2nd Annual Cowboy Cup Scheduled

Mauna Kea Polo Club courtesy photo.

The Mauna Kea Polo Club will host the second annual Andrew Kauai Jr. Memorial “Cowboy Cup” on Sunday, Nov. 6, starting at noon at the Waiki‘i Ranch Polo Field.

The polo event honoring Andrew Kauai Jr. is a benefit for the Andrew Kauai Memorial Future Polo Player Fund.

Mauna Kea Polo Club’s Andrew Kauai Memorial “Cowboy Cup” will feature a round robin tournament played by paniolo representing ranches from around Hawai‘i Island. The cowboys will ride their ranch horses and play using Western saddles. Paniolo will battle it out for the title of Mauna Kea Polo Club Cowboy Polo Champions.

Andrew Kauai was a fourth generation paniolo and a beloved member of the Mauna Kea Polo Club who worked for many years as a cowboy and ranch hand for Parker and Ulupalakua Ranches. Kauai’s grandfather was the polo trainer at Ulupalakua Ranch where the tradition of cowboy or paniolo polo started.

For some good bumping polo action, come down to Waiki‘i Ranch on Sunday, Nov. 6 as the Mauna Kea Polo Club keeps the cowboy polo tradition alive.

The Sunday event will also feature a match with the more advanced polo-playing paniolo mixed with the best club players.

For those new to polo each polo match consists of four to six chukkers (periods) that each last 7.5 minutes. The game is played on a field with goal posts. The players attempt to hit the ball between the posts to score one point. After each goal, the teams change direction. At the end of the chukker, the players change horses.

Gates open at 11 a.m., so bring the whole family and tailgate at the lush Waiki‘i Ranch Polo Field.

The cost to attend is a $5 entry fee per person with children under 12 and military members with an ID admitted at no charge.

A silent auction will be held to support the Andrew Kauai Memorial Future Polo Player Fund.

The Mauna Kea Polo Club was established in the mid 1970s. It’s mission is to promote and expand the sport of polo in Hawaii through continued education, sportsmanship, member support and community outreach.

The remaining Mauna Kea Polo Club dates in 2016 include:

• Nov. 13: US Polo Association Masters Cup, a benefit for the new USO facility at the Pohakuloa Training Area
• Nov. 20: US Polo Association Wahine Challenge, a benefit for Hope Lodge
• Nov. 27: US Polo Association Sportsmanship Cup
• Dec. 4: US Polo Association Amateur Cup
• Dec. 11: US Polo Association Players Cup

The Mauna Kea Polo Club is sponsored by Huggo’s, Mauna Kea Resort, Lava Lava Beach Club, Big Island Brewhaus, The Rice Partnership, Fair Wind/Sea Paradise, Lex Brodie’s Tires, Ponoholo Ranch, Sassafras, Jon McCumsey, Chandi Hefner, Roberts Construction, Philips Contracting, Mirandas (Ka‘ono‘ulu Ranch) and Welding Services Hawaii.

For a complete list of the Mauna Kea Polo Club events, visit www.maunakeapoloclub.com.