Paniolo

Oil on canvas 14x18

SOLD

 

King Kamahameha III brought the first Mexican vaqueros to the islands in 1830. They came from Vera Cruz over to the Big Island to handle the cattle. The Hawaiian version of Espaniolo, or Spaniard, became "paniolo" as these cowboys are still known today.

Horses were offered as a gift to the Hawaiian King in 1803. Seventeen years later the "pipi'ahiu" (wild cattle) were being hunted upcountry since their numbers grew well above expectations and those paniolos were quite happy to help out.