“Y’all got Rodeo in Hawaii?”

It’s surprising to many visitors that there are Hawaiian cowboys and cowgirls, or even horses and cattle in Hawaii much less real live rodeo. When English Captains Vancouver and Cleveland brought the first cattle and horses to Hawaii over 200 years ago, the heritage of the Hawaiian Cowboy, now called Paniolo, began.

Years before there were ranches in the continental United States, Hawaii’s Paniolo were experts at wrangling and roping cattle from horseback in country unlike anything in the American west. Cattle ranches were soon established throughout Hawaii and -eventually sprawled across the continental United States.

On special occasions cowboys and their families would gather to compete in friendly contests of ranching skills such as bronc (wild horse) riding and cattle roping.

The first recorded, organized rodeo was part of a 4^th of July Independence Day celebration in Prescott Arizona way back in 1864. Since then rodeo has been one of America’s most time honored 4^th of July traditions. The word “rodeo” was adopted from  the Spanish name of the coral where the wild horses were kept.

Hawaii rodeo is especially unique as all the excitement and action of the sport is combined with island traditions and proud history. Island ranchers and their families hone their skills year round in anticipation for rodeos which take place throughout the state. Most of Hawaii’s rodeos take place in the summer months when the weather is dryer and the days are longer. The biggest rodeo day in America by far is still the 4^th of July holiday.

In Hawaii the 4^th of July means BIG RODEO on every island as cattle & horse folk gather at rodeos big & small to perpetuate “Americas sport”. The Big Island’s Parker Ranch Rodeo and  Maui’s Makawao Rodeo have been annual celebrations for nearly fifty years.

Recently, on Oahu, a dedicated crew of cowboys and cowgirls are building a world class event known as the 4^th of July All Star Rodeo. The New Town and Country Stables in Waimanalo is Hawaii’s premier rodeo grounds with the state’s best string of bucking bulls and livestock and well built facilities that hold not only wild animals, but sometimes an even wilder crowd.

On the 4^th of July, 2002 an overflow rodeo crowd packed the 4,500 seat arena. It was the biggest rodeo crowd at a single performance in Hawaii since eight –time world champion bull rider Donnie Gay rode the great bull “Rocky” back in 1987. Spectators ran the gamut from local ranchers and residents to military personnel and a large contingency of tourists from around the world…All to witness the spectacle of Hawaiian rodeo.

The crowd was treated to a first class show that began with a heart tugging grand entry followed by a five-at-once wild cow race…Then bareback bronc riding,the keiki (childrens) barrel racing, adult barrel racing, and match barrel racing—an elimination event that matches two barrel racers at a time. Then there was the wahine (women’s) steer undecorating, an event in which women riders took taped ribbons off of running steers from the back of their galloping horses…yet another use for duct tape!

Then two man team roping was followed by the double mugging event in which a rider on horseback lassoed a large steer and with the help of his partner on the ground tried to wrestle it down. Pandemonium broke loose as the cowboys were often the ones left in the dirt.

The events were called by announcer Corey Gibson, son of stable owners Bud and Katie Gibson. Corey’s long time knowledge of Hawaiian rodeo and his personal relationships with the athletes and the animals make him well suited for his difficult job.

Country radio personality Charlie Garrett teamed up with Corey to make sure that the rodeo fans knew what was happening, the sponsors were well recognized, and that everyone was entertained at all times.

The action was sometimes interspersed with clown acts, a clown dress up dance contest where contestants dressed up as rodeo clowns and danced for the crowd to the tune of “Cotton Eyed Joe”, and of course the ever popular stick pony race in which a stampede of young cowboys and cowgirls wielding decorated stick ponies compete in a wild race for the grand prize which is…well… nothing!

Then came the main event.

“How many of you came to see the Bull Riding?” Hollered announcer Corey Gibson.  The crowd was deafening as the gates cracked open unleashing the beasts that make Waimanalo Rodeo famous. Dust and hoofs and cowboy hats flew in every direction.

Bulls with names like “Air Wolfe”, “Predator”, “Freight Train”, “Battle Zone” and the legendary bull “Rocky” have all bucked here.  So have the best bull riders in the world, including Lane Frost, Ty Murray and Tuff Heideman.

When the dust settled on this day, the bulls of the Rocker “G” Live Stock Company were undefeated.  They had bucked off Hawaii’s best bull riders, but there was one last chance for cowboy redemption…Cowboy Hula Bull.

As the cowboys slowly entered the arena, the bull fighters cheerfully fitted them with protective kevlar vests, hula skirts and plastic flower leis.  Rubber hoops were placed on the ground and each cowboy stood inside one.  “The last one still in your hoop wins!”, sounded the announcer.  And with that the bull fighters gave the cowboys one last aloha hug and the gate burst open introducing “Smokum”, a fierce large humped, rippling muscle, brahma bull into the ring.

The crowd went insane as Smokum selected and attacked his victims one at a time.  Some cowboys ran out of the arena, some of them flew.  In the end on man was left with all his body parts , a few hundred dollars and a great story to tell his grandkids.

This year McKenna Motor’s and The Shack Restaurants will be the title sponsors of the 4^th of July All Star Rodeo.

Dude to the overwhelming crowd at last year’s show, this year’s rodeo will be held on two days starting on July 4^th with the finals on July 5^th.

Gates open at 1 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 3 p.m. on both days.

There’ll be plenty for fans to enjoy before, during and after the rodeo such as pony rides, great food, soft drinks and beer. Shoppers will have a great opportunity to scoop a vast selection of western hats and gifts… especially the coveted 4^th of July Rodeo Collector’s shirts and the newly released 2004 Hawaiian Rodeo Calendar.

Special contests you may want to enter are the Country Dance Contest which takes place at 2 p.m. before the rodeo on the 4^th of July, the second annual Mountain Oyster Cook Off, contest at 2 p.m. July 5^{th ,} the Cowboy Hula Bull which happens on both days right after the bullriding, and the mechanical bullriding contest which takes place after the rodeo on the 5^th of July.

Kids can bring a stick pony or get one at the rodeo and enter the stick pony races or dress up like a rodeo clown and enter the clown dance contest.

Some of the rising stars to watch for are eleven year-old Shelby Rita from the north shore. Champion of last year’s keiki barrel races, Shelby will be competing in the keiki and adult barrel events. You ‘ll see Shelby’s picture on the cover of this newspaper and  all over the is year’s Rodeo Poster and t-shirts.

Handsome Jason Lau, 20, is an all-around cowboy from Waimanalo who’ll be entered in several events including bronc and bullriding. Jason is also a polo player and duck & chicken psychologist.

Then there’s Chris Dudley, a freelance writer, who rode his first bull as part of an award winning story he did for a local newspaper. Chris is a farrier (horse shoer) and musician on the brink of stardom. Chris debuts as the clown ‘Jed Jed’. Look for the bright orange shirt--the bulls certainly will.

This year’s rodeo is a benefit for therapeutic horsemanship of Hawaii, the Hawaii High School Rodeo Association and Naturally Hawaiian’s Art Center in Waimanalo.

For information on tickets, entry’s and sponsorship call 259-5354.