Press Releases

AND THE WINNER IS…..PARKER RANCH AND KAPA RADIO SONG CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCED

Waimea, Hawai`i’s Big Island ~ More than thirty entries were judged for the Parker Ranch, KAPA radio Paniolo Song Contest in celebration of Parker Ranch’s 160th anniversary. Judges were faced with a difficult decision but were able to select “Ka Paniolo Parker,” with music and lyrics written by Pomai Brown, as the winner.

The winning song was sung and recorded by Ekolu Mea Nui featuring Kevin Kealoha, Kunia Galdera & Grammy Award winner Sonny Lim. The song made its live debut with Ekolu Mea Nui’s performance at the Annual Parker Ranch Rodeo on July 4. A CD single of the winning song, recorded at Sonny Lim’s Studio, is now available for purchase exclusively at the Parker Ranch Store. The Hawaiian translation for “Ka Paniolo Parker” was done by Pumehana Silva and Melelani Spencer. Song lyrics pay homage to Parker Ranch’s hardworking cowboys, “From Kohala to Mauna Kea,” “from the mountain to the sea.”

“Parker Ranch has always had a rich tradition of having some of the finest cowboys in Hawaii and Pomai Brown’s song, Ka Paniolo Parker truly captures the strength, confidence and pride of past and present Parker Ranch cowboys ,” said Parker Ranch president and CEO Chris Kanazawa. ”It appears that now the Big Island has its very own song dedicated to its paniolo.”

Contest judges included KAPA DJ and Na Hoku Hanohano Awards co-creator Skylark Rossetti, Kimo La‘au, Lena Naipo, and Ekolu Mea Nui members Galdeira and Lim.

Parker Ranch was founded in 1847 and is celebrating 160 years of Paniolo heritage throughout 2007. The Ranch surrounds the town of Waimea and spreads between the Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea. For more information about Parker Ranch visit ParkerRanch.com.

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