Kalaheo's Jade Palicio crowned Hawai‘i High School Rodeo Queen

Kalaheo’s Jade Palicio won the 2026-27 Hawai‘i High School Rodeo Queen title at Parker Ranch, putting a Kaua‘i student in one of the state’s most visible rural youth leadership roles. The honor came during the Hawai‘i High School Rodeo state finals on Hawai‘i Island, where the queen contest was part of the closing weekend of competition.

The title carries more than a crown and sash. The Hawai‘i High School Rodeo Association says its mission includes promoting rodeo and sportsmanship, preserving Western heritage, supporting family bonding and continuing education, and maintaining respect for livestock. The National High School Rodeo Association describes its queen contest as a competition that showcases talent, poise and leadership, which places Palicio in an ambassador role for the association as well as for Kaua‘i’s paniolo youth community.

That makes the win especially meaningful for an island where rodeo has long been tied to ranch life, discipline and public presentation. Palicio’s title now connects her to a statewide leadership track that extends beyond one weekend at Parker Ranch. It also reflects the kind of preparation that high school rodeo demands, where competitors are expected to balance athletic skill with conduct, visibility and responsibility.

The 2026 Hawai‘i High School Rodeo state finals ran June 2 through June 7, and the association’s state information page says the 2026 National High School Finals Rodeo is set for July 19 through July 25 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Kaua‘i will have a strong presence there as well: Dayton Vidinha, Paisley Kuhlmann, Wehilani Blackstad, Chase Orsatelli and Skye Schumacher all qualified for and accepted national invitations.

Palicio’s win also fits a pattern for Kaua‘i. In 2025, Kaua‘i rider Aaliyah Agustin won the Hawai‘i High School Rodeo Queen title and earned an invitation to compete with more than 40 other queens at nationals in July. In 2023, Kaua‘i riders Kahanu Blackstad and Kiana Mertz advanced to national high school rodeo competition. Taken together, those results show a steady pipeline of Kaua‘i students reaching beyond the island through a sport that blends competition, leadership and the preservation of paniolo tradition.