Categorized | Entertainment

Honokaa Western Week (May 17-26)

MEDIA RELEASE

Cowboys and horses on parade, a rollicking block party with dancing in the streets, local vendors, Big Island steak fry, Saloon Girl and new “Cowboys Got Talent” competitions, plus rodeo action in the refurbished Honokaa Arena and more make for an exciting roundup of paniolo festivities for Honokaa Western Week, May 17-26, 2014.

One of the most highly-anticipated events of the year, Honokaa Western Week (HWW) 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 kama‘āina of all ages a whole herd of ways to have fun.

Leading off with the Paniolo Parade on Friday afternoon, the HWW team will close down Mamane Street for its popular Block Party, featuring country-style music, a sizzling steak fry fundraiser hosted by the Honokaa High School Soccer and Track Teams, and a fun lineup of contests and events.

A major highlight is the Saloon Girl contest, starring bold and beautiful women, young and young-at-heart, who strut their stuff in a talent and personality competition for the cowboys onstage.

Not to be outdone, the cowboys will vie for titles of their own, as will stick horse riders, and the best chili cooks around. In the days leading up to HWW, businesses, decorated western-style, invite everyone to dress up in their best cowboy boots, hats and duds, and help bring back the spirit of a wilder time.

And, premiering the newly renovated Honokaa Arena, the 58th Annual Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo kicks into action, starting with “Saturday Slack,” an elimination round.

Then cowboys, keiki and wahine are put through their paces Sunday-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 much more.

In its 58-year history, the Rodeo has awarded thousands in scholarship funds to high school seniors island-wide as well as continuing education scholars.

Taking place in the newly restored arena, this year’s Rodeo promises to be better than ever, with new covered bleachers, restrooms, concession stand and other improvements.

More events, concerts, educational exhibits and activities are in the planning stages. Commemorative HWW buttons will be available to purchase as 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. (All in good fun).

Honokaa Western Week is a volunteer-driven project of the Honokaa Business Association, The Hamakua Farm Bureau and the Hamakua Lion’s Club celebrating Hamakua’s paniolo heritage and unique cultural blend.

Sponsors include Hawaii Tourism Authority, County of Hawaii CPEP, Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter, Steinlager, and many other generous supporters.

Checks payable to “Honokaa Business Association” can be sent to P.O. Box 474, Honokaa HI 96727, attention: Honokaa Western Week. For more information, follow Honokaa Western Week on Facebook.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
(Events are subject to change)

* May 9. Deadline to enter Saloon Girl and Cowboys Got Talent Contests. For information, call Jill Mattos, 808-960-5605 or Lorie Farrell, 808-557-2780.

* May 17-26. Celebrate Honokaa Western Week with Honokaa Business Association. Everyone is invited to dress up western-style and visit Honokaa town merchants, plus join in different paniolo-theme activities every night. For information, call Jeanne Keller, 808-775-0530.

* Saturday, May 17, 7 p.m., “Hanau Ke Alii,” a Hula Drama by Halau Na Kipuupuu about the life of King Kamehameha, Honokaa Peoples Theater.

* Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m., “The Legend of Koolau” at Honokaa Peoples Theater. A special theatrical production about a true Hawaiian Cowboy written and performed by some of Hawaii’s foremost theatre personas and made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts.

* Monday, May 19, 10 a.m. Blessing and re-opening of the newly refurbished Honokaa Arena.

* Monday, May 19. Chili Cook Off hosted by The Landing. Set up at 5 p.m., judging at 8 p.m. Prizes for first, second and third place. For rules and details, please call Evelyn Offenbaker, 430- 3593.

* Tuesday, May 20, 3-5:30 p.m. Stick Horse Workshop. Make-your-own Stick Horse for the Races, with Calley O’Neill and other island artists, at Hamakua Youth Center.

* Wednesday, May 21. Western movies at the Peoples Theater

* Thursday, May 22, 5-8 p.m. Memories of Honokaa Western Weeks Past, and blessing of the Ohia Lanai to celebrate the Andrade Building’s 90th birthday

* Friday, May 23
2 p.m., Road Closure
3 p.m., Stick Horse Race
4 p.m., Paniolo Parade down Mamane Street in Honokaa Town
5 p.m., Block Party, Steak Fry fundraiser for Honokaa High School Track and Soccer Teams
6 p.m., Saloon Girl and Cowboys Got Talent Contests 8 p.m., Dancing in the Street

* Saturday, May 24. 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo “Saturday Slack.” Rodeo tickets are $7 per person per day in advance $8 at the gate.

* Sunday, May 25. 12 p.m. to Pau, Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo.

* Monday, May 26. 12 p.m. to Pau, Hawaii Saddle Club Scholarship Rodeo.

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