PO‘IPU — The Hawai‘i High School Rodeo Association will host its Kaua‘i district rodeo Saturday and Sunday at the CJM Country Stables.
The rodeo starts at 9 a.m., Saturday, and at 8 a.m., Sunday with the special grand entry featuring the seven Kaua‘i district seniors.
Graduating high school seniors include Casera Silva, Cody Manibog, Francesca Bivens, Kahinu Palama-Soares, Kiyana Kanoho, Mahina Puu, and Nicole Medeiros.
“This is the biggest amount of seniors we’ve had in a long time,” said Tammy Puu of the HHSRA Kaua‘i district.
Following the completion of rodeos 5 through 8, Kahinu Palama-Soares earned the High School Spotlight with 10 National points for his 37.589 performance in the Tie Down. Palama-Soares went on to secure times in the Poo Wai U (24.989) and Double Mugging (47.009) for 20 Hawai‘i points.
Skye Schumacher was the Junior High School Spotlight recipient with 30 National points after winning all three major events including the Barrel Racing (17.838 seconds), the Pole Bending (22.403), and Goat Tying (16.353).
Mateo Vegas earned the Keiki 3-5 Grade Spotlight after accumulating 50 points with wins in the Barrel Racing (21.218), Pole Bending (29.708), Goat Tying (32.359), Reach Roping (16.299), and Break-a-way (8.579).
Tanner Refamonte earned the Keiki K-2 Grade spotlight by accumulating 36 points that included two first finishes in Goat Undecorating where he beat out Cade Carveiro by a mere .6 second, and Reach Roping (17.944).