Hawaii is one of the most interesting and diverse states in the US. Not just because it’s the only island state, not just because of its unique flora and fauna, but because its people and culture are fascinating and varied. The Polynesian Connection Native Hawaiians trace their heritage back to the original settlers of the islands who came from Polynesia. Precisely where the Polynesian settlers came from is the subject of some debate – most likely it was from the Marquesas plus also probably Tahiti, sometime before the year 800 AD. The Impact of Europe Captain Cook, a British explorer, is credited with being the first European to reach the Hawaiian islands in the year 1778. At the time of his arrival the population was estimated to be well over 250,000, however (as was common with many cultures on first contact with European explorers and settlers), the diseases that were unintentionally introduced to the islands decimated the local population who had no resistance to influenza, smallpox, measles, or whooping cough. The Hawaiian Revival In recent years there has been a revival of interest and celebration of traditional Hawaiian culture, aimed to preserve the native Hawaiian culture, history, and language. Public schools now teach ancient Hawaiian art, lifestyle, geography, language, and hula. The Cowboys of Hawaii You might not automatically associate Hawaii with the cowboy traditions and legends of America’s mid-west, but cowboys are an essential part of the rural life on the Big Island of Hawaii. In fact, when you are in some parts of the Big Island you would think that you were in west Texas. Here on the Big Island we call our cowboys Paniolo, and they’re centred around the ranch lands of Waimea and North Kohala. Hawaii’s cattle industry dates back to 1798 when Captain George Vancouver presented five black longhorn cattle as a gift to King Kamehameha I. The cattle weren’t much of a gift, they had suffered fairly badly on the long sea voyage and were in poor condition by the time that they had reached Hawaii. The King freed the cattle so that they could roam the island. Horses arrived on the island a few years later in 1803. It wasn’t until 1816 that the King gave John Parker, one of his western advisers, permission to take control of the roaming cattle who had gone on to thrive and multiply. Parker soon had so many cattle that in 1832 he contracted Mexican horsemen to come and teach the local workers how to ride horses and rope cattle. It was at that time that the paniolo were born. The Mexicans brought with them not only their knowledge of horses and cattle, but also the guitar and ukulele which have also been an important contribution to the Hawaiin culture. Much of the ranch work on Hawaii is now done using all terrain vehicles, but paniolos still use horses on a daily basis and the paniolo traditions live on. A great way to get an understanding of this as well as enjoy the scenery of the island is to go horseback riding in the Waimea region. Hawaii is a fascinating place with a fascinating history. Come and join us on the Big Island of Hawaii and explore the beautiful and ancient land.