Celebrate Hawaii’s ‘Year of the Paniolo’ at Parker Ranch rodeo, Aug. 30-31

Last November, Hawaii’s governor, Linda Lingle, proclaimed 2008 the “Year of the Paniolo,” honoring a historic cultural event in its centennial anniversary. Hawaiian cowboys, known as paniolo, are said to have first gained their deserved recognition in 1908, when Big Islander Ikua Purdy won the steer-roping championship at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming.

So it seems an especially good year to check out the 34th Annual Parker Ranch Round-up Club Rodeo, at the historic Parker Ranch in Waimea on the Big Island, later this month. Over two days at one of the largest ranches in the U.S., the rodeo will feature such events as steer wrestling, bull riding, barrel racing, steer un-decorating, calf roping and mutton busting.

Does the sound of this bring out your own inner paniolo? To participate in the rodeo, download the online entry form and make sure it’s postmarked by Aug. 14 or hand-delivered to Parker Ranch by Aug. 18, 2008.

When: Saturday, Aug. 30, and Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008.

Cost: To watch the rodeo, tickets are $5 per person, if you can buy them in person before the event at the Parker Ranch Store. Otherwise, if you buy them at the gate or online, they cost $6 each. Prices include tax. Children ages 10 years and younger are free.

Why Go: It’s a great way to witness this part of Hawaiian culture on a historic working ranch with a longstanding paniolo tradition.

Why Not: You don’t want anything to do with busted muttons or wrestled steer, and/or you’d rather wind down at a beach than charge up on adrenaline during your island holiday.

Contact: Parker Ranch, (800) 262-7290

– Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: ParkerRanch.com]

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 10:00 am by Susan Derby and is filed under Arts & Culture, Family & Kids, Festival, Hawaii, Hawaii's Big Island, Islands & Beaches. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.