Paniolo `opio O Molokai

The last time a HHSRA event was held at Kaunakakai Arena was in 2003. From that point, the rodeos were held in Maunaloa, which had a better suited arena. But the Kaunakakai Arena has been through renovations and improvements, making it once again suitable for HHRSA rodeos.

HHSRA officials sent in their state secretary, Marilyn Napier, and their state treasurer, Marilyn Higa, to help Kamakana during her first rodeo as a district secretary.

Napier had a second reason to be on Molokai for the HHRSA rodeo. She is also the chairperson for animal and rodeo inspection. Because the Kaunakakai Arena went through necessary renovations, it needed a thorough inspection by an HHRSA official.

“It was fantastic,” Napier said. “It was a great improvement from the last time it was used for a HHRSA rodeo.”

Napier’s job included checking if the children were following the rules properly, if the livestock was competitive, and if the arena’s facilities were up to standards. She said there were only minor flaws regarding rules, which could be easily fixed.

Molokai’s second HHSRA event of the season will be on Jan. 19. Four more events after that will happen until the season’s champions are crowned in April.

In May the State Junior Wrangler competition will take place on Maui. The State High School competition will happen the following month on the Big Island.

The children who amount the most points on both divisions will qualify for the National HHRSA competition, which will occur July in Gallup, New Mexico.

Good luck to all the young paniolo, and mahalo to the HHRSA for providing such a fun family day for all who attended the rodeo.

Mahalo nui loa for all the sponsors that made this day possible. A list of all contributors is published in this issue’s Letters to the Editor section.