Aloha, we’re recapping the 9th annual Rope for Wishes Rodeo at Kualoa Ranch over the weekend of October 10-11, 2026!

Over 100 people from at least four Hawaiian Islands, and some from Texas and Brazil competed in the Rope for Wishes Rodeo!

An event that started in 2017 is quickly approaching 10 years! The Lazy L Ranch made this rodeo possible along with the Make-A-Wish Foundation!

A single arena with cowboys and cowgirls riding bulls and racing horses around barrels brought Kualoa Ranch to life! Contestants competed for prizes ranging from candy buckets for kids to championship belts and saddles for the adults.

The action was as hot as the weather! This rodeo continues to make kids’ wishes come true via the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The public enjoyed good food, merchandise from vendors, free shirts, and prizes next to the shows and races.

Mahalo for tuning in! We’ll see you next time. Aloha!

Taking a look at some of the division winners, they are:

Open Team Roping: Wyatt Rita and Bronson Branco (6.14 seconds)

Junior Steer Riding: Axell Lymayas (score: 72 points)

Match Barrel Racing: Haven Mizutani (18.64 seconds)

Open Barrel (Wahine): Elleianna Shinno (17.356 seconds)

5.5: Levi Rita/Jake Rita (7.17 seconds)

All Around Cowboy: Wyatt Rita

All Around Cowgirl: Macey Chow

The Open Barrel Wahine division saw a closely-knit race similar to a time trial with Elleianna Shinno coming out on top with a total time of 17.356 seconds!

Shinno and her horse cleanly galloped around all three barrels without knocking one over and made it to the finish. A knocked-over barrel would have meant a 5-second penalty.