Princeville Ranch Manager Fred B. Conant

Fred B. Conant (1896-1980), the manager of Princeville Ranch from 1927 to 1958, was born at Waimea, Kaua‘i into a well-established kama‘aina family.

His mother, Surreney Ann Kananiopuna Conant, born in Koloa, Kaua‘i, was of Hawaiian ancestry, and his father, Elmer E. Conant, was at the time of his birth the manager of Waimea Sugar Mill Company.

In 1899, the elder Conant would become the first manager of McBryde Sugar Co., Kaua‘i, and would later manage the Big Island’s Parker Ranch and Moloka‘i Ranch.

When Fred B. Conant first joined Princeville Ranch, rice growing was a big money crop in the Hanalei area.

Bagged rice harvested in Hanalei Valley was floated down the Hanalei River on flat-bottomed barges to be stored inside a warehouse by the Hanalei pier to await shipment to Honolulu.

Then, following the arrival at Hanalei of a steamer such as the “Likelike,” rice bags would be loaded into open boats called lighters, and the lighters would then be rowed to the steamer anchored offshore, where the bags would be transferred aboard ship. The process of transferring cargo between vessels in this manner is called lightering.

In those days, ranch cattle were also shipped from Hanalei. Cattle would be tied to the sides of lighters, which would then be rowed out to a steamer.

Once the lighters came alongside the steamer, the cattle would be hoisted aboard in rope slings.

During Conant’s 31 years as manager of Princeville Ranch, its cattle herd grew from 1,400 to 2,200 animals. Large areas of former rice growing wetlands were drained and converted into cattle pastures. Mauka lands were acquired and cleared for additional pasture, and Pangola, an outstanding, fast-growing pasture grass was introduced.

Fred B. Conant and his wife, Phelina, had two children: Fred Blakeslee and Surreney Ann Conant.