Honoka'a Western Week Celebrates Hamakua's Paniolo Heritage: May 22 - 30, 2011

Over 25 years ago, as I was preparing to move to Honoka’a, I was surprised to see a map showing a County park called the Honokaa Rodeo Arena. Little did I know then that ranching is a big part of the culture on the Big Island. It seems everyone in the Hamakua area has a relative or friend with a herd of cattle — and everyone pitches in when the time comes for a roundup. Roping and cutting are important skills and competitions are popular events.

The “oldest, biggest and best” rodeo in the State of Hawaii is the Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo held at the Honoka’a arena (this year will be its 55th year). As part of Honoka’a's Western Week, you can attend the rodeo this weekend (preliminaries begin Saturday, May 28 at 8:00 am) through Monday, May 30 at 4 pm. The rodeo draws over 300 contestants from all over Hawaii and the mainland with participants showing off skills such as bull riding, barrel racing, wild cow milking, roping and much more. The keiki events are especially popular with parents and family cheering wildly as the young ones try to ride a sheep or rope a calf.

Karen B. Clarkson, R

The Western Week golf tournament was held last Sunday, but there is still a saloon girl contest, a performance by the Honoka’a  High School Band and a paniolo parade followed by a block party to come this week. There are also special events and movies at the Honoka’a People’s Theatre starting tonight at 7pm. If you’re in the area, come join the fun in Honoka’a!

Read HONOKAA’S WESTERN WEEK “Rides Downtown Again” in the latest edition of the Hamakua Times