Posted at 10:50 a.m., Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Waiomina Centennial celebrates the Hawaiian cowboy
Advertiser Staff
The late champion roper Ikua Purdy, arguably the most famous Hawaiian cowboy of them all, will be recognized, and all Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys) celebrated during the activities of the Waiomina Centennial Celebration. ("Waiomina," by the way, is Hawaiian for Wyoming.)Though the official celebration is set for summer, 2008, the events kick off Oct. 5 when Purdy is inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Old West Museum in Cheyenne, Wyo.. Members of his family and of the Big Island-based Paniolo Preservation Society will be on hand. Purdy won the roping championship at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo 100 years ago next year.
In addition, the Old West Museum will host a year-long exhibit on the Hawaiian cowboy and Ikua Purdy, May, 2008 through May 2009.
Waimea and Cheyenne have established a sister-city relationship.
The Waimonina Centennial Celebration is planned for Aug. 22 to Sept. 1 on the Big Island, with a full day of activities on Sept. 23 ( costumed re-enactments of Hawai'i history, paniolo cookout, cowboy concert); a tour of the Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske ranch Aug. 27 and, to wrap up events, the annual Parker Ranch Labor Day Rodeo Aug. 30 and 31.
All these efforts are aimed at raising interest in the Paniolo Preservations Society's ultimate goal: creation of a Regional Ranching and Paniolo Cultural Center.
Information: Paniolo Preservation Society, P.O. Box 640, Kamuela, HI 96743; www.paniolopreservation.org
