A rodeo honoring the legacy of Paniolo Hall of Famer Harold Aiu will be held July 10-11 at the CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu. Admission to the event is free to the public and will feature lots of paniolo action
A rodeo honoring the legacy of Paniolo Hall of Famer Harold Aiu will be held July 10-11 at the CJM Country Stables in Po‘ipu.
Admission to the event is free to the public and will feature lots of paniolo action starting with the Grand Entry, the Team Roping, Wahine Barrel racing, Junior Barrel Racing, and Double Mugging.
Participants will register on rodeo day for trophy buckles and prizes for the top contestants.
Aiu, being remembered with moments of silence during recent rodeos, was born on Kaua‘i in 1920 and passed away July 5, 2009, just two days before his 89th birthday.
A dancer at heart, Aiu learned about cattle and horses through his uncles, attending all of the community dances between being a paniolo.
Aiu married Juliet Leilani Kanoa, a girl he met at one of the community dances, and together, raised five children.
The July 10-11 rodeo will celebrate the paniolo legacy of Aiu, who won the title of All-Around Cowboy for Kaua‘i eight times and was inducted into the Hawai‘i Paniolo Hall of Fame in 1999.
Two years later, Aiu was inducted into the Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau Cowboy Hall of Fame.
He was also honored as a Living Treasure by the Kaua‘i Museum.
Aiu, in addition to being a Kaua‘i rodeo competitor, extended is competition to California, Oregon and also at the United States Team Roping Championship in Oklahoma.
In 1995, Aiu won the team roping event at the Makawao Rodeo and in 1998, took home his third trophy in team roping at the age of 78.
Aiu was still competing and winning in rodeo a month before he passed away.
For more information, call Jim Miranda at 652-6100.
