Trending
The Maui News
Seven of the 11 inductees into the Paniolo Hall of Fame this year come from Maui County ranches.
The paniolo will be honored at the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council annual convention at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Hawaii island on Nov. 16.
Members of the Paniolo Hall of Fame are among the generations of Hawaii cowboys who have stood out in their contributions to cattle ranching throughout all the islands, the announcement said. Hall of Fame paniolo have become a legendary and celebrated part of Hawaii's culture.
The 2019 inductees include:
• Harriet "Haku" Baldwin (1913-2003), Haleakala Ranch.
• James Kaleima'ema'e "Palaika" Brighter (1871-1947), Molokai Ranch and Parker Ranch.
• Alex B. Franco, Maui Cattle Co.
• James A. Gomes, Ulupalakua Ranch.
• Adam Scott Hai Sr. (1917-1983), Kaupo Ranch and Kahua Ranch on Oahu.
• Merton G. Kekiwi, Kaonoulu Ranch and Ulupalakua Ranch.
• Michael N. Purdy Sr., Ulupalakua Ranch.
The Paniolo Hall of Fame was initiated by the Oahu Cattlemen's Association in 1999 to recognize yesterday's and today's paniolo statewide who have contributed to keeping Hawaii's paniolo heritage alive and to honor those who made the paniolo culture legendary, the announcement said. With the induction of the 2019 inductees in its 20th year, the Hall of Fame now includes 157 members statewide, both living and deceased.
The Paniolo Hall of Fame consists of photo portraits, short biographies and oral history interviews. The portrait exhibit has been on display at Honolulu Hale (City Hall), at the annual statewide Paniolo Festival, at the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council annual meeting, at Parker Ranch Museum, the Hawaii State Library and other events and venues on all the islands.
The Paniolo Hall of Fame Oral History project currently consists of 72 completed interviews with living Paniolo Hall of Fame members. This project strives to capture and record as many life stories before they are lost to future generations, the announcement said.
The published interviews are available for purchase from the Paniolo Hall of Fame and also are accessible through the Hawaii State Library System and are online.
For more information about the Paniolo Hall of Fame or to view the inductees photos and biographies, go to www.hicattle.org/paniolo-hall-of-fame.