Boots and spurs: July 4th Rodeo and Horse Races return to Parker Ranch

Parker Ranch’s annual July 4th Rodeo and Horse Races returned in full force last Monday to Waimea following a two-year COVID-19 pandemic-induced hiatus.

The sold-out, standing-room event at Parker Arena featured an array of action including horse races, ranch mugging, team roping, barrel races, po‘o wai u and more. Ranches on the roster included RK Livestock, Kahua Ranch, Andrade Ranch and Parker Ranch with dozens of cowboys and cowgirls, or paniolo, participating.

The July 4th Rodeo and Horse Races celebrates the community and commemorates Waimea’s unique ranching culture and way of life. The long-standing tradition promotes camaraderie and friendly competition among the various Hawaii Island ranches.

The rodeo and horse races, which turns no profit, is held solely for the community, said Jacob Tavares, livestock business operations manager for Parker Ranch. This year’s honorees were community members Patti Cook and Carol Ignacio.

The 58th running of the event comes as Parker Ranch marks its 175th anniversary. The ranch, established in 1847 by John Palmer Parker, is the fifth largest cattle ranch in the United States at 130,000 acres. It is owned and operated by the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust, which has four nonprofit beneficiaries: Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, Parker School and the Hawaii Community Foundation.

The ranch’s next rodeo is set for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5, with the return of the Parker Ranch Round-Up Club Rodeo, which also was last held in 2019.

The action-packed weekend is held as a fundraiser to provide educational scholarships for school-age children of Parker Ranch employees. Tickets will go on sale later this summer.

For more information, visit parkerranch.com.

July 4th Rodeo and Horse Races results

Po‘o wai u

1st: Bronson Branco — Parker Ranch, Kohala at 18. 76

2nd: Kelsey Onaka — Palani Ranch at 28.093

3rd: Kekahi Ferreira — Parker Ranch, Waiemi at 28.205

Team Roping

1st: Tyler Cox/Kekahi Ferreira — Parker Ranch, Waiemi at 8.89

2nd: Jessie Hoopai/Kris Gomes — RK Livestock at 9.55

3rd: Josh Gomes/Cody Esperago — Palani Ranch at 10.225

Jr-Sr Ribbon Roping

1st: Skylar Branco/Bronson Branco

2nd: Kamahoi Takushi/Levi Higa

3rd: Eliana Andrade/Kaili Brenneman

Ranch Mugging

1st: Tyler Cox/Kekahi Ferreira/Kama Kalaukoa — Parker Ranch, Waiemi

2nd: Levi Higa/Bronson Branco/Koa Perez — Parker Ranch, Kohala

3rd: Treston Deluz, Cody Jose, Zane Martin — Parker Ranch, Makahalau

Keiki Barrel Racing

1st: Holden and Hayden Onaka at 45.291

2nd: Anaiya Souza and Ava Andrade at 52.306

3rd: Grace Auweloa and Skylar Branco at 67.219

Race events

1/8 mile

1st place: Bronson Branco on Kalaniopio at 12.961

2nd: Kama Kalaukoa on He’ 0no at 13.033

3rd: Scott Spence on Spottie II Hottie at 13.530

1/4 mile

1st: Kekahi Ferreira on Shortcake at 24.675

2nd: Bronson Branco on Charlie at 24.970

3rd: Neal Asai on Fletcher at 25.153

All-around rodeo champion: Kekehai Ferreira — Parker Ranch, Waiemi

All-around rodeo champion runner-up: Tyler Cox — Parker Ranch, Waimea

All-around race champion: Bronson Branco — Parker Ranch, Kohala

Parker Ranch all-around cowboy: Bronson Branco — Parker Ranch, Kohala

Note: The all-around rodeo champion was closely contested within the Waiemi section with the winner having one point more than the runner-up.

Source: Parker Ranch