Thus begins the story of the Paniolo --- Hawaiian cowboys --- the subject of the film “Holo Holo Paniolo” which premieres at the Santa Ynez Historical Society Museum Nov. 2.

Holo holo means “get around” in Hawaiian, and the California trio taught their students to rope and ride, capturing the cattle roaming the lava-strewn slopes of the islands. Bulls and cows were chased down, captured, and later “encouraged” to swim out to the ships waiting to transport them.

The unique Hawaiian saddle, waterproofed and stripped down, is a modification of the equipment the vaqueros brought with them. Today the Paniolo gear is still used on the 400 cattle ranches throughout the 50th state, including the Parker Ranch with a herd of 17,000.

The California vaqueros, who perfected their skills herding cattle up and down the central coast mountain ranges, also left behind another legacy --- their Spanish guitars. The Paniolo music that evolved is used to score the documentary.

“Holo Holo Paniolo” is the third film in the series by Santa Barbara filmmakers Susan Jensen and Paul Singer, a husband and wife team who relocated here from New York in 2000. Their earlier efforts include “Tapadero”, reviewing the vaquero way of life including clothing and gear like the hackamore, the spade bit and reata roping, and “Remuda”, focusing on the expansion of Hispanic influenced ranching into other western and mountain states.