Judd Napier

Aloha, You might wonder how I got started in rodeo being from Hawaii. Unfortunately, not many know that Hawaii has roots to agriculture and ranching dating back to the 1830's. My great grandfather, James Napier, was a Scotsman who landed in Hawaii in 1912 bringing a shipment of cattle with him from Missouri.He and my Great Grandmother had a dairy at Makahalau on the Big Island where they made butter for the island. He later worked for Parker Ranch. My grandfather, Alexander James Napier, was born on the island of Mau'i and raised on Parker Ranch on the Big Island until the family moved to Honolulu. At the age of 13, he worked at Hind Dairy. In 1951 he went to work for Kahua Ranch in Kohala on the Big Island where he remained for 30 years. He along with others founded the Hawaii Cattlemen's Association. My father, Robert Milne Napier, later followed the footsteps of my grandfather. He grew up riding the rolling hills of Kahua Ranch in Wailua, O'ahu and later started working for Kahua Ranch on O'ahu and in Kohala on the Big Island. He started the Golden Steers 4-H Club of O'ahu County, and served 32 years to the State and County 4-H program as a leader, Livestock Committee member, and chair. He continued to contribute to the advancement of ranching running a livestock transportation business. For 10 years he hauled and cared for cattle being sent through Honolulu to the mainland from local ranches and was a vital link in Hawaii's cattle industry. If it weren't for their influence and involvement in Hawaiian agriculture I wouldn't be who I am today. I firmly believe that my background has much to do with my current lifestyle. Without the lessons, history, and techniques learned when I was a young boy I probably wouldn't be doing what I am doing today. And for that, I am eternally grateful.