With a history spanning more than 160 years, Parker Ranch on Hawaii's Big Island is one of the oldest and largest cattle ranches in the United States, spreading through approximately 130,000 acres of the island.The story of Parker Ranch began in 1809, when John Parker jumped ship on the Big Island. He was soon noticed by the great King Kamehameha I. Kamehameha hired Parker to help control herds of wild cattle, whose population had grown uncontrollably since their introduction to the island in 1793. Parker married Kipikane, the daughter of a high-ranking chief. The couple had a daughter and two sons, and the Parker dynasty began, figuring prominently in the next two centuries of Hawaiian history. In 1913, Richard Palmer Smart was born to John Palmer Parker's great-granddaughter. Smart's death in 1992 marked an end to the Parker reign over the ranch. He left Parker Ranch, complete with his exquisite art collection, in a trust to benefit the Waimea community. Beneficiaries include Par