‘CHICKEN SKIN’ PANIOLO GHOST STORIES TO KICK OFF NEW TALK STORY NIGHTS AT WAIMEA’S PUKALANI STABLES

Hawai’i Island residents and visitors are invited to Waimea’s 100+-year-old Pukalani Stables for a new, free, after-dark series of Paniolo Talk Story evenings, a “mauka” version of Danny Kaniela Akaka’s “Twilight at Kalahuipua’a” gatherings at Mauna Lani Resort. Paniolo Preservation Society is proud to host these events to perpetuate Hawai’i’s Hawaiian ranching traditions and to introduce the community to its new Paniolo Heritage Center at Pukalani Stables.

The first Paniolo Talk Story night will be 5-8 p.m., Sat., Oct. 29, 2011 and will feature “chicken skin” paniolo ghost stories.  Each of the evening talk stories will be hosted by Ku’ulei Keakealani, who comes from a multi-generational ranching family and whose grandfather and father are both revered members in the “Paniolo Hall of Fame.”   Ku’ulei brings to this new program the experience of not only having been raised in and still living the paniolo life, but also having organized numerous presentations about Hawaiian ranching, cultural traditions and land stewardship – ranging from the hard-core traditional skills of riding and roping wild pipi,(cows) in rugged upcountry forests, to swimming cattle out to waiting steamships to transport to market, to the ‘olelo (language), mele (music) and related paniolo arts of saddle and lei making.

Paniolo Talk Story is perfect for the entire family from keiki to kupuna. It’s a free event and BYOC – ie, Bring Your Own Coolers and Chairs though neither is necessary.  School and community groups will sell snacks and food and PPS volunteers will offer a choice of hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages including Starbucks coffee and a paniolo family favorite of cocoa ‘n crackers.  At the Oct. 29 gathering, Kanu o ka ‘Aina Charter School ‘ohana will sell a warm dinner, snacks and sweet treats with proceeds benefiting the school.

For more information about PPS and its new PanioloHeritage Center at Pukalani Stables, go to www.PanioloPreservation.org, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/paniolopreservationsociety, or email:[email protected] or call (808)854-1541.