The history of the Kaua’i paniolo (the Hawaiian cowboy) will be celebrated during special events that will be held on Kaua’i until the end of the month. Between June 15 and June 30, the second annual Kaua’i Cowboy Roundup will
The history of the Kaua’i paniolo (the Hawaiian cowboy) will be celebrated during special events that will be held on Kaua’i until the end of the month.
Between June 15 and June 30, the second annual Kaua’i Cowboy Roundup will feature a rodeo, a poka roundup and a celebration at the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility. An exhibit of top paniolos from the past and present also will be on display in west Kaua’i from June 15 to September 15.
The West Kaua’i Business and Professional Association is sponsoring the events to mark the contributions of the paniolos to Kaua’i, said Chris Faye, a publicist for the event.
“It is important to gather the stories of these people before it (their history) is lost,” Faye said.
The history of paniolos is a story of hard work in rugged conditions, perseverance, love and respect for the land and the strong relationship between the paniolo and his horse, historians say.
Much of the work of early paniolos consisted of rounding up cattle in the upland forests and driving them to the lowland pastures.
The origins of the paniolos date back to the early 1800s, when vaqueros came from California – at the invitation of King Kamehameha III – to teach Hawaiians how to handle horses and cattle.
The Hawai’i cowboy tradition predates the cowboys of the United States cowboys by about 30 years. By the 1850s, Hawaiian ranches stretched from Ni’ihau to the Big Island, many of which are still in operation.
Kaua’i County councilmember Daryl Kaneshiro, whose family has been in the hog and cattle business for three generations, said the paniolo led a life filled with challenges because they worked in remote and rugged terrain.
Today, ranchers use trucks or all-terrain vehicles to move cattle. In the days of the paniolo, the cowboys relied only on a rope, a horse and their wits to survive, Kaneshiro said.
“They really worked hard in those days. They deserve respect,” Kaneshiro said.
Ranching in Hawai’i in today is alive and well, as operators have opened their ranches to the public for visits, historians say.
On the Big Island rodeos and pageants are held from Kau to Waimea; Ranches on Kaua’i offer horseback rides throughout the island; Horseback riders are led through the highlands and valleys of Lanai; Horseback rides are offered up the mountains of Haleakala on Maui; Horseback rides are offered to Kalaupapa on Molokai and horseback rides are offered on trails on O’ahu, historians say.
Parker Ranch on the Big Island and Haleakala Ranch on Maui are among the most renowned ranches in the state.
Among dozens of ranches on Kaua’i, the four largest are Princeville Ranch, Kipu Ranch, the Kipu Kai Ranch and Makaweli Ranch, Faye said. Each ranch comprises thousands of acres on the average, she said.
Because most ranches on Kaua’i were connected to plantations, people have had the misperception that the paniolo had little influence on the development of Kauai’s history, culture and lifestyle, Faye said.
“That is not true. Our paniolo heritage is as rich as any in the state,” she said.
Events for the Kaua’i Cowboy Roundup include:
l An exhibit, “Kaua’i and Ni’ihau Cowboys Past and Present, will feature nominees to the Kaua’i and Ni’ihau Cowboy Hall of Fame.
The display will be shown at the West Kaua’i Technology and Visitor Center between 9 am. to 5 p.m. daily from June 15 to September 15. Admission is free.
The inductees this year are Harold Aiu, Manuel Andrade, Manuel S. Andrade, Francis Gay, Delbert Kaipoleimanu Ho’okano Sr., Norman Kalani Ho’okano, Jose Kanoa, Solomon Malina Sr., Solomon “Pili” Malina Jr. and Eddie Taniguchi Jr.
Nine paniolos were inducted last year. They were Kaluaiko’olau, William “Uahinui” Kauahi Ho’okano, Moses “Kauhi” Kauahi Ho’okano, Alfred “Ohu” Kaohu Ho’okano I, Melvin Kauwila Pahulehua Sr., Warren Selwyn Robinson, Eddie Taniguchi Sr., Joseph “Joe” Punilei Manini Sr. and Antonio “Tony” Wong.
l The Kaua’i Cowboy Kanikapila, a yearly fundraiser for the Waimea Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club, will be held June 23.
Entertainment will be offered and Kaua’i-grown products will be used for a barbecue to start at 5 p.m. A concert is scheduled at the Kikiaola Boat House from 7 to 11 p.m. For tickets and for information on the barbecue, call 338-1418.
l A “Banana Poka Round-up” at the Souza Center at the Koke’e Natural History Museum will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 24. Free admission. Call 335-9975.
l The Kaua’i and Ni’ihau Cowboy Hall of Fame will be held at the Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu’e at 7 p.m. on June 27. Admission is free. Call 338-1332.
Applications for candidates can be obtained at public libraries and at the West Kaua’i Visitor Center in Waimea.
l The Paniolo Challenge and Mule Races will be held behind the West Kaua’i Technology & Visitor Center in Waimea from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 30. Call 338-1332.
l The Pacific Missile Range Facility Day Celebration will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. on June 30. Fireworks to follow. Free admission. 335-4195.
Staff Writer Lester Chang can be reached at mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 225).
