KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii – Kona’s fascinating paniolo history is on display in a special Kona Historical Society exhibit, now through mid-August.

“Kona Ranching & Kona Cowboys: Our Way of Life” is currently open to the public at the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum. The exhibit takes a look back at local homestead life, families and tools, “giving an intimate look into the people, traditions and ties that remain vital and strong in Kona, now more than two centuries after cattle and horses first landed here,” museum reps say.

In the video above, curator Mina Elison takes us through the exhibit.

Since the video was filmed, the “Kona Ranching & Kona Cowboys” exhibit has been extended until August 13, due to overwhelming demand from the public. It is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is by donation.

The exhibit is supported by Grant-In-Aid funding from the State of Hawaii, and supported by the sponsors ChoiceMART, Palani Ranch, as well as Robby Hind, Jimmy Greenwell, McCandless Ranch and West Hawaii Today.

“The Kona Historical Society is a community based, non-profit organization that was founded in 1976 to collect, preserve and share the history of the Kona districts,” the society says. “The society maintains two historic sites and the Jean Greenwell Archives, which consists of collections of historical photographs, unpublished diaries, journals, letters, family records and memorabilia, land documents, selected Kona newspapers and articles, and much more. The Society provides living history programs at its historic sites, the H.N. Greenwell Store Museum and the Kona Coffee Living History Farm. Other programs include Portuguese stone oven baking, off-road jeep trips, Hanohano `o Kona “Honoring Kona” free lecture series, and other special programs of historical and cultural interest.”