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Aloha,
Friends, family, and supporters near and far! My name is Levi Kainui Wood, a proud Paniolo from Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi, and a dedicated member of the Hawaii High School Rodeo Association. I’m reaching out with a humble heart to ask for your support as I prepare to represent our island home and the next generation of Hawaiian Paniolo at the 2025 National High School Finals Rodeo in Wyoming.
Born and raised in the ranchlands of South Kona, I’ve grown up under the wide skies of Hawaiʻi, working cattle alongside my ʻohana and living the ways of the Paniolo. From the misty slopes of Mauna Loa to the open ranges of our family’s land, the Paniolo spirit is at the core of who I am. It’s more than roping or riding, it’s about aloha ʻāina, perseverance, and carrying forward a legacy that began in our islands nearly 200 years ago. As one of the few in my generation keeping this tradition alive, I’m determined to honor our heritage and make our community proud.
This summer, I’ve earned the incredible honor of qualifying for the National High School Finals Rodeo, where I’ll compete in trap shooting, team roping, and calf tie-down. This milestone is the result of years of early mornings, countless hours in the arena, and the love and encouragement of my family, friends, and community. Now, I’m ready to take on the national stage in Wyoming—but I need your help to get there. The costs of airfare, lodging, and competition expenses are significant, and I can’t do this alone.
Your donation, no matter how big or small, will help cover travel expenses, accommodations, and competition expenses I need to compete at my very best. More importantly, your support will carry the weight of our shared values, aloha, resilience, and the promise to continue our Paniolo traditions. My goal is to not only compete but to chase a national championship, showing the world that Hawaiʻi’s Paniolo spirit shines bright and strong.
In gratitude for your generosity, I’ll carry your aloha with me to Wyoming, competing with the same heart and integrity I bring to the ranch and the rodeo arena.
Please consider contributing to this dream by donating through this GoFundMe page. Every dollar brings me closer to representing Hawaiʻi with pride. If you’d like to hear more about my rodeo journey or how I’m honoring our Paniolo traditions, I’d be thrilled to connect with you, whether over a call or a visit to share in person.
Mahalo nui loa for taking the time to read my story and for believing in the future of our Paniolo legacy. With your support, I’ll carry the heart of our islands to Wyoming and compete with the spirit of our beloved islands.
Me ke aloha pumehana,
Levi Kainui Wood
Paniolo & Proud National Qualifier
Click on my Mahalo Video link
Organizer
