ISLAND HISTORY: Kauai locomotive engineers Kapa Moke, Antone Orsatelli, and John Barretto

Born at Koloa, Kauai, Kapa Moke (1886-1965) was for many years a sugar train locomotive engineer, first for Koloa Sugar Co. and later for Grove Farm Co.

It was in 1902 at age 16 that he left school and went to work at Koloa Sugar Co. as a mule driver.

Two years later, he was transferred to brakeman on the locomotive “Paulo.”

And, in 1909, he was promoted to locomotive engineer, and he continued working as a locomotive engineer until he retired from Grove Farm in 1952.

Kapa Moke and his wife, Millie Moke, had a son, Daniel Moke.

Antone Orsatelli Sr. (1892-1969) was employed by McBryde Sugar Co. from 1904 until 1957.

Born in Puerto Rico, he immigrated to Kauai with his family in 1900.

When his father and brother died in 1903, he quit school to support his mother and sisters at McBryde as a water boy.

Later, he became a mule man at a time when McBryde kept about 80 mules at its Wahiawa stable, and 50 to 60 mules each at stables in Kukuiula and Lawai.

In 1919, Orsatelli left mule work for a job as a coal burning locomotive brakeman.

Over the years, he advanced to fireman, whose job it was to keep the locomotive’s steam up, then spare locomotive engineer, and finally, locomotive engineer.

When McBryde replaced its locomotives and its rolling stock with trucks in 1946, Orsatelli switched to truck driver.

Antone Orsatelli Sr. and Ida Orsatelli had five children.

Born in Kealia Camp, Kauai, John F. Barretto (1901-88) ended his formal education at the 8th grade and went to work for Makee Sugar Co.

At Makee, he became, in succession, a railroad locomotive brakeman, fireman, and engineer, and in 1934, when Makee Sugar Co. was acquired by Lihue Plantation, Barretto continued on as a locomotive engineer with Lihue Plantation.

By 1959, Lihue Plantation had switched over completely from hauling sugarcane by railroad cars to cane haul trucks and Barretto’s locomotive engineering days ended.

John F. Barretto and Ida Barretto had six children: Theresa, Mona, Dolores, Frances, Bernice and John Jr.
Source: The Garden Island