Beautiful Parker Ranch in Waimea (Kamuela) on the Big Island of Hawaii, is one of the United States’ oldest, most historic, and largest cattle ranches. The history of Parker Ranch goes back 160 years, and is filled with romance, drama, tragedy and gun play. The Ranch, a Working Ranch:

“contains 850 miles of fence, 300 paddocks and 15 corrals. The water system consists of 175 miles of pipeline, 4 reservoirs, 145 water tanks, 40 ground tanks, three water dams and 650 water troughs. Annual beef production of the cow-calf operation is in excess of 12 million pounds.”

This year’s Annual Parker Ranch Horse Races and Rodeo will be held July 3rd from 9:00 a.m. until noon at the Parker Ranch arena. You can also enjoy Parker Ranch while you are there through various unique tours, such as the cattle country tours, horseback riding tours, and historic homes tours.

Don’t forget to go shopping at the Parker Ranch Store while you are there or,  if you can’t travel to Hawaii for the rodeo this year, you can shop from home with a few clicks of your mouse.

Overseeing the Parker Ranch horse and cattle operations is the big ‘paniolo’ (Cowboy), Michael “Corky” Bryan (inducted into the Paniolo Hall of Fame in 2007). “Oahu born & raised, Corky always knew he wanted to be a cowboy. His accolades include 2006 Cattleman of the Year award and board member, charter member, president, committee chair or member of numerous local and national organizations in the cattle and agriculture industries.”

Corky is on the left in this  photo I took at a Cattleman’s event sometime during 2006. (Hey Corky, Parker Ranch will be on Twitter again today!)

Hawaii being my home, I can’t help but include some Hawaii ‘horse and Cowboy‘ culture here on Horsealicious. My father was born and raised in Hawaii, but I don’t think he ever rode a horse; however, he loved ‘riding the water’ in a sailboat!

Hawaiian women have always loved horses and horseback riding; however, they did not want to ride side-saddle, in spite of the early missionaries.  Thus, they modestly hiked up their skirts to ride through the country, eventually decorating themselves and their horses in beautiful flower blossoms strung or woven into lei for special occasions.

Read a little pa’u history from the Big Island of Hawaii here.  (Photo on right courtesy Aukipa Hawaiian Images.)

Maybe when my cousin, Judy Henderson, in Hilo sees these photos she will send me some photos of her granddaughter, Dember, who is a beautiful pa’u rider. I would love to post some family pictures here [Judy!].

And YES, Hawaii has Cowboys (known as paniolos). More on them later.

Visit Cowboys of Hawaii.