A Darker View

Dally Team Roping is simple... The first lasso around the head, the second around the rear hooves. If only one hoof is caught the team suffers a five second time penalty. As soon as the calf is held firm by both riders the time is scored.

Simple doesn't mean easy...

A pair of paniolos compete in Dally Team Roping at the 2010 Parker Ranch Rodeo

Waimea's paniolo heritage was on display at the 2010 Parker Ranch Rodeo. Skills and pride on the line in traditional rodeo events, the same skills that have made Hawaiian Paniolos famous throughout the world.

Traditional Hawaiian events are featured, different than events seen at mainland rodeos. Po'owaiu Roping, where the calf is secured through the use of an amana, a forked pole into which the rope is dropped after lassoing the calf. A well trained horse holds the calf against the amana while the paniolo ties the calf around the neck to secure it. Always a lot of fun is the Junior-Senior Ribbon Mugging... A father-son, or often a father-daughter team, retrieves a ribbon from a calf's tail and then runs hand in hand to a barrel to score their time.

Under a beautiful blue summer sky the paniolos and horses race after cattle. Ropes thrown through swirling dust, hooves and hats mixing as the timer decides the winner. A lot of fun to watch, even us non-cowpokes are caught up in the excitement, cheering on as a calf is caught and the flag drops. Little matter if the time is slow or fast, it is always a great show.

Paniolos from the Parker Ranch team attempt to wrestle a calf at the 2010 Parker Ranch Rodeo