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Once more into the tropical fray...
One last trip to Maui, comin' right up... My dad's internment is this Friday, with the parade following on Saturday morning so my 'farewell' trip has started. Thankfully, I'm not alone - my brother will be on the island most of the time and I have a travel companion, a sweet lady from church who has never been which is a helpful distraction. Better to play tour guide and go parasailing than to mope, sez I.
I'm reading some of my dad's poetry at his internment, couldn't think of anything better than his own words.
Horse race sticks to tradition
By TRAVIS KAYA, Staff Writer
MAKAWAO – Despite the loss of Makawao icon and longtime parade supporter Gary Moore in April, the wooden mounts of the Paniolo Parade stick horse race will ride on.
With new organizers in place and a community as enthusiastic as ever, the 10th annual race will be held on July 7 to honor and continue Moore’s legacy.
“It is kind of a tradition,” said Beefy Corley, an event organizer and six-time participant. “The least I can do is to carry this on for (Moore) and the community.”
Gary Moore, whom Corley calls “the sheriff of Makawao,” was the owner of Hawaii Hearth and Leisure and a strong backer of the Makawao Rodeo and parade. Known for his rough-around-the-edges personality and limitless generosity, Moore voluntarily oversaw the stick horse race every year for the past decade.
“He was like Santa Claus on July Fourth with stick horses,” said Theresa Thompson-Shishido, veteran Makawao Rodeo and parade organizer. “He just loved the children.”
Although the race was originated by Thompson-Shishido and her sister over 10 years ago as a fundraising gimmick for local merchants, Moore took charge of the event, turning the silly spectacle into a Makawao institution.
“The stick horse race became such an integral part of the parade,” said Rene Wineland, an event organizer. “Nobody in the town wanted to see it die.”
Run up Baldwin Avenue just before the start of the Paniolo Parade, the stick horse race annually attracts around 30 young racers, and crowds of parents and eager spectators.
The race starts in front of Aloha Cowboy on Baldwin Avenue and runs through Makawao town to the Makawao Avenue finish line. Even though the event lasts only 15 minutes, event organizers say the stick horse race may be one of the most memorable parts of the annual parade.
“It’s probably the best hometown fun to kick off the rodeo,” Wineland said. “It’s definitely a Makawao tradition.”
In preparation for this year’s event, Corley and Wineland are dusting off and repairing around 25 “very well-loved” stick horses collected over the years. Although stick horses will be available for all participants to use, Wineland encourages everyone to use their own horses during the race if they have them.
In years past, Moore handed out plastic sheriff’s badges and blue ribbons to each participant because “everybody who entered the race was a winner,” said Wineland.
This year, in addition to the traditional prizes, participants will also have the opportunity to win a commemorative belt buckle honoring Moore. In keeping with his philosophy, prize-winners will be selected through a raffle, giving all participants an equal chance of winning.
The silver-and-gold buckle was designed and donated by the Aloha Cowboy store and will be presented by Gary’s daughter, Amy Moore. Wineland, the owner of Aloha Cowboy, hopes the belt buckle, which she plans to give out every year, stands as an enduring symbol of Moore’s contributions.
“It’ll always say ’Gary Moore Stick Horse Race,’” she said. “He was the essence of the parade.”
As July 7 draws near, stick horse racers like Corley are getting ready for this year’s event. Beefy, as he is affectionately known, participated in the race during its inaugural year, and will be back to compete again this year.
With Moore gone, Corley admits that the race will be a little bittersweet.
But Moore’s “heart and spirit are so big,” he said.
“There is no way that he isn’t going to be there.”
I'm the 'daughter' referred to, by my maiden name - I get to present a fancy prize to little kids and thus finally prove that I am not Don Ho's daughter, lol...
As to the store, we couldn't find a buyer in time and had to do a rapid, interesting liquidation of the inventory that is thankfully over with now - but we still have the business name, logo, client list, etc. so some dribble may yet come in...and believe it or not, someone came and pulled out that blasted huge hot-tub on the last day and hauled it off in his truck, hoorah! Sorry if any of you were planning on showing up this week to claim it. ;-)
I'm reading some of my dad's poetry at his internment, couldn't think of anything better than his own words.
Horse race sticks to tradition
By TRAVIS KAYA, Staff Writer
MAKAWAO – Despite the loss of Makawao icon and longtime parade supporter Gary Moore in April, the wooden mounts of the Paniolo Parade stick horse race will ride on.
With new organizers in place and a community as enthusiastic as ever, the 10th annual race will be held on July 7 to honor and continue Moore’s legacy.
“It is kind of a tradition,” said Beefy Corley, an event organizer and six-time participant. “The least I can do is to carry this on for (Moore) and the community.”
Gary Moore, whom Corley calls “the sheriff of Makawao,” was the owner of Hawaii Hearth and Leisure and a strong backer of the Makawao Rodeo and parade. Known for his rough-around-the-edges personality and limitless generosity, Moore voluntarily oversaw the stick horse race every year for the past decade.
“He was like Santa Claus on July Fourth with stick horses,” said Theresa Thompson-Shishido, veteran Makawao Rodeo and parade organizer. “He just loved the children.”
Although the race was originated by Thompson-Shishido and her sister over 10 years ago as a fundraising gimmick for local merchants, Moore took charge of the event, turning the silly spectacle into a Makawao institution.
“The stick horse race became such an integral part of the parade,” said Rene Wineland, an event organizer. “Nobody in the town wanted to see it die.”
Run up Baldwin Avenue just before the start of the Paniolo Parade, the stick horse race annually attracts around 30 young racers, and crowds of parents and eager spectators.
The race starts in front of Aloha Cowboy on Baldwin Avenue and runs through Makawao town to the Makawao Avenue finish line. Even though the event lasts only 15 minutes, event organizers say the stick horse race may be one of the most memorable parts of the annual parade.
“It’s probably the best hometown fun to kick off the rodeo,” Wineland said. “It’s definitely a Makawao tradition.”
In preparation for this year’s event, Corley and Wineland are dusting off and repairing around 25 “very well-loved” stick horses collected over the years. Although stick horses will be available for all participants to use, Wineland encourages everyone to use their own horses during the race if they have them.
In years past, Moore handed out plastic sheriff’s badges and blue ribbons to each participant because “everybody who entered the race was a winner,” said Wineland.
This year, in addition to the traditional prizes, participants will also have the opportunity to win a commemorative belt buckle honoring Moore. In keeping with his philosophy, prize-winners will be selected through a raffle, giving all participants an equal chance of winning.
The silver-and-gold buckle was designed and donated by the Aloha Cowboy store and will be presented by Gary’s daughter, Amy Moore. Wineland, the owner of Aloha Cowboy, hopes the belt buckle, which she plans to give out every year, stands as an enduring symbol of Moore’s contributions.
“It’ll always say ’Gary Moore Stick Horse Race,’” she said. “He was the essence of the parade.”
As July 7 draws near, stick horse racers like Corley are getting ready for this year’s event. Beefy, as he is affectionately known, participated in the race during its inaugural year, and will be back to compete again this year.
With Moore gone, Corley admits that the race will be a little bittersweet.
But Moore’s “heart and spirit are so big,” he said.
“There is no way that he isn’t going to be there.”
I'm the 'daughter' referred to, by my maiden name - I get to present a fancy prize to little kids and thus finally prove that I am not Don Ho's daughter, lol...
As to the store, we couldn't find a buyer in time and had to do a rapid, interesting liquidation of the inventory that is thankfully over with now - but we still have the business name, logo, client list, etc. so some dribble may yet come in...and believe it or not, someone came and pulled out that blasted huge hot-tub on the last day and hauled it off in his truck, hoorah! Sorry if any of you were planning on showing up this week to claim it. ;-)
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