On February 11, soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade training at the U.S. Army Garrison Pōhakuloa Training Area (PTA) got a taste of the Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy) experience at Ho’ilina Ranch.

PTA and Ho’ilina Ranch established a Memorandum of Understanding in 2017, providing service members training at PTA an opportunity to gain insight and appreciation for local culture, history, and ranching traditions of Hawai’i.

In addition to the Soldiers, approximately 40 family and friends, which included a veterinarian from Keauhou Veterinarian Hospital participated in the Community Branding Day, a mixed bag of cattle processing and calf branding experience amongst the group.

“Ho’ilina Ranch was an amazing host and we are so happy for the opportunity to be out there for their event,” said 1st Lt. Katie Szewczyk with the 209th ASB in a press release. Szewczyk continued,“It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience for many of us.” She added, “The partnership that PTA and Ho’ilina Ranch have together is, in my opinion, the definition of community outreach and bringing Hawai’i together.”

Photo credit: PTA