The Cowboys from Hawaii

Paniolos made their mark—even in the Old West.

In 1823, the king of Hawaii, King Kamehameha III, imported some vaqueros from Spanish California to teach the Hawaiians how to gather, ride, rope and herd the wild cattle on the island. They were called Espanoles (Spaniards) which the native Hawaiians pronounced, paniolos. In time, all cowboys in Hawaii became known as paniolos. In 1909, paniolo Ikua Purdy came to the States and finished first in steer roping at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. In 1999 he was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.