Hawaiian Cowboy BBQ to premiere at Mendes Ranch
WAILUKU – An exciting, new Hawaiian cowboy-themed event, the Hawaiian Cowboy BBQ, will premiere on Valentine’s Day at the beautiful, scenic Mendes Ranch at Kahakuloa.
George Kahumoku Jr., multiple Grammy Award winner, master slack key guitarist, rancher and farmer, has teamed up with Maui’s famed Allan Mendes and his Hawaiian ranch family, along with one of Hawaii’s most creative restaurateurs and owner of LuLu’s Lahaina, Ron Panzo, to offer an authentic Hawaiian cowboy ranch and dining experience.
The Hawaiian Cowboy BBQ will be offered seasonally, every Friday through September.
Guests at the Hawaiian Cowboy BBQ will be treated to fun activities, entertainment from the moment they arrive at the Mendes Ranch and spectacular views from the mountains to the sea.
The event premieres Friday, Feb. 14, with check-in from 4:30 p.m., followed by the event from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Meet real Hawaiian cowboys and enjoy many family activities, including a petting zoo, ranch animals, rodeo show-style roping and cattle cutting, branding, hay ride to the ocean, horse shoe throwing, barbecue, marshmallow roasting, Hawaii country music, photo opportunities with a bull and live horses, singalong and story telling by Kahumoku and line dancing.
The Hawaiian BBQ Plate at the new event will offer a combination of barbecued ribs and chicken, buttered corn on the cob, Maui Gold Pineapple cole slaw, fresh dinner rolls, lilikoi molasses baked beans, and Smores with graham crackers, chocolate and roasted marshmallows.
The cost is $99 for ages 13 and up, $69 for ages 3-12, and free for keiki two and under. The kama’aina rate is $89 for ages 13 and up and $59 for keiki ages 3-12.
Tickets are available at “http://www.mendesranch.com/BBQ”>www.mendesranch.com/BBQ, www.Kahumoku.com/calendar or by phone at 669-3858.
The Mendes Ranch is located at 3530 Kahekili Highway in Kahakuloa. Drive with caution in this rural setting, as the last few miles on this well-paved highway is a winding road
The Mendes Ranch is a family owned and operated business. The family first came to Maui from Portugal in 1886. The ranch was homesteaded in the 1940s by Manuel Mendes and his only son, Ernest Mendes. It is now run by Ernest’s son, Allan Mendes.
The Mendes family has enjoyed welcoming guests to their Mendes horseback and ATV rides for many years. This new Hawaiian Cowboy BBQ event gives them the opportunity to expand on their Hawaiian cowboy experience with a host of activities, Hawaiian slack key music and an “ono” barbecue, too.