{"id":241316,"date":"2026-09-29T12:50:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T22:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=241316"},"modified":"2026-09-29T12:51:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T22:51:02","slug":"windward-cc-paniolo-bbq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/09\/29\/windward-cc-paniolo-bbq\/","title":{"rendered":"Giddy up for giving: Paniolo BBQ<\/abbr> raises $13K for Windward CC<\/abbr> students"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
\"group
Hula performances entertain hundreds gathered on the Great Lawn for Paniolo BBQ<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hundreds gathered on the Great Lawn at Windward Community College for the second annual Paniolo BBQ<\/abbr> on September 19, bringing together students, employees, families and community members for horseback rides, hula, Hawaiian music, local vendors and paniolo-inspired activities—all while raising more than $13,000 to support Windward CC<\/abbr> students.<\/p>\n

\"two
Windward CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg and 糖心视频<\/abbr> President\u2019s Chief of Staff Amy Luke.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“Today Windward CC<\/abbr> welcomed our Koʻolau community onto campus, having fun and celebrating our people, families and history,” Windward CC<\/abbr> Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg said.<\/p>\n

Activities filled the Great Lawn, while the Country Market featured handmade goods from the campus m\u0101la (garden). Local vendors and community organizations offered palaka products, native plants, lei making and custom cowboy hats.<\/p>\n

‘Magic in the air’<\/h2>\n

The horseback rides were a highlight for Lee-Anne Decosta, who grew up in Kahaluʻu.<\/p>\n

\"girl
Lehua Pagan enjoys a horseback ride around the Great Lawn during Paniolo BBQ<\/abbr>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I loved seeing all the kids on the horse rides and the smiles on their faces,” Decosta said. “It brought back a lot of memories for me. Seeing the kids getting to have that experience was really special.”<\/p>\n

Amy Luke, chief of staff to University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> President Wendy Hensel, joined the celebration.<\/p>\n

“It was awesome to spend time with our Windward community ʻohana,” Luke said. “Events like these let you feel the magic in the air.”<\/p>\n

Music and more<\/h2>\n
\"three
Windward CC<\/abbr> Hawaiian music professor Kamuela Kimokeo performs with his sons at Paniolo BBQ.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Live music featured H\u0101lau N\u0101 Pualei o Likolehua, H\u0101lau Hula o Kukunaokal\u0101, Hawaiʻi<\/span> Loa with Greg Sardinha, the Blue Grass Shack Band, and Windward CC<\/abbr> Professor Kamuela Kimokeo with his family.<\/p>\n

“Hawaiian music has given me so much throughout my life, so being able to share that music with my children and watch them grow as musicians and performers means a lot to me,” Kimokeo said.<\/p>\n

Windward CC<\/abbr> economics Professor Deacon Hanson also performed with the Blue Grass Shack Band.<\/p>\n

“The Paniolo BBQ<\/abbr> is a wonderful community event that shares the history of Hawaiʻi<\/span>,” state Rep. Scot Matayoshi said. “Windward Community College continues to play a central role in keeping the memories of our community alive.”<\/p>\n

Proceeds benefit the Windward Community College Advancement Fund.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"group
The Blue Grass Shack Band performs featuring Windward CC<\/abbr> professor Deacon Hanson on guitar.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Windward CC<\/abbr> celebrates with horseback rides, hula and Hawaiian music.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":241331,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[71,66],"class_list":["post-241316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t