In Waimea, the Fourth of July is a big deal — more than a holiday, it’s also the day of the annual Parker Ranch July 4th Rodeo and Horse Races, which marks its 60th year in 2024. The rodeo draws people of all ages from Waimea and beyond, with plenty of parking outside the Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena.
The grand entry starts at 9 a.m., but you’ll want to arrive earlier to grab a seat and settle in. A number of competitions are on tap, some of them found only in Hawaii.
This year, Waimea Country Lodge is proud to sponsor the Ranch Mugging event. This only-in-Hawaii contest usually features three teams, each consisting of three people — one on horseback and two on foot in the arena. They face off against four cows in a spirited contest. Three cows are the same color, and one is a different color. The combinations are usually three brown and one black, or three black and one brown.
The contest begins with the rider on each team roping one of the three same-colored cows, enabling the two teammates on foot to wrestle it to the ground and tie three legs with a tie that needs to hold for at least 6 seconds.
After they complete this first task, they remove the head rope and the person on horseback ropes the different-colored cow. The first team to rope that cow wins.
Tickets are available at the gate; kids 12 and younger enter for free. Visit www.parkerranch.com for details.
