Kahua Ranch to buy Damon cattle

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Kahua Ranch announced an agreement to purchase most of the cattle owned by the Damon Estate's Kahuku Ranch.

Kahua — an 8,500-acre livestock ranch and tourist attraction in North Kohala on the Big Island — also will lease 1,595 acres of Damon land and will continue to graze cattle on about 20,000 acres of adjacent land owned by the National Parks Service.

Financial terms of the deal, which closed Thursday, were not disclosed and Kahua's annual lease contains cancellation clauses for both parties.

Damon Estate announced plans last week to close Kahuku Ranch, on the southern slopes of Mauna Loa, after July 31. The transition in cattle operations comes as the estate prepares to end the trust as required upon the death of Samuel Mills Damon's last living grandchild, Joan Haig, who is in her 80s.

About seven employees of Kahuku Ranch were expected to lose their jobs, though some may be hired by Kahua.

Tim Richards, Kahua's president and general manager, said the purchase of Kahuku's cattle will boost its own herd by nearly 2,000 cattle.

"It's an excellent herd," he said. "It just gives us more numbers to manage."

Tim Johns, chief operating officer for Damon, said the estate's trustees continue to explore options with regards to the long-term disposition of the Kahuku property.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.