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Hawaii Tribune-Herald Island Beat Thursday, February 16, 2017 9 RODEO From page 7 “A wild steer would be lassoed around its horns and then tied to a tree,” Cabral explains. “Overnight the cow would wear itself out fighting the rope. The next day, the paniolo would return to bring in the untamed steer. One of the wild cows would be tied together with one or two tamer cattle and then the trio of cattle would be herded back to the ranch.” To showcase this technique at the rodeo, paniolo will lasso a steer by the horns, pass the rope through a Y-shaped pole, hold the steer to the pole and tie the rope to his horse. “As the steers used for this event are not your friendly, tamed cow, the cowboy and his horse have to work well together,” Cabral says. “Double mugging” is another unique event found only at Hawaii rodeos. “Capturing wild cattle and tying them to a tree was only the first part of returning to the ranch with a wild cow from areas overgrown with trees,” Cabral says. “So in this rodeo event, two paniolo will work together to knock a cow to the ground and tie up three of its legs. This event involves full-size steers and often turns into a wrestling match between man and beast or between women and beast in the wahine double mugging event.” Cabral says that so much of what paniolo were doing in Hawaii was over treacherous land so it limited how they could do it. “They’d get busted up shirts and pants torn off … it’s pretty wild and wooly,” she says. “But we’re on the verge of losing these techniques if we don’t keep the passion for rodeo alive.” Adding the fun and providing comic relief is rodeo clown JJ Harrison, who really makes the event a show, Cabral says. It was a spur of the moment decision for Harrison when he first put on make-up and costumes and brought his humor and energy into the arena. But Harrison is also a serious athlete, and he helps protect the paniolo while he entertains the crowd. In 2012, JJ was selected to be the barrelman for the National Finals Rodeo, considered to be the Olympics of rodeo. He travels the country working as a rodeo clown. Harrison says, “I like to try new things, and I’m always a fan of anything that stretches you mentally and physically.” Also in the arena for the eighth year is Washingtonian Buster Barton as rodeo announcer. Barton’s personal rodeo career includes qualifying as a steer wrestler for three years at the College National Finals. As a professional steer wrestler, he was the 2001 Columbia River Circuit Rookie of the Year and has placed at many major rodeos. For the past 14 years, Buster has been the head rodeo coach at Walla Walla Community College where he has had several Big Island paniolo on his teams. Close to 150 horses, 20 bulls and more than a dozen sheep will be a part of this year’s rodeo. Contestants come from all over the island, and cowboys who come from other locales will borrow a horse from a local owner for the event. “The nice thing about our rodeo is it’s family oriented,” Cabral says. “Mainland rodeos are a big production, but ours centers around family and friends getting together and having a good time. There’s still a competitive spirit but for the most part, it’s fun. We love it when the professionals come, but we also get to see grandpa riding with grandchild, father and son, or husband and wife riding together.” Rodeo has been a family affair for the Cabral ohana for decades. Al Cabral, president of the Hawaii Horse Owners Inc., started riding when he was just 8 years old with his father and the Hawaii Paniolo Club. “I always loved to be around horses,” Al says. “My dad and I used to ride all weekend long doing cattle work for other people.” Though Al, now 69, hasn’t been able to ride in years, he still loves to be at the rodeo. “You look around and it’s a lot of people having a good time,” he says. “It’s like the mainland rodeos, but we have the Hawaiian touch. If you’ve never been to a rodeo and want to check it out, this would be a good one to come to.” Al credits the contestants, rodeo sponsors and the county of Hawaii for helping to keep the event going and to make improvements to the facility. “Every year we try to introduce something new to the rodeo to keep people interested,” Al says. And interest has grown. “Our intention was to have rodeo available here and hopefully someday have kids who went to college and competed at the college level and then go to the professional level. Now we have eight that are college level or beyond.” The Cabrals’ own three boys grew up in rodeo. Last December, their youngest son, Cody, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling at 27. “It’s the Super Bowl of rodeo,” says Nancy Cabral. “He’s only the second person from Hawaii to qualify.” The Cabral boys all had rodeo scholarships to attend college as well. Even though putting on the rodeo is a lot of work, Cabral says when she thinks back to everyone who has been involved over the years, the community has been the driving force that keeps the rodeo growing. “It’s really good for family,” she says. “I think our own kids benefited from the ranch life — the responsibility it gives is important and I think our paniolo heritage is important. It goes way back. If we don’t keep supporting it, we will lose it.” Tickets are $8 general admission at the gate or presale at Day-Lum Rentals, 2 Kamehameha Avenue. Keiki 12 and under are free. Parking will be available on the race track or the grass. For more information, visit hawaiirodeostampede. com. JAZZ NIGHT AT THE PALACE Returns! THURS - Feb. 23 - 6-8pm in the Lobby Music by SOUL ON A ROLL Featuring Randy Skaggs on saxophone, Walter Greenwood on organ, Brian Crist on bass and Michael Surprenant on drums! Special café menu + Beer & Wine! Tickets only $10 38 HAILI ST ~ HILO ~ 934-7010 PARADISE RESTAuRANT SuPPLY STILL OPEN - STILL STRONG OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - 9:30 AM TO 5:00 PM LARGEST SELECTION OF PROFESSIONAL COOKWARE & SuPPLIES ON ISLAND WE DO KNIFE SHARPENING BRING THIS COUPON IN FOR 20% OFF - NON-SALE ITEMS LARGE SELECTION OF POTS, WOKS, MEAT GRINDERS 250 Kamehameha–Downtown hilo 808 - 933 - FORK (3675) Rodeo has been a family affair for the Cabral ohana for decades. Al Cabral, president of the Hawaii Horse Owners Inc., started riding when he was just 8 years old with his father and the Hawaii Paniolo Club.


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