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Hawaiian Cowboy tradition dates back to 1793, when Captain George Vancouver gifted a herd of cattle to the Hawaiian King Kamehameha I. The cattle roamed the Big Island until the herd grew so large it needed to be controlled. Hawaii's king then invited Spanish vaqueros from Mexico and California to come teach Hawaiians their ways of maintaining the herds. The Hawaiians called the Spanish cowboys "Espaniolo". In time, Hawaiian cowboys became known as "Paniolo".
Paniolos gathered cattle in the rain forest and drove them over the lava fields down to the edge of the ocean. There, Paniolos on horses swam the cattle out to longboats which then took the cattle to large ships waiting beyond the breakers.
In addition to riding, roping and ranching skills, the vaqueros and other island immigrants influenced the clothing of the Hawaiian Cowboys. Paniolos became known for their shirts of soft, colorful cotton. Palaka, a plaid unique to Hawaii, was a favorite and continues to be worn today.
Our Hawaiian Cowboys clothing combines the traditions of the past with today's joyful colors. Our aloha fit is designed for work as well as for play. Hawaiian Cowboys embody the spirit of aloha and the island way of life: work hard and laugh often...It's living from the heart.
Hawaiian Cowboys,
A little bit of old and new,
Joyful, colorful,
Resourceful, can do.
Hawaiian Cowboys,
Living from the heart.
Are you one?
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