Harkening back to rowdier times, Honokaa Western Week rides into town May 17 to 25. Honokaa Western Week lets the usually quiet, former sugar cane plantation town kick up its heels and celebrate a century-old paniolo heritage. The unique cultural blend of rodeo sports, high-energy events, music, food and education offers visitors and kamaaina of all ages a whole herd of ways to have fun.
Harkening back to rowdier times, Honokaa Western Week rides into town May 17 to 25. Honokaa Western Week lets the usually quiet, former sugar cane plantation town kick up its heels and celebrate a century-old paniolo heritage. The unique cultural blend of rodeo sports, high-energy events, music, food and education offers visitors and kamaaina of all ages a whole herd of ways to have fun.
Event organizers invite the public to “Cowboy up — slap on spurs and mosey on down to Honokaa town,” starting May 17 with the Paniolo Parade at 3 p.m. along Mamane Street. Then, a week full of paniolo-style events gives cowboys and cowgirls a chance to show off their chili-cooking skills, make their own stick horses, munch popcorn and watch Westerns at Honokaa Peoples Theater, and talk story at North Hawaii Education and Research Center .
On May 22, Mamane Street closes down for the Block Party, featuring country-style music, a sizzling steak fry fundraiser, and a lineup of contests and events. The Saloon Girl contest and Cowboys Got Talent contests are open to anyone willing to dress up in their best duds and strut their stuff in a talent and personality competition for the audience. Vendors interested in booth space for the Block Party may email Sue Dela Cruz at westernweekhonokaa@gmail.com.
Over the weekend, the 59th annual Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo takes place at the newly renovated Honokaa arena. The rodeo starts with “Saturday Slack,” an elimination round, and then cowboys, keiki and wahine are put through their paces Sunday and Monday, competing for buckles, saddles and prize money. Unique-to-Hawaii rodeo events, like poo waiu, are in the lineup, along with bull riding, calf roping, bareback and saddle bronc events, sheep riding for the keiki and more.
In its 59-year history, the rodeo has awarded thousands in scholarship funds to high school seniors islandwide as well as continuing education scholars.
More events, concerts, educational exhibits and activities are in the planning stages. Commemorative buttons will be available to purchase as a show of support, as well as automatic entry in the “lucky number” drawing during the Block Party. Although buttons are not required for admission, attendees receive fair warning that those without buttons at the Block Party risk being thrown into the hoosegow by roving “sheriffs.”
Honokaa Western Week is a volunteer-driven project supported by the Honokaa Business Association, Hamakua Farm Bureau, Hamakua Lions Club, Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter, Steinlager and others, celebrating Hamakua’s paniolo heritage and unique cultural blend.
Schedule of events
— May 15: Deadline to enter Saloon Girl and Cowboys Got Talent Contests. For information and applications, call Michelle Hartman, 775-9777.
— May 17 to 25: Celebrate Honokaa Western Week with Honokaa Business Association. Everyone is invited to dress up western-style and visit Honokaa town merchants, visit the “Na Paniolo O Hamakua” exhibit at the North Hawaii Education and Research Center, plus join in different paniolo-themed activities every night.
— May 17: The Paniolo Parade steps off at 3 p.m., with vendors at the Ohia Lanai (Andrade Building) to share their wares from noon to 6 p.m.
— May 18, 6 to 8 p.m.: Chili Cook Off hosted by The Landing. For information, call Evelyn Offenbaker, 430-3593.
— May 19, 3:30 p.m.: Art event: Make-your-own Stick Horse for the Races, at Hamakua Youth Center. Limited to the first 30 applicants to turn in registration forms at the center.
— May 20: Western movies at the Peoples Theater. Call the theater for showtimes.
— May 21, 5 to 7 p.m.: Talk story and enjoy the “Na Paniolo O Hamakua” exhibit at North Hawaii Education and Research Center.
— May 22, 5-10 p.m.: Block Party, steak fry, Saloon Girl and Cowboys Got Talent contests.
— May 23, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo “Saturday Slack.” Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at the gate.
— May 24 and 25, noon to pau: Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo. Tickets are $7 in advance, $8 at the gate.
Events are subject to change.