Hawaiʻi’s paniolo history is more than a collection of saddles, photographs, ropes, tools, and clothing. It is the story of generations of ranchers, families, craftspeople, and communities who shaped a distinctly Hawaiian cowboy tradition.

The Stories in the Saddle: A Virtual Museum of the Paniolo Legacy was created by the Paniolo Preservation Society to preserve that history and make it more accessible to the public. The archive brings together objects from the Society’s collection including saddles, bits and bridles, spurs, lassos, clothing, ranching tools, artwork, documents, and historical photographs and connects them with the people, places, skills, and stories they represent.

Many of these objects were made to be used, not displayed. They carry the marks of working ranches, long days on horseback, generations of craftsmanship, and the many cultural influences that helped shape paniolo life in Hawaiʻi.

A Collection Built Over Time

Much of the collection represented in this archive was assembled and curated over many years by Dr. Billy Bergin, founder of the Paniolo Preservation Society.  His long-standing commitment to documenting and preserving Hawaiʻi’s rich paniolo history helped make this archive possible. His collecting, research, and stewardship created the foundation for much of what is being preserved and shared here today.

This digital archive is part of a larger effort to document and preserve these materials for future generations. As the collection continues to be cataloged, photographed, researched, and digitized, additional artifacts, photographs, descriptions, oral histories, and stories will be added.

Project Support

The development of this digital archive was made possible through generous grant support from the Atherton Family Foundation, which funded Phase 1 of the project to catalog and photograph the Paniolo Preservation Society collection in preparation for digitization.

The Richard Smart Fund generously supported Phase 2, helping bring the collection and its stories to life through Stories in the Saddle: A Virtual Museum of the Paniolo Legacy. The grants were administered by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, which provided oversight and support throughout the grant process.

Together, this support has helped the Paniolo Preservation Society document, digitize, preserve, and share this important collection so that Hawaiʻi’s paniolo heritage can remain accessible to future generations.

The archive is a living resource. We invite families, researchers, ranchers, historians, and members of the community to explore the collection and help preserve the stories connected to Hawaiʻi’s paniolo heritage.

Paniolo Preservation Society
Kamuela (Waimea), Hawaiʻi Island