A cow in Hawaii is to be envied - particularly in Waimea, Big Island in the north. Up here, between the volcanoes of Kohala and Mauna Kea, the 4208-meter always blows a fresh trade wind.

White cotton wool clouds sailing across the blue sky. Lush grass grows from the fertile lava soil. And then the views of the Pacific - Hawaii is truly a paradise for cattle, if not only because the Cowboys would be annoying.

It's available in this island paradise. "Cowherd" in the U.S. never far away, wherever cattle graze. Tanned surfers in aloha shirt and floral shorts are in the center of Waimea ranching is the exception. In the green highlands of Hawaii began cowboy tradition in 1800 - some 50 years before were rolled out in the Wild West lassos.

Gift of the discoverer

Keoki Wood looks a bit like John Wayne: blond, broad shoulders, blue eyes and wide-brimmed hat. He is one of twelve paniolos, the largest cattle ranch for Waimeas, the Parker Ranch work. Paniolo is Hawaiian for "español" said Keoki. So the Cowboys were mentioned, the King Kamehameha in 1832 brought from Mexico into the country to get to marauding cattle herds under control.

It was George Vancouver, who discovered in 1778 by James Cook, Hawaii, meant well with his gift to the king. At a second visit brought the captain with eight long-horned cattle. So they quickly increased, the king ordered them to leave straying. But the feral monsters scared the Hawaiians soon ate away the grass roofs over their heads.

The American John Palmer Parker was the first, the King Kamehameha commissioned with the cattle hunting. As a reward kept hanging on the Hawaiian sailor at heart the best breeding stock for himself, married a Hawaiian princess and started a ranching dynasty. Founded in 1847, grew to his ranch for weddings to 910 square kilometers. Even if the ranch is small today, must guard Keoki and colleagues about 35 000 cattle and 250 Mustangs.