Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 12, Number 6, 1 June 1995 — Ke ao nani [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ke ao nani

Naturally Hawauan

by Patrick Ching artist/environmentalist

The wonderful Hawaiian horse

Few sights are as breathtakingly beautiful as that of a proud horse, coat aglow with the moming sun, grazing in an open pasture on the slopes of a Hawaiian hillside. Horses are not native to the Hawaiian Islands. However, since the early 1800s,

they have become an integral part of island living for many of Hawai'i's people. Horses were first brought to Hawai'i from Califomia in 1803 by Capt. Richard J. Cleveland aboard the H.M.S. Lelia Byrd. These horses were called "mustangs," a

name taken from the Spanish word "mesteno" meaning wild livestock. The Hawaiians called the horse "lio" whieh was

either derived from the world lī'ō, whieh means fiery-eyed and restless, or from the word 'īlio, meaning dog. Cleveland presented the horses to King Kamehameha, who at first did not seem overly impressed with the animals, though he later became the first Hawaiian ever to ride a horse. After the death of

Kamehameha the Great, his youngest son Kauikeaouli (Kamehameha III) realized the potential for using horses to gather wild cattle that had been introduced to Hawai'i by Capt. George Vancouver in 1793. The king sent one of his high priests to California, whieh was then a part of Mexico, to invite Spanish vaqueros (eowboys) to eome to Hawai'i and teach the Hawaiians how to ride, rope and manage livestock. In 1832 three vaqueros eame to Hawai'i and began teaching the Hawaiians the art of roping cattle in an area whieh would later become the town of Waimea (Kamuela) on the island of Hawai'i. The Hawaiians called the vaqueros "pan-

iola," a derivation of the word Espanol, meaning "Spaniard" or "Spanish." Today the word is often pronounced "paniolo," to

the dismay of many oldtimers. The Hawaiians quickly learned the art of riding and roping as well as the art of constructing saddles, ropes and tack. Soon many Hawaiians were living the lifestyle of the paniola. Eventually a unique type of horse was bred whieh was especially suited to handle the rugged Hawaiian terrain.

This stout animal known as the "Hawaiian horse" was preferred by many ranchers and trailmen who valued them for their exceptional working and "keeping" abilities. Today the role of the horse in Hawai'i has taken many new directions. Horses are not only being used on the range, but they are being ridden in parades, polo matches, breed shows and dressage competitions as well. The military trains many people to work with horses as do 4-H clubs and many riding stables throughout the state. Perhaps the most popular use of horses today is for the sheer pleasure of viewing the Hawaiian countryside from the back of a beautiful beast.

"'lima," the artist's favorite ride, grazes on a Kaua'i hillside. Art by Patrick Ching