A Horse Lover’s Guide to Hawaii
If you’re still waiting on your sea legs, forget riding waves. Ride a horse! It’s no secret that the Big Island boasts a variety of stunning landscapes. But here’s a local tidbit: those views are even better when enjoyed on horseback. Ready to giddy up? Check out my horse lover’s guide to Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Horse History
Horses, believe it or not, are not native to the islands of Hawaii. (The island has only a few endemic mammals: two species of bats and the monk seal.) Four-legged land mammals first arrived with Polynesian voyagers and then later with Western colonizers.
Horses first arrived in 1803, when an American trader named Richard Cleveland presented several horses as a gift to King Kamehameha I. The island quickly made use of the horses.
Just a few years prior, in 1793, Captain James Vancouver presented cattle to King Kamehameha. The king prohibited the hunting or killing of these animals, and the cattle soon multiplied. Suddenly, herds of cows were eating crops and damaging villages.
Enter the Paniolo: the Hawaiian cowboy.
Upon learning of vaqueros, the man who would become Kamehameha III invited these Mexican cowboys to the island. The vaqueros taught Hawaiians how to rope and ride horses. What began as a necessary way to work the cattle soon developed into a uniquely Hawaiian cowboy culture.
Take a Guided Ride
If you love exploring on horseback, you need to take a ride through Waipi’o Valley.
Also known as the Valley of the Kings, this lush valley is (literally) steeped in Hawaiian history and culture. It’s surrounded by 3,000-foot cliffs and features black sand beaches, twin waterfalls, and ancient burial sites.
It’s also home to the last remaining wild horses of Hawaii. These “Hawaiian ponies” are slightly smaller than those you’d find on the mainland. Their stocky build helps the horses navigate the wet, rocky slopes of the valley.
Waipi’o on Horseback offers tours twice daily Monday through Saturday. Over two and a half miles, you and your horse will travel at a leisurely pace alongside stunning scenery and traditional food crops.
Waipi’o Valley is about an hour and a half’s drive northeast of Kona (on the Big Island’s northern tip). But it’s worth the drive to get out of the car and into the saddle.
Join an Upscale Equestrian Community
Horses aren’t just for tourists. On the Big Island, it’s easy to combine your equestrian pursuits with your passion for luxury properties. Hawaii is home to several upscale equestrian communities such as Kohala Ranch, Waiki'i Ranch, and Puu Lani Ranch.
Puu Lani Ranch is one of the most sought-after gated communities on the Big Island. And for good reason. Check out this exclusive rim lot I represented last summer.
If rolling pastures and coastal views sounds like your idea of paradise, follow me on social media. Then you’ll be the first to know when it’s time to lasso your very own equestrian estate.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.