Hawaian Cowboys Whole
World And Breed Apart

HONOLULU —(AP)— Like their counterparts in the American West, Hawaiian cowboys learned their trade from Mexican vaqueros. But the land and language made the Hawaiian paniolo a different kind of cowboy.

Steep mountain slopes and fields of sharp lava created terrain far more challenging than the open range of the mainland. And the tropical environment was no guarantee against cold. The paniolo did much of their work at elevations above the frost lines of the 13,795-foot-high Mauna Kea volcano.

The early paniolo saddles used no tacks or nails and were hand-sewn and planed. Neleau (nel-ay-OW') wood was used for the frame, pegs and okuma, or saddle horn.

As on the mainland, the floppy hats inspired by the vaqueros gave way to Stetsons, but the paniolo adorned theirs with leis of flowers or feathers. That tradition continues in rodeo competitions and parades.

Regardless of ethnicity, paniolo took orders in Hawaiian. They developed a unique vocabulary of the range that is still in use today. For example, ``waha'' means to make noise to keep the cattle moving. Other examples:

Pipi: Cattle

Lio: Horse

Ili o: Dog

Kaula ili: Lariat

Paeke (pa-EH'-kay): Corral

Oki hau: De-horn

Kuni: Brand

Kau ka lio: Mount your horses

Oni: Move out

Hemo ka puka: Open the gate

Wawahi: Separate the cattle

Nee imua: Move up front

Kani ka o: Stay in line

Paa ka ma ka mua: Come inside