Celebrate Honoka‘a Western Week May 21 to 29

Honoka‘a Western Week “Saloon Girls and Cowboys” in the HWW parade. Photo courtesy of HWW.

Honoka‘a is kicking off its annual Western Week celebration beginning May 21 through 29, with a variety of events and activities for all ages. The schedule of events and associated activities are as follows.

LIne Dance Classes and Party

To prepare for the “hootenany,” Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School will host free line dancing classes on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. at the school auditorium, led by instructor Pauline Dias. Line dancers are invited to strut their stuff at the May 24 Line Dance party at Honoka‘a People’s Theatre. For more information, contact Susan Wood at (808) 756-0179 or [email protected].

Hāmākua Harvest: Farm to Table Foods

The 2nd Annual Farm Festival on Sunday, May 21, will bring more than 40 vendors to Hāmākua Harvest on Māmāne Street to celebrate farm to table foods. A variety of fresh fruits and veggies from regional farms will be available for purchase, and attendees can learn how to grow and cook their own with live demonstrations by local chefs.

The festival will include five free educational workshops by agricultural professionals, including composting and soils, tree grafting, green tea, food preservation and pasture management.

Live entertainment will be provided by slack key master Ben Ka‘ili, the Rachael Scott Band, Dennis Padilla and James Lowe, and the Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hāmākua.

The event is free to attend and a free shuttle bus will offer transportation from various locations in Honoka‘a to the Farm Festival. For more information, contact [email protected] or call (808) 640-2506.

Portuguese Bean Soup and Sweetbread Contest

Amateur and pro chefs alike of all ages are invited to enter the Portuguese Bean Soup and Sweetbread Contest on Tuesday, May 23, in the NHERC Pavilion. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including the coveted “Golden Ladle.” Winners will be recognized during the Paniolo Parade on Friday, May 26.

The contest is free to enter, and entry forms are available online at www.honokaawesternweek.org. Contestants will need to prepare enough soup or bread for 50 tastings (about four quarts or four loaves of bread), and bring to the NHERC Pavilion by 4:30 p.m. Costumes and decorations are encouraged.

Saloon Girls and Cowboys Got Talent Contests

The Friday Block Party will feature the crowd-pleasing Saloon Girls and Cowboys Got Talent Contests. Folks of all ages are encouraged to dress up in Western garb and bring their best three-minute song, dance, story or other performance to the stage for a chance to win cash prizes. There is no cost to enter and entry forms are available online at www.honokaawesternweek.org, or by calling Michelle at Big Island Grown at (808) 775-9777.

Honoka‘a Western Week Schedule of Events

Through May 18: Free Line Dancing classes at Honokaʻa High and Intermediate School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. To register, contact Susan Wood at (808) 756-0179 or [email protected].

May 20: Deadline to enter Saloon Girl and Cowboys Got Talent Contests. For information and applications, call Michelle Hartman at (808) 775-9777.

All week, May 21 to 29: Celebrate Honokaʻa Western Week! Everyone is invited to dress up western-style, visit Honoka‘a town merchants and enjoy different paniolo-themed activities every day of the week.

Sunday, May 21: The 2nd Annual Farm Festival at Hāmākua Harvest will happen from 8 to 3 p.m. at the intersection of Māmāne Street and Highway 19 in Honoka‘a. The festival will include more than 40 vendors, live music and hula, educational presentations, a silent auction, keiki activities and more. There is no charge for admission.

Monday, May 22: Stick horse creation at Hāmākua Youth Center from 3 to 5 p.m. Free.

Tuesday, May 23: Portuguese Bean Soup and Sweetbread Contest at NHERC Pavilion, 5 to 8 p.m. Hosted by Gramma’s Kitchen. Applications available by contacting [email protected].

Wednesday, May 24: Line Dancing at Honoka‘a People’s Theatre from 6 to 9 p.m. Food trucks will offers meals and snacks for purchase.

Thursday, May 25: Sit in for the Historic Honoka‘a Town Talk Story at Honoka‘a Library at 4 p.m., featuring Ross Stephenson, author of “Honokaʻa Town,” and Leilani Hino, author/photographer of “Cowboy Kaona.” The event will be led by HWW Sheriff Larry Ignacio. Also on Thursday, The Landing restaurant will host a “Rowdy Rodeo” from 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday, May 26: Western Week Block Party

• 2 to 11 p.m. – Māmāne Street closed.
• 4 p.m. – Paniolo Parade down Māmāne Street, with mounted and marching units, pā‘ū riders, gleaming vintage cars and more. Darde “Tita Nui” Gamayo of KAPA Radio will be one of the parade announcers.
• 5 p.m. –  Stick horse races
• 6 p.m. – Saloon Girls and Cowboys Got Talent Contest
• 7 to 10 p.m. – Block Party and Dancing in the Street, with great Classic Country and Hot Country Rock by the Big Island’s own Bobby Reno Band. Event emceed by Valerie Poindexter. Plus, a free “Keiki Corral” for the kids from 5 to 7 p.m. with carnival-style games, silent auction and a Petting Zoo provided by Ka Hale O Na Keiki Preschool. There will also be an Epic Silent Auction and Lucky Number Prizes.

Vendors interested in booth space for the Block Party may contact Dawn Cordeiro at (808) 960-5832,  or [email protected].

Saturday, May 27: “Saturday Slack” events of the Hawai‘i Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo.

• 7 p.m. – Maria Muldaur and her Red Hot Bluesiana Band at the Honoka‘a People’s Theatre. Tickets available at www.lazarbear.com or by calling (808) 896-4845.

Sunday to Monday, May 28 to 29: 61st Annual Hawai‘i Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo.  For more information, contact [email protected].

For more information about Honoka‘a Western Week, and to access entry forms for all events, follow Honoka‘a Western Week on Facebook or visit www.honokaawesternweek.org.