace, Steven Grace), C&R All Around Services (Jason Sanchez, Creighton Sanchez), Brown Development (Shane DeLuz), Ludwig Construction, Inc. (Herman Ludwig), Nan, Inc. (Ryan Grace, Dallas Medeiros), West Hawaii Concrete (Roman Ha’o, Jingles Kainoa). Fighting this gigantic beast of a fire would have been impossible without your sweat and kokua. We are grateful for your contributions, responsiveness and reliability in helping us with this challenging situation and the others that affect our community from time to time. Mahalo nui loa and aloha to every one of you.
Waimea is a very special community with a unique history, sense of place and connection to the land. Once again, we are blessed to live in this community and have friends to help in such a time with such a violent force of nature. Mahalo nui loa.
Parker Ranch
August 3, 2021 (4:00pm)