Paniolo Steward Billy Bergin Named 2026 Living Treasure of Hawaiʻi

Dr. Billy Bergin’s selection as a 2026 Living Treasure recognizes a career that has blended animal health, ranch management and cultural preservation. Named on Dec. 31, 2025, Bergin was honored for work that includes leadership roles at Parker Ranch, development of herd health programs designed to improve livestock welfare and productivity, and the founding of the Paniolo Preservation Society to document and teach paniolo history and practice.

The Living Treasures program, established in 1976 to recognize individuals who sustain Hawaiian culture and community life, added Bergin to a slate of 2026 honorees representing arts, culture and community leadership. A luncheon to honor the class is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2026, giving the public and civic leaders an opportunity to acknowledge contributions that have both symbolic and material value for Big Island County.

Bergin’s work carries concrete local economic implications. Herd health programs that reduce disease incidence and improve reproductive performance and weight gain increase resilience for family ranches and mid-sized operations that underpin rural employment and local beef supply chains. Those productivity and stability effects can temper price volatility for local producers and help maintain grazing lands that contribute to the island’s open-space character and watershed management.

Cultural preservation also has measurable market and civic value. Documenting paniolo techniques, oral histories and gear supports cultural tourism and events that attract visitors and local spending while reinforcing identity for younger residents. The Paniolo Preservation Society’s educational activities help transmit technical skills that are costly to replace once older practitioners retire, making recognition through Living Treasures more than ceremonial, it is an investment in human capital for the county’s rural economy.

Policy choices will shape whether Bergin’s recognition translates into durable benefits. County and state support for agricultural extension, youth vocational programs, and land-use policies that keep ranchlands viable would amplify the economic returns from better herd management and cultural programming. Conversely, lost institutional support risks accelerating the decline of specialized skills and the fragmentation of grazing landscapes that provide ecosystem services such as wildfire buffers and watershed protection.

As Big Island County looks ahead, Bergin’s honor highlights the intersection of culture, economy and stewardship. His combination of veterinary science, practical ranching and historical work provides a model for how local leaders can sustain rural livelihoods while preserving the knowledge and landscapes that define the island. The Feb. 21, 2026 luncheon will be a focal point for community recognition and a timely reminder of the policy choices that will determine how paniolo traditions survive and adapt.