Storied Career Includes Decades of Giving Back to the Community
Kailua-Kona, HI —After nearly two decades of leadership at Lanihau Properties, LLC, Riley W. Smith, P.E. will retire at years-end on December 31, 2026.
Under his long tenure, Smith was responsible for overall company operations including management and entitlement of lands within Honokohau, commercial leases and dispositions in Historic Kailua Village and properties in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas and Virginia, as well as business operations at Palani Ranch.
“Our ownership team, board members, employees are so thankful for Riley’s years of dedication and leadership guiding our family business. His leadership style was shaped by character, sound judgment and constant professionalism. All of us involved at Lanihau Properties and Palani Ranch have the utmost gratitude for Riley’s initiatives that helped to shape our company’s past, present and future with such grace,” said Palani Ranch Company President Scott Craven.
Prior to joining Lanihau, Smith was Deputy Chief Engineer for the County of Hawaii Department of Public Works, Project Manager at PBR Hawaii, Parker Ranch Vice President, Vice President at Waimana Enterprises and Regional Manager at Sandwich Isles Communications.
“Riley is that complete package you look for in a friend and leader—someone who is passionate about family, work and community. That certainly takes a lot of time, effort and commitment. Riley’s shoes will be difficult to fill, “ Scott Craven went on to say.
Community Involvement
He currently is serving a second term on the State Board of Land and Natural Resources and as a Trustee for Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital.
Smith has served on various Hawaii County boards and commissions including the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Planning and Permitting, Hawaii County Liquor Commission, Real Property Tax Review Working Group, County Liquor Adjudication Board, Hawaii County Energy Commission, Hawaii County Water Board, Hawaii County Environmental Management Commission, and the South Kohala Community Development Plan.
He has also volunteered his time for the Kona Water Roundtable, State Commission on Water Resource Management Nominating Committee, Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, Kailua Village Design Commission, Na Ala Hele Advisory Council, Kailua Village Business Improvement District, Na Kupaa O Kuhio, Bishop Holdings Corporation, Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, and the Waimea Community Association.
His various civic honors are too numerous to mention.
An honors graduate from Kamehameha Schools Kapalama and the University of Southern California, Smith also earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii.
Married to Nancy Carr Smith, Riley plans to spend his retirement enjoying family including grandsons, traveling, golfing and all water activities including swimming snorkeling and standup paddling at Waialea Beach Park.
About Lanihau Properties, LLC
The Kona-based company was founded in 1965 by Frank R. Greenwell and his three sons Robert, Radcliffe, and James. 61 years later, Lanihau focuses primarily on commercial real estate investments in Hawaii and across the United States, as well as land development and ranching in West Hawaii.
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