LIHU‘E — David Walton Pratt’s grandson, Bradley Pratt said they would go to visit his grandfather on Fourth of July.
“We’d go to visit not just at Fourth of July, but a lot of times, especially on the big holidays like Thanksgiving, and Christmas,” said Bradley, who is an intern with the Office of the Mayor. “Sometimes, he would watch us do fireworks.”
David passed away peacefully while traveling with his family on June 17, said Sam Pratt in a short biography of David’s life. He was 89 years old.
“I wasn’t even there,” said Sharron Weber of Tire Warehouse, a longtime friend of the Pratt ‘ohana who stopped The Garden Island associate mid-flight at the new Haleko Building office.
“The newspapers I used to come get were all for David. I would pick up the copies and bring it right over to his house. Now, who am I going to have to get the papers for? You’re the first people I’ve told since I heard the news.”
Born to Charles Dudley Pratt and Dora Marion Broadbent Pratt in Honolulu, David attended Hanahauoli School and Punahou School where he graduated in 1953.
He continued his education at Hotchkies School in Connecticut before enrolling at Colorado State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy in 1958.
“There was no one with as much breadth of history and present-day knowledge of Grove Farm Company as David Pratt,” a tribute to David Pratt by the Grove Farm Company said. “He steered the helm of Grove Farm Company twice for nearly three decades combined, and in retirement, remained on the Grove Farm Board of Directors until his passing on June 17.”
David’s Grove Farm roots ran deep, according to the tribute. His grandfather, E.H.W. “Ned” Broadbent, was a former Grove Farm manager, and his father, Dudley Pratt Sr., served as Grove Farm’s corporate attorney.
David was called on to join Grove Farm in 1972 by his father-in-law, Sam Wilcox who was the president at that time. David became president and CEO in 1975, leading Grove Farm through the transition of the closure of sugar into a diversified agriculture and community development company.
“We must not forget the vision he had for the people of Puhi, Koloa and the island of Kaua‘i, and for his many contributions for making Kaua‘i a better place to live,” said Remy Alayvilla Chinen, David’s secretary at Grove Farm. “
Don Horner, the current Grove Farm chairman and CEO, said David transitioned the company from sugar “to a builder of Kaua‘i communities.”
“As a result of his vision, the company has developed more than 2,000 homes for local residents, and built projects like the Kukui Grove Shopping Center. He also instilled in the company the core value of giving bak with major donations to establish the Kaua‘i Community College, Island School and numerous island nonprofits,” Horner said.
“David was a well-deserved recipient of the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian of the Year. He wisdom and sense of humor will be greatly missed.”
In addition to the Kaua‘i Chamber Humanitarian award, David was named Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year in 2010 by the Aloha Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He was also recognized as a Living Treasure by the Kaua‘i Museum in 2012 and honored in 2018 with the Charles S. Judd Jr. ‘38 Humanitarian Award that is given to outstanding Punahou alumni.
Other projects David had his hand in include several residential neighborhoods in the Lihu‘e-Puhi area, Puakea Golf Course, Puhi Industrial Park, as well as various project in Koloa and Po‘ipu, including the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
Sam said David also held various positions, including President and was a Director in his family’s business, Niu Pia Land Company, Ltd. for the last 54 years. His grandfather, Edward H. W. Broadvent founded Niu Pia on lands in the Wailua and Waipouli areas.
During the past 50 years, he was a champion for the Kaua‘i community, serving on numerous committees and boards of directors for organizations, such as Kaua‘i United Way, Hawai‘i Community Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Kaua‘i Economic Development Board, Kaua‘i Island Burial Council, Wilcox Health System, National Tropical Botanical Garden and G.N. Wilcox Hospital Board where he was president for 19 years.
“David Pratt was one of the original Kaua‘i Economic Development Board members that I worked with when I first came to Kaua‘i in 1987,” said Sue Kanoho, the Managing Director, Island Chapters, and Executive Director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau.
“He was also on the panel of businessmen who interviewed me to be the new Executive Director of KEDB back in 1990. One of the most respected businessmen on Kaua‘i, but also a very close friend. I’m grateful for the 35-plus years I was able to catch up on the latest island statistics, talk story, and always have a good laugh. We will miss you and give thanks to your decades of dedication to Kaua‘i.”
Sam said David was a passionate advocate of education in Hawai‘i, serving on the boards of Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy for 32 years and Island School for 37 years, both schools including him as Trustee Emeritus. He was also a member of the Kaua‘i Rotary for more than 50 years.
“David was a sixth generation kama‘aina member of the Judd family whose long life in some way impacted nearly every visitor and resident of Kaua‘i,” Sam said. “He was meticulous and detail oriented with a knack for proofreading. He will be remembered for his humility, welcoming everyone with due respect and gracefully including humor in most of his interactions with others.”
David was preceded in death by his wife Deborah Wilcox Pratt, brother Charles “Dudley” Pratt Jr., and sisters Joan Pratt and Barbara Vaughan.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Carol Jesse Hinesly Pratt, sons Sam (Robin) Pratt and Bill Pratt, grandsons James Pratt and Bradley Pratt, two nieces and two nephews, and numerous other extended family members and friends.
A private ceremony for family and close friends will be held at the Lihu‘e Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 4, starting at 3 p.m., at the Puakea Golf Course. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David’s honor to Island School, the National Tropical Botanical Garden or the Wilcox Health Foundation.
