09/23/2026
Something took place for the first time in a long time this past weekend in Waimea, Hawai’i: the Paniolo Parade. A grand occasion for the Hawaiian people.
Someone beautifully wrote “A Love Letter to Waimea” to share the story and the meaning behind the parade. Near the beginning of the letter it said, “[the horses] carry more than riders. They carry genealogy. They carry memory. They carry stories of ‘āina(land), ali’i(chiefs or royalty), kūpuna(ancestors or elders), ranches and homesteads, families and paniolo(cowboys or horsemen)…” and that was the most said about the horse in the long post.
I couldn’t agree more with the author; where there have been paniolo, there has always been their horses. Without horses there are no paniolo so I was inspired to write a letter of my own.
“A Love Letter to the Paniolo Horse”
If we say the paniolo is in the midst of a revival
Then so too must be their horse
If we say the paniolo is filled with tradition
Then so too must be their horse
If we say the paniolo is personal to the kānaka
Then so too must be their horse
When the ali’i paraded before their people, it was on the backs of horses who could feel the sureness in their riders, the pride in the kanaka(people) and what they lived for.
If we say the paniolo is the strong steward of our land and people
Then so too must be their horse
Generations of riders are to represent not only their islands, but their ali’i, through skill and devotion of artistry in the name of honoring the kūpuna.
If we say paniolo are to be artful tradition
Then so too must be their horse
Hawaiians are proud of their relationship with the natural world and all that calls it home.
Our ancestors were masterful in their respect for the land. The kanaka hold a great kuleana (responsibility) to the islands on which we thrive.
If we say, to the paniolo, the land and her children are most respected
Then so too must be their horse
When one speaks of horsemanship as being part of their life, the word cannot be devoid of the horse.
Horsemanship means to place the horse first.
If we say, as paniolo, horsemanship is first in our lives
Then so too must be our horse
If we speak of all that a horse carries for our people: the stories of the ‘āina herself, all who walked upon her rich soil before, and all who will continue to do so after
If we speak of how deep a meaning it has, all that a horse carries for their paniolo
When will we speak of all that a paniolo must carry for their horse?
If we say horses are carriers of heavy, sacred things
Then so too must be their paniolo
Photo credit: John Rodarte
The Molena Horse and Cattle Company
