MAKAWAO - It doesn't take long to find out that rodeo is a family affair for Brad Apo.
Upon entering the Apo-Baisa family compound in lower Makawao, Apo, the defending all-around cowboy for the 57th annual Makawao Rodeo that begins with qualifying today and runs through Sunday at Oskie Rice Arena in Olinda, is mounted with a lasso in hand.
Near him is wife and roping partner, Lei, aboard her horse ready to go. Daughter Lehiwa, 11, is tugging hard on a lift rope to the gate to get the cows into the chute before releasing them to be roped by her parents. Daughter Lahela, 6, is watching on or near the fence and showing off her newly learned "kung fu" moves to a visitor.
Article Photos
Brad Apo, last year’s all-around cowboy at the Makawao Rodeo, practices with his wife Lei recently at their arena located on their family’s property in lower Makawao
The Maui News / ROBERT COLLIAS photo
Father-in-law Elliott Baisa is watching at the far end of the small arena, making sure the cows get back in the tunnel, guiding them back to the chute. Mother-in-law Janice Baisa is standing back, making sure everyone is properly hydrated.
Apo, 31, has competed in rodeos since before he graduated from Maui High School in 1999, and the sport is clearly in his blood.
"Oh yes, definitely, yeah," Apo said after practice Monday. "My wife, my kids are all involved in it. My father-in-law and them, too. As you see, we have the arena here and we practice a lot."
Fact Box
57th annual Makawao Rodeo At Oskie Rice Arena
Today
9 a.m.-Qualifying runs (free admission)
Friday
9 a.m.-Qualifying runs (free admission)
7 p.m.-Bull Bash ($15 adults)
Saturday
9 a.m.-Paniolo Parade
1 p.m.-Rodeo ($15 adults, $10 seniors and students, $5 children)
Sunday
1 p.m.-Rodeo ($15 adults, $10 seniors and students, $5 children)
Lehiwa Apo will be the junior princess for the rodeo for the third straight year and will compete in barrel racing. The adventurous Lahela Apo will ride sheep in the event.
"It is very cool that my dad won all-around cowboy," Lehiwa Apo said. "I was surprised, actually."
Brad Apo will compete this week in mixed team roping, dally team roping, po'o wai u, double mugging and calf roping. He will use eight different partners in the duo roping events, including defending all-around cowgirl Kaile Jacobson.
A construction worker when he is not a cowboy, Brad Apo will leave the bull riding and bronc riding to the younger competitors.
"I have got to work," he said with a wide smile.
The all-around cowboy title last season was Apo's first in his 14th Makawao Rodeo and he has a snazzy leather saddle worth more than $1,500 to show for it. He has won a horse trailer and six other saddles during his career.
The Makawao standings are not revealed until the final event Sunday, so the all-around cowboy announcement came as a surprise last year, even though he piled up $2,500 in prize money. He won the mixed team roping and open dally roping titles in 2011, as well.
"It meant a lot, I practice hard," Brad Apo said. "I dedicate myself to this. I try to practice every day - at least three to four times a week. It is awesome to be out there with my wife, my daughters. They all love it, I love it. I mean, it is special with your wife and your kids out there with you."
Apo has gone to a national rodeo in Reno, Nev., for the last three years and held his own there. Last year, he competed in Las Vegas in the World Series Team Roping event.
"I did alright there, actually," he said. "I made back my entry (fee) and more, so I was pretty happy with that. When we go up there, we have no horses. We just mount other horses."
Myron Duarte, a St. Anthony graduate and world-class bull rider, provided the horses for Apo in Las Vegas.
"There is a bunch of talent here on Maui," Apo said. "Myron shows that."
Elliott Baisa said the sport here shines on Independence Day weekend each year. The Baisas have 10 grandchildren. Their house has three trophy cases full of belt buckles, for Baisa, Apo, and the grandchildren.
"Pau Hana Roping Ohana, everybody knows that (club)," Baisa said. "We are proud of Brad, we are proud of all of our son-in-laws who rope. Our grandkids rope, too. Like Brad said, this is a family thing. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose, but we all have fun."
Janice Baisa said of her grandchildren, "If they don't do well, we are always there to hug them."
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
