Raising cattle is a long standing tradition in Hawaii and I was interested in learning about an essentially humane way this co-op treated their livestock. I spent the day with a local community at work and play. Paniolos on horseback herded the cattle into a funnel of fences coming down from the free range mountain they live on. The thunder of hooves churning up dust, charging forward thrilled the senses. I was behind a metal fence that did not feel terribly secure, but the cattle turned into a corral and calmly milled around as if it was just another day. Most of them had been through this routine before. The animals were strong and healthy, lowing gently.

I didn’t want to know which ones were old enough to be culled. I wanted them all to head back up the mountain for another year of grazing on a mountain in Hawaii with a stellar view and only each other for company.

Cattle round-up detail. I cropped the cowboys as I wasn’t able to ask for their permission to publish their photos.