Will Pavao

You may know Will Pavao as Grove Farm’s property manager, helping care for thousands of acres of land across Kaua‘i. But long before he took on that role, Will’s life was already rooted in ranching. Born and raised in Kalāheo, Will grew up in a household filled with animals. While he once imagined becoming a veterinarian, he found another way to build his life around the animals and outdoors he loved.

In the early 2000s, Will began helping close friends whose family had raised cattle for generations on land leased from Grove Farm. When they were ready to step away from ranching, they gave Will the opportunity to carry the work forward. He began with a 285-acre ranch lease and approximately 30 cattle. Over time, as neighboring leases became available, Will fenced and cared for additional pastures. Today, he is working toward nearly 3,000 acres of grass leased from Grove Farm.To Will, more grass means the opportunity to grow his ranch, bring more cattle to market, and work toward a future where more locally raised beef can remain in Hawai‘i.

In addition, by rotating cattle and keeping invasive plants from taking over, Will helps sustain healthy pastures and reduce dry fuel that can feed fires. Balancing his work as Grove Farm’s property manager and his ranching keeps him busy seven days a week, but Will does not describe it as a burden. His work carries forward Kaua‘i’s agricultural roots across generations. His grandfather worked in Kaua‘i’s sugar industry, and his father raised food for the family table and freezer. Now, Will hopes what he raises can one day serve more than his own family—it can help feed the island.

At the end of the day, his goal is simple: Caring for the land, supporting Kaua‘iʻs agriculture, and leaving the pastures better than he found them.