DAVID PRATT Obituary

DAVID W. PRATT David Walton Pratt passed away peacefully while traveling with his family on June 17, 2024. He was 89 years old. He was born in Honolulu on February 12, 1935, the youngest of the four children of Charles Dudley Pratt, Sr., and Dora Marion Broadbent Pratt. David grew up in Honolulu and attended Hanahauoli School from kindergarten through 6th grade, then attended Punahou School, graduating in 1953. He then attended Hotchkiss School in Connecticut before enrolling at Colorado State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy in 1958. David started his career in the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association training program in 1959 and 1960, then joined American Factors (AMFAC) where he worked until 1972 at Oahu Sugar, Lihue Plantation, Puna Sugar and in the headquarters office in downtown Honolulu. In March of 1972, he began 28 years of work with Grove Farm Company, Inc. as a Manager and Administrative Assistant. He was named Vice President in 1973, and in 1974 became President and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held over two separate periods for a total of 25 years. Under his leadership, Grove Farm phased out of sugar production and became a land steward, envisioning and creating the Lihue-Puhi community which includes several residential neighborhoods, Puakea Golf Course, Puhi Industrial Park, Kukui Grove Shopping Center and the surrounding commercial areas, as well as various projects in Koloa and Poipu including the Grand Hyatt Kauai. David also held various positions including President and was a Director of his family's business, Niu Pia Land Company, Ltd., for the last 54 years. His grandfather Edward H.W. Broadbent founded Niu Pia on lands in the Wailua and Waipouli areas. During the last fifty years he has been a champion for the Kauai community, serving on numerous committees and boards of directors for organizations such as Kauai United Way, Hawaii Community Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Kauai Economic Development Board, Kauai Island Burial Council, Wilcox Health System, National Tropical Botanical Garden, and G. N. Wilcox Hospital Board where he was president for 19 years. David was a passionate advocate of education in Hawaii serving on the boards of Hawaii Preparatory Academy for 32 years and Island School for 37 years, both schools including him as Trustee Emeritus. He was a member of Kauai Rotary for more than fifty years. David was Kaua'i Chamber of Commerce's Humanitarian of the Year in 2001; was named Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year in 2010 by the Aloha Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; was recognized as a Living Treasure by Kauai Museum in 2012; and was honored in 2018 with the Charles S. Judd, Jr. '38 Humanitarian Award which is given to outstanding Punahou alumni. David was a 6th generation kamaaina member of the Judd family whose long life in some way impacted nearly every visitor and resident of Kauai. 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 Lihue Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held on Sunday, August 4th at 3pm at Puakea Golf Course. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in David's honor to Island School, National Tropical Botanical Garden, or Wilcox Health Foundation.