If it’s entertainment and excitement you want this weekend, saddle up for the Hawaii Horse Owners Association’s presentation of the 24th annual Panaewa Stampede Rodeo at the Panaewa Equestrian Center.
Slack competition begins at 8 a.m. Saturday followed by the Grand Entry and Rodeo Show beginning about noon. The rodeo continues with cowboy church at 9 a.m. Sunday and the Grand Entry and Rodeo Show starting at 11 a.m. Tickets each day are $8 at the gate; free for children 12 and younger.
“The Panaewa Stampede Rodeo is about preserving the paniolo skills and cultural lifestyle of our Big Island,” said Nancy Cabral, rodeo secretary. “It helps our residents and visitors learn more about our history while enjoying themselves.”
On both days of the rodeo, kane, wahine and keiki will be competing for prizes and bragging rights in traditional rodeo events including bull riding, calf and team roping and barrel racing.
Paniolo also will compete in Hawaii’s own unique events of po‘o wai u, double mugging and wahine mugging.
Double mugging is an event where one cowboy ropes a steer and another cowboy on the ground attempts to bulldog the animal to the ground. The cowboy on the horse dismounts and helps the other cowboy. The object is to get the steer to the ground and tied as fast as possible.
Additionally, there will be local fan-favorite events of sheep riding, beach ball hula bulls, chute dogging and wild cow riding.
For the sheep riding event, or mutton busting, a sheep is held still, either in a small chute or by an adult handler, while a child is placed on top in a riding position. Once the child is seated atop the sheep, the sheep is released and usually starts to run in an attempt to get the child off.
For the eighth year, rodeo clown JJ Harrison and announcer Buster Barton will bring their wit, energy and knowledge to entertain the fans and keep the show moving.
Many food and craft vendors also will be part of the event.
The equestrian center is near the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, at 800 Stainback Highway, just outside Hilo. For more information, call the Hawaii Horse Owners Association 937-1004 or visit hawaiirodeostampede.com.
