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
