The Maui Youth Rodeo Organization will throw open the doors of the Oskie Rice Event Center Ranch Clubhouse on Nov. 21, bringing back its Champagne & Champions gala with a four-course dinner, live and silent auctions, and entertainment to raise money for the island's young rodeo competitors. Doors open at 5 p.m. at the clubhouse, located at 521 Olinda Road in Makawao.
Word of the fundraiser first came from Maui Now, which reported that the nonprofit is bringing back the annual event for another round of dinner, drinks and bidding wars in support of youth rodeo programs. According to the Maui Youth Rodeo Organization, the night will once again feature a four-course dinner prepared by chef David Vilanti, alongside the live and silent auctions and entertainment that have become gala staples.
Proceeds from the evening go toward keeping the sport within reach for local keiki, funding clinics and training for riders of all skill levels, awards and scholarships, travel opportunities, and the upkeep of safe arenas stocked with quality livestock. As the organization puts it, community donations are what keep rodeo affordable and accessible for Maui's youth. Those looking to donate auction items can reach the group directly at [email protected], and tickets are being offered through TicketLeap, though the organization's announcement did not list prices.
A Nonprofit Built to Lower the Cost of Competing
The Maui Youth Rodeo Organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016, and it describes its mission as preserving Maui's paniolo heritage by encouraging young people to take up rodeo. The group says it offers keiki and teens a family-oriented setting to learn horsemanship, sportsmanship and teamwork through rodeo events, clinics and scholarship opportunities.
That mission traces back to Ken and Morag Miranda, who started the organization specifically to help alleviate the expense of competing in rodeo in Hawaii, according to rodeolife.com. The outlet reports the group offers a $1,000 senior scholarship, reimburses families for state and national membership costs, and provides $500 scholarships to help cover the cost of shipping horses to state finals when needed. Youth who qualify for the National High School Rodeo Association finals can also receive financial assistance through the program, per the same account.
Growth on the Arena Floor
The payoff of that support system shows up in participation numbers. The junior-high and high-school rodeo groups on Maui had only a handful of kids when the Mirandas got involved, and that figure has since climbed to almost 90, the rodeolife.com report notes. The nonprofit says it exists to promote, preserve and perpetuate the sport of rodeo on the island, according to an organizational profile published by impala.digital, which also reported the group's total revenue reached $369,800 in its 2025 filing year.
Much of that growth has leaned on the Oskie Rice Arena itself, which has hosted rodeos, youth competitions and community events since a new arena was built on the property using American arena panels — a rebuild that allowed the annual Makawao Stampede to return by 2021, per rodeolife.com. Proceeds from that Fourth of July rodeo also help support the nonprofit's broader mission, the outlet reports.
A Gala With a Track Record
This year's event follows a similar gathering held in 2025, when the organization announced it would bring back the gala on Nov. 22 at the Oskie Rice Event Center, according to alohagrowers.com. That night featured the same four-course dinner from chef David Vilanti alongside live music from Above Snakes, plus live and silent auctions. A separate listing on allevents.in placed the 2025 gala's hours from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the same Olinda Road address.
More information on this year's Champagne & Champions gala is available at mauiyouthrodeo.org. For a nonprofit that has grown its youth ranks from a handful of riders to nearly 90 over the past decade, the Nov. 21 evening of dinner and auctions remains one of its central tools for keeping that growth funded.
