P - PANIOLO
Ranching in Hawai’i precedes many Texas and Southwestern
ranches by more than three decades.
The first vaqueros were brought to the Parker Ranch in 1823.
They were called Espanoles (Spaniards) which the native Hawaiians pronounced as
paniolos. In time all cowboys in Hawai`i became known as paniolos.
Hawaiian Paniolo were expert Ropers because most of the
cattle on the Island were wild Long Horns and had to be caught by roping them.
The Paniolo knew they only got one chance so they learned to never miss. A few
of these Paniolo attained fame as world class cowboys. In 1908, Parker Ranch
Paniolo Ikua Purdy won the world rodeo steer-roping championship in Cheyenne
Wyoming.
One of the first this to strike me about Hawai'i was the
fact that they truly have REAL WORKING COWBOYS only they call them Paniolo.
It
seems being a Paniolo is a job that most are born into. I am lucky enough to have a dear friend whose
brother owns one of the ranches up above me on the way to Waimea. The best part
about it is getting invited to occasionally participate in Ranching activities
that still happen on Hawai'i as they have since the first. Just Cattle, Horses,
Men and Women and Hard work.
Not until the last calf is Branded, Vaccinated, Tagged for ID,
and the Bull Calves Castrated is the days work done.
Love this post! I spent the early 1960s running around with second and third generation Florida cowboys. Lots of fun and hard work!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping and the comments. I spent most of my childhood on horseback in PA but nothing like this.
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