Eleven new members have joined the Paniolo Hall of Fame at the Hawai'i Cattlemen's Council Annual Convention on the Big Island.

Among the honorees is Robert Kamuela "Sonny" Keakealani Jr., who spent spent 27 years at Parker Ranch near Waimea.

As a 3-year-old, he was carried on the lap of his father, Robert Lopaka Keakealani, during cattle drives.

Another honoree, Tony J. Jose, 78, was raised on his father's ranch in Holualoa. He was an experienced ranch hand at the age of 20, when he started work at the W.H. Greenwell Ranch in 1947. In 1952, Jose was hired by Palani Ranch, where he worked for 26 years.

The Paniolo Hall of Fame induction ceremony was yesterday at the Hawai'i Cattlemen's Council Annual Convention at the Hilton Waikoloa.

The organization has 73 members, with all islands represented. The program was initiated by the O'ahu Cattlemen's Association in 1999 to recognize cowhands who contributed to keeping Hawai'i's paniolo heritage alive, and to honor those who made the paniolo culture legendary.

The other nine honorees are William "Willie" Kaniho (1894-1978); Eben Parker Low (1864-1954); Joseph Punilei Manini Sr.; Alfred Medeiros Jr.; John B. Medeiros Jr. (1927-2001); Herman L. Pacheco (1934-1991); Martin Ikua Purdy Jr.; Jack Ramos (1918-2002); and Charles "Kale" Stevens (1929-1994).

The Paniolo Hall of Fame includes portraits, short biographies and oral history interviews. The Paniolo Hall of Fame Oral History project includes 24 interviews with living Paniolo Hall of Fame members. The published interviews are available at hicattle.org.