News Releases

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

PARKER RANCH TRUSTEE MEL HEWETT RETIRES

HEWETT WAS PERSONALLY SELECTED BY RICHARD SMART

~ Mel Hewett clearly remembers the night in 1991 when Richard Smart, the last heir of Parker Ranch, took the stage at Waimea’s Kahilu Theatre. “His health was failing but he wanted to do one last performance at Kahilu, a theatre Smart built for the community,” Hewett reminisces. “He certainly didn’t seem healthy enough to pull it off, but when he took the stage, his head was high, his shoulders were back, he stood tall, he seemed practically youthful, and he was literally transformed as he boomed out song after song. It was amazing, I’ll never forget it.”

Hewett, who had known Smart socially for years, was one of the original Parker Ranch Trustees personally selected by Smart prior to his death in 1992. Hewett closed his chapter at Parker Ranch on December 30, 2005, retiring after 14 years as Trustee.

“Richard’s vision for Waimea, a community he truly loved, is what drew me to him. His incredible legacy, his gift through the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust that benefits the Waimea community directly, is unparalleled and really got my attention. I wanted to be a part of that vision,” Hewett recalled. “Smart’s estate planning began in the late 1960’s. It evolved even beyond his death through some difficult and challenging times in implementing the trust agreement.”

Hewett’s understanding of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust agreement, the intent of Richard Smart’s wishes for Trust beneficiaries and the Waimea community, have provided an important bank of knowledge for Trustees John B. Ray, Warren H. Haruki and Timothy E. Johns.

“Through all the challenges and many transitions, I can truly say that I have enjoyed my 14 years here at Parker Ranch,” Hewett expressed. “I believe Richard Smart would approve of the progress and the accomplishments we’ve made. He would also appreciate the direction of the Ranch under the leadership of John, Warren, Tim and Parker Ranch Inc. President and CEO, Chris Kanazawa.”

“Mel has has provided a wealth of historical information and perspective for all of us,” expressed Trustee Warren Haruki. “We wish him the best and bid him aloha as he leaves the Ranch for his retirement.”

Hewett served on the Board of North Hawai`i Community Hospital, was a Trustee of the Parker School Trust, and was formerly a member of the Board of Governors of Hawai`i Preparatory Academy. Richard Smart named these three organizations as direct beneficiaries of the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust as well as the Hawai`i Community Foundation.

He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and the University of Hawai`i with a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is a real estate broker, and was a real estate consultant for Parker Ranch for three years prior to becoming a Trustee. He is a past member of the American Institute of CPAs, an associate member of the Urban Land Institute, and served as Vice President and Controller for Hana Ranch on Maui before his family moved to the Big Island in 1975.

Hewett, an independent realtor, plans to provide local real estate industry services, on a part time basis, as he and wife Julie also have plans to enjoy his retirement.

Smart, a sixth generation member of the Parker Family, established the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust to benefit the Parker School Trust Corporation, Hawai`i Preparatory Academy, Hawai`i Community Foundation’s Richard Smart Fund and North Hawai`i Community Hospital.

Parker Ranch is one of the largest ranches in the United States, spanning approximately 175,000 acres across Hawai`i s Big Island. It surrounds the town of Waimea and spreads between the Kohala and Mauna Kea mountains. The ranch is owned by the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust for the benefit of four local charities: North Hawai`i Community Hospital, Hawai`i Preparatory Academy, Parker School Trust Corporation and the Richard Smart Fund of the Hawai`i Community Foundation. The Parker Ranch Foundation Trust has cumulatively distributed a total of $12,251,000 in cash and land since 1998 to its Beneficiaries.