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PARKER RANCH JULY 4 RODEO PAYS TRIBUTE TO RANCH FOUNDER
John Palmer Parker to be Remembered as Ranch Celebrates 160th Anniversary
Waimea, Hawai‘i’s Big Island ~ When Parker Ranch celebrates its 45th Annual Independence Day Rodeo and Horse Races on Wednesday, July 4, 2007 at the Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena in Waimea special tribute will be paid to ranch founder John Palmer Parker.
The story of Parker Ranch began in 1809, when 19-year-old Massachusetts-born sailor John Palmer Parker jumped ship and hid in a thicket as the boat that brought him dropped below the horizon. Although he left the island to join in the War of 1812, Parker returned to Hawai‘i in 1815 with an American musket, which soon came to the attention of the great King Kamehameha I. With the king’s permission, Parker became the first man allowed to shoot some of the thousands of maverick cattle roaming wildly on the plains and valleys of the island. Just 21 years earlier, a mere five head of cattle had been given as a gift to Kamehameha by British Captain George Vancouver.
In 1815, Parker married Kipikane, the daughter of a high ranking chief and thus began the Parker dynasty. Salt beef became a major export. According to Bishop Museum, it was in 1838 at the request of Kamehameha III that Spanish-Mexican Vaqueros came from California to teach Hawaiians how to manage wild cattle. The vaqueros became “paniolo,” a word derived from “espanol” or Spanish. Generations of those first paniolo that worked the Ranch still make their homes in Waimea and trace their roots to the vaqueros.
On January 8, 1847, Parker purchased two acres of land in Waimea for $10.00. Through innovative ranching practices and diversification the Ranch grew and remains today as a respected cattle ranch known for quality beef and an exceptional horse breeding program, which is recognized as one of the finest in the industry.
“It is fitting that as we celebrate Parker Ranch’s 160th Anniversary in 2007 we acknowledge John Palmer Parker at this year’s rodeo,” explained Ranch President and CEO Chris J. Kanazawa. “The Parker legacy continues today through the Trust established by the last ranch owner and sixth generation Parker descendant Richard Palmer Smart who left the Ranch in a trust to support healthcare, education and charitable giving through named beneficiaries in the Waimea community.” The Parker Ranch Foundation Trust beneficiaries are the Richard Smart Fund of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, North Hawai‘i Community Hospital, and Parker School Trust Corporation.
On July 4, Parker Ranch cowboys will be joined by other Big Island paniolo for three hours of action-packed rodeo excitement. Joining island cowboys for the first time will be cowboys from Warren Ranch in Wyoming. The connection between Hawaii and Wyoming was established in 1908 when John Palmer Parker’s great grandson Ikua Purdy made history at Cheyenne Frontier Days. In 56-seconds flat, he won the world roping championship and put Hawai‘i’s paniolo on the map. The special invitation to this year’s rodeo was extended to Warren Ranch by Parker Ranch in recognition of that special event, which will be fully celebrated throughout 2008 during the Waiomina Celebration being planned by the Paniolo Preservation Society. Warren Ranch, founded more than a century ago is, like Parker Ranch in Hawai‘i, one of the oldest ranches in its home state of Wyoming.
Spectators will enjoy thrilling horse races, team branding, ranch mugging, and dally team roping along with festive food, keiki (children) activities, and shopping for Parker Ranch logo items at the Parker Ranch Store booth. As part of this year’s July 4th Rodeo festivities the Parker Ranch Paniolo Song Contest winning song will be performed by Ekolu Mea Nui. Big Island’s KAPA Hawaiian Radio Station partnered with Parker Ranch to solicit song writers for a song depicting Big Island paniolo history, culture and place names. Song CDs will be available for purchase at the rodeo.
Rodeo tickets are $5 per person in advance from the Parker Ranch Store in the Parker Ranch Center or $6 at the gate on July 4. Children 10 and under are free. For more information, call 808-885-5669 or visit www.parkerranch.com.
Parker Ranch, founded in 1847, is celebrating 160 years of Paniolo heritage throughout 2007 and surrounds the town of Waimea spanning approximately 150,000 acres between the Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea. The rodeo grounds are 37 miles by car from Kona International Airport and 57 miles from Hilo Airport on Highway 190.
Contact: Diane S. Quitiquit, Parker Ranch
808.885.2303 FAX 808.887.1774
Email
Vicky Kometani, Current Events
808.326.7820 FAX 808.326.5634
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