Eleven new members will be inducted into the Paniolo Hall of Fame this week at the Hawai'i Cattlemen's Council Annual Convention on the Big Island.

Among the honorees is Robert Kamuela "Sonny" Keakealani Jr., who was introduced to ranch work as a 3-year-old when his father, Robert Lopaka Keakealani, carried him on his lap in his saddle during cattle drives.

By age 10, Sonny was working cattle, had his own string of horses and spent time riding alongside paniolo from Pu'u 'O'o, Pu'uwa'awa'a, Hu'ehu'e, Palani, McCandless and other ranches. Sonny's mentors taught him to track, rope, tie and move the wild cattle out of the thick forests and drylands.

He became a ranch hand, straw boss and eventually foreman at Pu'uwa'awa'a Ranch, working there for 12 years before going to work at Parker Ranch in 1975. He spent 27 years at Parker Ranch.

Another honoree, Tony J. Jose, 78, was raised on his father's ranch in Holualoa. He learned the basic skills of roping, branding, shoeing, herding and stone-wall building at home. He was an experienced ranch hand at the age of 20, when he started work at the W.H. Greenwell Ranch in 1947. In 1952, Jose was hired by Palani Ranch, where he worked for 26 years.

"These were times when men worked long and hard, doing their best to make the ranch successful," Jose said in an interview for an oral history project.

The Paniolo Hall of Fame has 73 members, with all islands represented. The program was initiated by the O'ahu Cattlemen's Association in 1999 to recognize cowhands who contributed to keeping Hawai'i's paniolo heritage alive, and to honor those who made the paniolo culture legendary.

The Paniolo Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i Cattlemen's Council Annual Convention at the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island.

Other honorees will be William "Willie" Kaniho (1894-1978); Eben Parker Low (1864-1954); Joseph Punilei Manini Sr.; Alfred Medeiros Jr.; John B. Medeiros Jr. (1927-2001); Herman L. Pacheco (1934-1991); Martin Ikua Purdy Jr.; Jack Ramos (1918-2002); and Charles "Kale" Stevens (1929-1994).

The Paniolo Hall of Fame includes portraits, short biographies and oral history interviews. The portrait exhibit is circulated statewide, and may be requested by contacting OCA. The Paniolo Hall of Fame Oral History project now includes 24 interviews with living Paniolo Hall of Fame members. The published interviews are available at hicattle.org.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.