In Remembrance of James “Jim” Parker, Lāna‘i’s Last Pineapple Plantation Manager
James “Jim” Parker, who managed pineapple operations on Lāna‘i and abroad for several decades, passed away on January 2nd in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 92.
Born in 1932 in West Virginia, Mr. Parker moved with his family to California during the Great Depression. He served in the U.S. Army and met Patricia Hoffmann while stationed in Germany. They married in 1954 and eventually settled in California, where Mr. Parker earned a degree in agronomy from the first graduating class at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He worked for the California Farm Bureau before being recruited by Dole in 1963.
Mr. Parker arrived on Lāna‘i that year as a trainee. His role expanded quickly. Over the course of his career, he managed operations in Honduras, the Philippines, Thailand, O‘ahu, and Lāna‘i. From 1979 through the early 1990s, he served as plantation manager on Lāna‘i during a period of transition that led to the eventual shutdown of operations. For several years, he also oversaw both the Lāna‘i and Wahiawā plantations.
He was known for his precision, discipline, and ability to adapt. Mr. Parker computerized field layouts and irrigation systems early, embracing new technologies as they became available. His daily presence at turnout — when field workers gathered in the labor yard before heading to the day’s assignment — became a regular feature of plantation life, regardless of his health or schedule.
Those who worked under him recall a manager who paid attention, stayed involved, and led by example. His longtime secretary, Miyono Niibu, was a constant presence in the manager’s office and played a central role in the operation. His family said he relied on her completely. Miyono managed records, coordinated logistics, and adapted alongside Mr. Parker as technologies changed. “She was his right hand,” said the family.
Former employee Rose Baptista first worked as a pineapple picker before Mr. Parker selected her for crop estimation. Under the supervision of Chiyoshi Oshiro, she learned to prepare field maps, calculate acreage, and track crop stages across the plantation. “He was a good teacher,” said Rose. “He was planning for everybody, every department.” Mr. Parker regularly reviewed her work directly, asking questions and helping adjust plans based on field conditions. “He would come to me and ask me a question… that made me feel like I was part of it, like he trusted me,” she said.
On slower days, he kept crews involved. “He would take us out and say, okay ladies, you come out of the van,” she said. He guided them through hands-on inspections of the fruit, inviting their judgment and sharpening their skills. “He could tell the pineapple sweetness just by tapping the fruit,” she said.
Those who worked with Mr. Parker came to recognize his routines. If he stepped out of the office and started down the hallway with his coffee, it usually meant something was coming — a meeting, a decision, a change in plan. “When you saw him doing that, you knew he had something to say,” said Rose.
When the plantation began winding down, he offered her a transfer to O‘ahu. She declined, not wanting to uproot her family. “He was a good, hard man — but he was good,” she said. “He taught us to be ready so someone could always step in.”
Gordon Ohashi also began his career under Mr. Parker, first as a management trainee rotating through harvesting, land prep, field maintenance, and research before becoming the material control supervisor overseeing freight and inventory. “He put me on a management training program,” said Gordon. “And I went to all the different departments... that’s where all the freight and everything came.” He recalled Mr. Parker stepping in when he struggled with conflict on the job. “I was getting out of hand because I was angry at some of the workers,” said Gordon. “He sat me down and we talked. And he was not mad at me or anything. He just wanted to work things out. That’s how he was. He worked with everybody.”
After the plantation closed, Gordon said Mr. Parker still looked out for him. “He tried to help me, but I told him, no, that’s okay.” Gordon called him a steady figure in both his work and personal life. “He was our Cub Scout leader, I remember. I’ve known him for a long, long time,” he said. “He’s always been a father figure to me. And he was very, very respected because he was a good, good, good man. Very good.” He added, “If he could give the shirt off his back, he would. He was that type of guy. I never met a man like that. I have all the respect for him. And I wish there was more people like him because he really, really cared.”
On Lāna‘i, Mr. Parker was an avid golfer and also served as a member of the volunteer fire department and was active in the Lions Club. During plantation days, his position came with community responsibilities that extended beyond agriculture. Residents often turned to him for help resolving conflicts or navigating decisions, even when the matters weren’t work-related.
After retiring from Dole, Mr. Parker and his wife, Patricia, moved to the Big Island, later relocating to Phoenix to be closer to medical care. Patricia passed away in 2014. The couple are survived by their four children: Paul Parker, Mary “Mitzi” Parker, Ann Parker Oyama and Joan Parker de la Cruz; nine grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.
Mr. Parker remained connected to Lāna‘i in spirit, speaking of it often in his later years. Though his last visit was more than twenty years ago, he considered it home. He spent retirement woodworking, building model trains, and at one point constructing a small boat, which was later repurposed by his family. He was known for his love of music, often heard whistling as he moved through his day.
He is remembered as a family man, a problem-solver, and a leader who took his responsibilities seriously. He held himself and others to high standards, expecting hard work and fairness in return. His impact on those who worked with him — and those who came to him for guidance — remains part of the island’s memory.