Cowgirl Spirit becomes Aloha Spirit

Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the Hawaiian Frontier

FORT WORTH, Texas – Hawaii, known for its tropical climate and colorful customs, is home to a distinct group of men and women that honor and uphold a Western tradition thriving throughout this Pacific paradise since the 18th century. Come experience the paniolo culture of Hawaii Feb. 16 through April 21 at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame during Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the Hawaiian Frontier, an original exhibit exploring the roots of the Hawaiian Western lifestyle.

Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the Hawaiian Frontier unfolds the history behind Hawaii’s vibrant, ranching heritage by bringing together authentic paniolo artifacts, historical paniolo images and the Paniolo Playground, a hands-on educational area for kids. You will learn what makes the paniolo special, why they wear leis and how music shapes their culture. In the Paniolo Playground, kids have the chance to make their own Hawaiian music with gourds and coconut shells, make a lei, dress up Hawaiian-style and learn how to say ranch terms in Hawaiian. Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the Hawaiian Frontier takes you from a pre-United States Hawaii when wild cattle roamed the islands to the sandy shores where cattle were wrangled into the pounding, ocean surf to swim out to shipping boats waiting offshore, and onto today’s ranching community.

In the Hawaiian language, paniolo means “cowboy.” However, the term encompasses a way of life for Hawaiians that respect the rich ranching legacies seen across the state today. From the first bull to step foot on Hawaiian soil to building Parker Ranch, one of the largest, privately owned ranches in the world, Hawaii’s ranching industry began before Texas became a state!

The paniolo culture developed through the changing social and economic landscapes of Hawaii beginning with the introduction of cattle. In 1793 King Kamehameha I, the 18th century Hawaiian leader who unified the islands, accepted British explorer George Vancouver’s gift of a half dozen longhorns he brought from Mexican California. That humble herd was exhausted and half-starved from their trek across the Pacific Ocean. Vancouver urged the King to enforce a strict law called kapu prohibiting anyone to kill or harm the cattle so they could propagate.

With approximately a decade-long kapu in effect, the cattle multiplied and grazed in the highlands of the Big Island. Without structure and order, the large herds began terrorizing locals by pummeling through gardens and villages. Stone walls were erected to keep the wild cattle out – some still standing today. When the kapu lifted, horses were introduced to the islands in 1803, again as gifts for the King. Horses helped Hawaiians hunt down wild cattle for salt beef, a prized commodity used when trading with the sailors who frequented Hawaiian ports.

With wild cattle on the loose, unskilled horseman at the helm and a growing demand for beef, an intervention was needed for the ranching industry to take shape. In 1830, King Kamehameha III brought vaqueros, cowhands from Mexican, Spanish and Native American descent, to the islands so Hawaiians could learn how to handle horses and cattle. Hawaiian cowboys took to ranching vaquero-style while integrating their own methods.

Paniolos were comprised of several ethnic groups living in Hawaii including Portuguese, Mexicans, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and Puerto Ricans. Although a melting pot of cultures and customs contributed to the paniolo lifestyle, it is distinctly Hawaiian at the core. In the old days, paniolos spoke mainly Hawaiian while working on the ranch regardless of their native language. This culture remains a way of life for many Hawaiians today including 2006 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree Rose Cambra Freitas.

Freitas, the first Hawaiian cowgirl inducted into the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame grew up on a sugar cane plantation in the 1930s. She learned to ride horses and eventually married a ranching cowboy from an established paniolo family. She and her husband Raymond have ranched in Maui’s upcountry for more than 40 years. She became Hawaii’s first All-Around Cowgirl in 1974 and co-founded the Maui All Girls and Junior Boys and Girls Rodeo Association with her daughter.

To celebrate the opening of Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the Hawaiian Frontier, Freitas will be at the Museum on Saturday, Feb. 17 during a Paniolo Family Luau sharing her Western experiences in Hawaii and teaching luau-goers the art in lei-making. Other activities include hula dance lessons, ukulele performances and hands-on Hawaiian craft sessions. Plus there will be some tasty Hawaiian treats served that day! Regular museum admission is required but Cowgirl Members and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Members are free.

Details:

Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the Hawaiian Frontier

* On display Feb. 16 – April 21, 2007
* Located inside the Featured Exhibit Gallery
* Paniolo Playground, located inside the exhibit, offers children
hands-on, educational activities related to the paniolo culture
such as a dress-up station, lei-making station, music station
and more.

Paniolo Family Luau

Saturday, Feb. 17

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

* Admission: $8 for adults, $7 for children ages 3-12 and seniors
* Cowgirl Members and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Members receive free admission
* 2006 National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree Rose Cambra Freitas
joins us as celebrate Paniolo: Cowboys and Cowgirls of the
Hawaiian Frontier.
* Activities include hula dance lessons, lei-making sessions,
Hawaiian food, music and more!

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and documents the lives of women who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneer spirit of the American West. Located at 1720 Gendy Street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, the museum includes interactive exhibit galleries, three theaters, a retail store and a grand rotunda housing the Hall of Fame. The museum is open seven days a week – 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Adult admission is $8 and $7 for children ages 3 to 12 and seniors ages 60 and up. Please visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817/336-4475 or 800/476-FAME (3263) for more information.

Danny Latham, Jr.

Media & Marketing Manager

www.cowgirl.net