Big Island residents and visitors turned out over President’s Day weekend for the 26th Annual Hawai‘i Horse Owners Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo from Feb. 17 to 19, 2018, at the Pana‘ewa Equestrian Center in Hilo.
Over the three-day weekend, an estimated 6,000 spectators turned out to watch 187 cowboys and cowgirls from ages 3 to 72 compete in the rodeo.
“What’s wonderful about this year’s rodeo is the spectators that came out and enjoyed the rodeo despite the rain, lightning and thunder,” explained rodeo recorder Nancy Cabral. “and our great paniolo and volunteers who kept the show going for three full days of excitement!”
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Each year, the rodeo includes a rodeo clown, a professional announcer, a wide variety of food booths, craft booths and leather and saddle making exhibits, as well as, cultural and historical displays.
The rodeo honored Harold “Freddy” Rice Jr., a respected leader in the Hawai‘i ranching and cattle industry.
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This year’s event marked the 10th year NFR Clown JJ Harrison served as the barrel man and entertainment and Buster Barton as announcer for the Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo.
Harrison is a highlight of the rodeo activities. He kept the crowd engaged, laughing and dancing.
“It’s all about the children,” Harrison said during the rodeo, pointing out just how many events there are for children.
Keiki competed in dummy roping, mutton busting (sheep riding), roping, barrel racing, team roping and junior bull riding.
This year’s novelty events included Chute Dogging, Wild Cow Riding, Crazy Bulls and Ranch Mugging (no horses).
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Hawai‘i’s paniolo heritage is a cowboy culture over two centuries old. Paniolo traditions continue and are seen at the rodeo when cowboys and cowgirls compete in unique Hawai‘i events like Wahine Calf Mugging, Po‘o Wai U and Double Ribbon Mugging.
In Double Ribbon Mugging, two cowboys/cowgirls work together to rope a calf, pull ribbon from it’s tail and remove their rope from the calf. The team with the fastest time wins.
Ribbon mugging competitors running to pull the ribbon from the calf and remove their rope during the Hawai‘i Horse Owners Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
Ribbon mugging competitors running to pull the ribbon from the calf and remove their rope during the Hawai‘i Horse Owners Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
Participants of the kane-wahine ribbon mugging racing back to the finish line during the the 26th Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
During Po‘o Wai U, wild cattle are lassoed and tied to an aumana, a Y-shaped tree. In the event, competitors must quickly rope the horns of a steer and tie it to the aumana with a non-choke knot.
The Pana’ewa Stampede Rodeo is held each year over President’s Day weekend.
The 27th Annual Pana’ewa Stampede Rodeo will be held Feb. 16 to 18, 2019.
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“Our readers need to realize that supporting rodeo in Hawai‘i is helping to preserve our unique Hawaiian paniolo history,” explained Cabral. “Without rodeo, we will only have this history in a museum.”
AWARDS
Paisley Menino of Waiakea-Uka in Hilo was crowned the 2018 Rodeo Queen.
Keonaona Porter was crowned Rodeo Princess.
All-Round Cowboy: Kalai Nobriga
Reserve All-Round Cowboy: Trisyn Kalawaia
All-Round Cowgirl: Nahe Nobriga
Reserve All-Round Cowgirl: Ana Martin
RESULTS
Po‘o Wai U
1. Kalai Nobriga 18.03
2. Peter Andrade 20.16
3. Levi Rita 20.16
4. Shawn Aguiar 27.10
5. Stoney Boy Joseph 29.59
Wahine Barrel Racing
Jerikah Valencia 36.79
Kala`a Andrade 36.87
Caitlin Lassiter 37.02
Jensten Andrade 37.32
Julie Williams 37.71
Youth Barrel Racing
Eli Higa 38.16
Kricia Derasin 38.69
Kesha Joseph 39.97
Urijah Flores 40.36
Hilina`i Gouveia 43.13
Kane-Wahine Ribbon Mugging
Kalai Nobriga and Ana Martin 16.13
Troy Gomes and Ana Martin 17.19
Kalai Nobriga and Nahe Nobriga 17.47
Denicia Derasin and Lucan Wong 28.72
Shannon Benevides and Trisyn Kalawaia 30.94
Youth Team Roping
Eli Higa and Stoney Boy Joseph 14.50
Wahine Breakaway Roping
Nahe Nobriga 2.22
Camela Haalilio 2.75
Jerikah Valencia 2.90
Jadee Oda 4.37
Aryka Diego 5.16
Open Team Roping
Kalai Nobriga and Kevin Hill 11.00
Jordan Gomes and Troy Gomes 11.04
Charles Stevens and Shane DeLuz 11.31
Nolan Nobriga and Nicky Boy Rapoza 12.72
Gregg Menino and Brian DeMattos 14.28
Double Mugging
Billy Boy Benevides and Trisyn Kalawaia 28.53
Shawn Aguiar and Peter Andrade 35.53
Kalai Nobriga and Kevin Hill 36.28
Shawn Aguiar and Justin Jose 39.13
Kalai Nobriga and Levi Rita 41.50
Century Team Roping
Steve Cox and Luis Rincon 12.28
Butch Gomes and Luis Rincon 13.16
Bill DeLima and Kaui Meyer 14.79
Clayton Low and Eric Valencia 16.15
Tie Down Roping
Kalai Nobriga 16.38
Levi Rita 22.28
Stoney Boy Joseph 23.44
Kepa Boteilho-Benevides 38.62
Trisyn Kalawaia 53.32
High Roller Team Roping
Charles Stevens and Kevin Hill 10.65
Shawn Aguiar and Brian Bugado 11.41
Bulla Waltjen and Brian DeMattos 12.47
Chad Serion and Keith Gomes 18.62
Troy Gomes and Jordan Gomes 19.94
Bare Back Bronc Riding
Trisyn Kalawaia Score: 133
Wahine Calf Mugging
Ana Martin and Nahe Nobriga 45.53
Daphnee Joseph and Shannon Benevides 49.56
Camela Haalilio and Nahe Nobriga 89.19
Lorilee Lorenzo and Kehaulani Ke 93.69
Bull Riding
Trisyn Kalawaia Score: 71
Among spectators at the 2018 Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo were Eggcenlent-Layer and Barrrack-Obama, Feb. 19. PC: Crystal Richard.
Barrel racer Jensten Andrade coming off the third barrel during her run at the 26th Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
Leiana Padilla during the youth barrel at 26th Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
NFR Rodeo Clown JJ Harrison tossing the football to keiki at the Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
NRF Rodeo Clown JJ Harrison during the 26th Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
Kamakani Keliiho‘omalu-Bangloy roping during the dummy roping competition at the 26th Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
Grand Entry at the 26th Annual Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19, 2018. PC: Crystal Richard.
Bill Delima competing in the Po‘o Wai U at the 2018 Pana‘ewa Stampede Rodeo, Feb. 19. PC: Crystal Richard.
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