General Info

This special vacation has been featured in The Boston Globe and Calgary Herald! 

Experience three different horseback riding adventures along with four nights hotel and breakfast daily at the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort on the stunning Kohala Coast, a car rental for entire stay, and all taxes except on the car on this Hawaii’s Big Island Self Drive Equestrian Vacation.

Ride the verdant hills of the Kohala Mountains at two working ranches overlooking the bright Pacific and through the lush, tropical terrain of remote and wild Waipi’o Valley (the Valley of the Kings). You’ll spend nights at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, located on the Kohala Coast in the midst of the Waikoloa Beach Resort with all of its resort attractions. Because if the nature of this independent trip, it is not suitable for single travelers.

Waipi’o Valley: Be on the lookout the state of Hawaii’s only wild horses as you ride through a lush tropical paradise of jungle trails, fresh water streams, taro fields, magnificent waterfalls and incredible vistas in the Valley of the Kings, one of the most historic and spiritual destinations on the Big Island.

Kahua Ranch: Ride the hilly landscapes of the Kohala Mountains at historic Kahua Ranch, a 12,000 acre working cattle and sheep ranch. You’ll take in panoramic views of the bright blue Pacific Ocean as you ride the grassy, open range. You won’t be riding nose to tail and experienced riders may be allowed to canter, according to your riding ability and the guide’s discretion. 

The Ponoholo Ranch: Take a challenging ride at a second ranch on Kohala Mountain. The Ponoholo Ranch is one of the most beautiful ranches on the Big Island. This 11,000 acre cattle ranch covers three climate zones stretches from the rainforest at 4,800 feet to the ocean. Designed for the equestrian, the 4 hour Wrangler Ride is suitable for intermediate and expert riders who have ridden more than 50 times in the last 5 years. All riders must be 12 years or older. This ride allows for the most opportunities to trot and canter.

Many travelers combine this vacation with the Maui Equestrian Vacation Self Drive!

Awards & Accolades
Wapi'o Valley and Kahua Ranch are included in the Hawaii’s Big Island Self Drive Equestrian Vacation are featured in Equitrekking Hawaii's Big Island PBS episode, a stunning show from Equitrekking’s second season.

The special Hawaii equestrian vacation that the Equitrekking team created on Hawaii's Big Island, based their experience riding and filming in Hawaii has been featured in The Boston Globe and Calgary Herald! 
 

Packing

Packing for Hawaii Horseback Riding

Please see Equitrekking Travel's General Packing Suggestions.

For the Waipi’o Valley ride, wear need long pants, covered shoes, and bring along a sweatshirt. You might also wish to bring along bottled water due to the remote location of this ride.

At Kahua Ranch riding days, long pants and covered shoes are recommended, as well as a jacket in case it's cool or windy.

At Ponoholo Ranch, Long Pants and Closed Toe Shoes are required. Boots, Light Jackets, Austrailian Duster Jackets, Chaps, and Helmets are available at the ranch.
 

About the Horses

You'll be riding mainly fit Quarter horses on this Hawaiian adventure, except in Waipi'o Valley, the Valley of Kings. This valley is home to the only herd of wild horses on the Big Island. You'll be riding horses that come from this herd.

Rice farmers settled in Waipi'o in the 1800's and introduced mules and horses as work animals. The horses carried rice and taro up the steep gravel road out the the valley to market. The horses were originally thought to be of Spanish Barb stock, having been brought over from Mexico in 1803.

Today, the bands of rugged Waipi'o Hawaiian horses run wild in the valley are descendants of these work horses. The Hawaiian horse is a tough, sure-footed horse that is part of Waipio's history. It's also an ideal way to get around the difficult terrain in the valley. The horses have adapted to the wet conditions in the valley and are very helpful when crossing the many rivers and streams that line the valley floor.

Activities/Events

This riding vacation includes three different horse riding adventures

The Ponoholo Ranch: Take a challenging ride at a second ranch on Kohala Mountain. The Ponoholo Ranch is one of the most beautiful ranches on the Big Island. This 11,000 acre cattle ranch covers three climate zones stretches from the rainforest at 4,800 feet to the ocean. Designed for the equestrian, the 4 hour Wrangler Ride is suitable for intermediate and expert riders who have ridden more than 50 times in the last 5 years. All riders must be 12 years or older. This ride allows for the most opportunities to trot and canter.

Waipi’o Valley Ride: Be on the lookout the state of Hawaii’s only wild horses on this two and a half hour trip through a lush tropical paradise of jungle trails, fresh water streams, taro fields, magnificent waterfalls and incredible vistas in the Valley of the Kings, one of the most historic and spiritual areas of the Big Island.

You’ll be driven into this remote valley down a steep road that requires 4 WD. Once in the valley, water is everywhere, making hiking and riding are your best methods of transportation. Cross rivers, pick exotic Chinese grapefruit from the trees and hear from a local about life off the grid in Waipi’o Valley, the Valley of the Kings. Waipi’o is the southernmost valley on the Hamakua Coast. The total riding time is 1.5 hours and transport in and out of the valley in the 4WD vehicle takes about 1 hour.

Waipi'o is known as the Valley of the Kings because so many important rulers came into power here. Between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries, thousands of Hawaiians made this fertile valley their home, living off the land and growing taro, a plant whose roots are crushed to make poi, a Hawaiian staple starch. In the late 1800s horses were brought into the valley to help cultivate taro and do other work. This quiet farming community was devastated in 1946 when a tsunami swept through the valley, wreaking destruction and driving out most of the valley’s residents. Between the tsunami and the displacement of horses by motor vehicles, Waipi’o’s local herds were reduced to only a small wild group that locals call Hawaiian horses. Today about fifty residents populate the valley.

Sherri Hannum, a long time resident of Waipi'o, began Na'alapa Stables nearly twenty years ago. The stables and riding tours spring from her fascination with Waipi'o's history and beauty and her love of horses. Na'alapa is the name of a sheer waterfall on the far side of the valley. Today Waipi'o's Na'alapa Stable is a favorite island activity for those who want to get off the beaten track.
Riders meet at the Waipi'o Valley Artworks in Kukuihaele village and are driven to the stable via four-wheel drive van. The horses you’ll ride in Waipi’o are all from local Waipi'o stock. The riding guides, including Sherri's daughter Maile, are well versed in Waipi'o's legends and lore.

Kahua Ranch: Ride the hilly landscapes of the Kohala Mountains at historic Kahua Ranch, a 12,000 acre working cattle and sheep ranch on this two and a half hour morning ride. You’ll take in panoramic views of the bright blue Pacific Ocean as you ride the grassy, open range. You won’t be riding nose to tail and might be allowed to canter, according to your riding ability and the guide’s discretion. 

Kahua Ranch, located in the Kohala Mountains, was established in 1850. It is one of the oldest and most diversified ranches in Hawaii. The top of the ranch is a wet native rainforest. Green pastures slope down to rocky dry lands dotted with ancient ruins of agricultural sites. In fact these lower lands were once densely populated up until the 1850's. The introduction of cattle and upheaval in traditional land use patterns put an end to this era. Kahua's paniolos, Hawaiian cowboys, are from old Hawaiian families that have lived on the ranch for many generations. The paniolo of today has adapted his traditional skill to the 21st century, managing herds of Angus and Hereford cattle, and flocks of sheep in neat rotational grazing patterns across the lush slopes of extinct volcanic cinder cones.

Other Big Island Adventures & Sights
Famous for the active Kilauea volcano, Hawaii’s Big Island is filled with fascinating sights and activities. With eleven different climate zones, you may discover lush rain forests, arid deserts, black sand beaches, snow-capped mountains and lots of adventure activities, including horseback riding.

Besides the three very different horseback riding adventures included in your trip, you'll have time to relax and enjoy resort activities at your resort, the Hilton Waikoloa Village. 

Here are some other things you might want to experience on your Equitrekking Travel Big Island Vacation. 

Discover Mauna Loa, the world's largest active volcano. Kilauea volcano, on Mauna Loa's southern flank, has been continuously erupting since 1983 and every day makes the Big Island even bigger.

Mauna Kea- The Hilton Waikoloa Village is located at the base of Mauna Kea, whose summit reaches to 13,796 feet. Mauna Kea means "white mountain" in Hawaiian because its peaks are often blanketed in snow during the winter months. Stargaze on a guided tour of one of the international observatories.

Museums- There are many museums in the area, showcasing the culture and traditions of the island. At Parker Ranch, you can tour the residences of the Richard Smart family and view their priceless art collection. The Parker Ranch Museum chronicles the rise of ranching in Hawaii and paniolo culture.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - This is the Big Island's most popular attraction. The park can overflow with visitors when volcanic flows from Kilauea, the world's most active volcano which has been erupting continuously since 1983, come within a short hike of the road. A good way to see the park is to hike and drive. You may pass by steam vents, otherworldly terrain and rainforests, and if you're lucky, you'll see the bright red lava flowing from Kilauea.

Puukohola Heiau- Just north of the resorts of the South Kohala, this is one of the largest heiau (temple) in Hawaii. Heiau were sacred places of worship for ancient Hawaiians, and Puukohola Heiau was a site built with added historic significance.

Accommodations/Food

This trip includes 4 nights hotel and breakfast daily at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, a resort you may not want to leave!

The Hilton Waikoloa rests within 62 oceanfront acres on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hilton Waikoloa Village features award-winning dining, world-class shopping, and an array of activities ranging from golf, tennis, stunning tropical gardens, the only interactive dolphin program on the island, pools, waterslides, the spa, fitness center and more. Hit the white sand beach and take a dip in the four-acre ocean fed lagoon, a protected oasis for snorkeling and swimming. The salt-water lagoon is teeming with tropical fish and rare green sea turtles. Learn more about what the Hilton Waikoloa Village offers on their website.
 

The Ideal Traveler

The ideal travelers for this trip want to enjoy a riding vacation on Hawaii's Big Island and experience local culture, but also wants to have time to enjoy other adventures at their resort and in Hawaii. They may also be traveling with companions who do not want to ride while on the Big Island or riders with less experience, who still want to enjoy a riding vacation in exotic Hawaii.

5 days/ 4 nights Big Island Horse Riding Vacation

Dates & Rates 2012
Starting at $1436 per person double occupancy. This self drive tour is available year round (subject to availability). Includes three different horseback riding adventures on the Big Island, four nights hotel and breakfast daily at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, a car rental for entire stay, and all taxes except on the rental car.

Description
Ride the verdant hills of a working ranch overlooking the bright Pacific and through the lush, tropical terrain of remote and wild Waipi’o Valley (the Valley of the Kings). Experience Hawaiian cowboy culture on a horse ride at historic Ponoholo Ranch. You’ll spend nights at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, located on the Kohala Coast in the midst of Waikoloa Beach Resort.

This trip allows for three very different horseback riding adventures on the Big Island and is suitable for intermediate to advanced riders. We are happy to accomodate beginning riders who only want to spend a couple of hours in the saddle each day and leave time for other Big Island activities, as well. Just let us know your ability. Because if the nature of this independent trip it is not suitable for single travelers. There should be two or more riders in your party.

Day 1
Arrive. Free time to settle in and explore the Big Island and the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort, perhaps resting by the pool or on the beach!

Day 2
You’re due at Ponoholo Ranch at 8:30am for your 4-hour Wrangler Ride. Walk, trot and canter through verdant pastures overlooking the bright blue Pacific Ocean.

Day 3
Today experience a coastal ranch, as you ride up the green hills of Kahua Ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Meet at the ranch at 8:30am for your 2.5 hour ride. Kahua Ranch is about a 45 minute drive from your resort.

Day 4
Make your way towards Waipi’o Valley, the Valley of the Kings, to enjoy a 2.5 hour guided tour of the Valley of the Kings. It's about an hour and a half drive from the Hilton Waikoloa Village resort to your meeting place at Waipio Valley Artworks, where you'll meet at 12:30pm and be transported down to the valley in a 4WD vehicle. Believe us, you won't want to drive your rental car down the steep terrain that leads into the valley! The horse riding tour is about an hour and a half long. The rest of the tour is spent getting you in and out of this remote valley.

Day 5
Depart or ask us about how to extend your stay.

* Please note that the above itineray is flexible and subject to change based on the weather, trip guide's discretion or other factors. Rides may also occur on different days than stated above.

The Ponoholo Ranch: Take a challenging ride at a large, historic ranch on Kohala Mountain. The Big Island, and especially North Kohala, is the home of the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) and the Ponoholo Ranch is one of the most beautiful ranches on the Big Island. This 11,000 acre cattle ranch covers three climate zones stretches from the rainforest at 4,800 feet to the ocean. Designed for the equestrian, the 4-hour Wrangler Ride is suitable for intermediate and expert riders who have ridden more than 50 times in the last 5 years. All riders must be 12 years or older. This ride allows for the most opportunities to trot and canter.

Waipi’o Valley Ride: Be on the lookout the state of Hawaii’s only wild horses on this two and a half hour trip through a lush tropical paradise of jungle trails, fresh water streams, taro fields, magnificent waterfalls and incredible vistas in the Valley of the Kings, one of the most historic and spiritual areas of the Big Island.

You’ll be driven into this remote valley down a steep road that requires 4 WD. Once in the valley, water is everywhere, making hiking and riding are your best methods of transportation. Cross rivers, pick exotic Chinese grapefruit from the trees and hear from a local about life off the grid in Waipi’o Valley, the Valley of the Kings. Waipi’o is the southernmost valley on the Hamakua Coast. The total riding time is 1.5 hours and transport in and out of the valley in the 4WD vehicle takes about 1 hour.

Waipi'o is known as the Valley of the Kings because so many important rulers came into power here. Between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries, thousands of Hawaiians made this fertile valley their home, living off the land and growing taro, a plant whose roots are crushed to make poi, a Hawaiian staple starch. In the late 1800s horses were brought into the valley to help cultivate taro and do other work. This quiet farming community was devastated in 1946 when a tsunami swept through the valley, wreaking destruction and driving out most of the valley’s residents. Between the tsunami and the displacement of horses by motor vehicles, Waipi’o’s local herds were reduced to only a small wild group that locals call Hawaiian horses. Today about fifty residents populate the valley.

Sherri Hannum, a long time resident of Waipi'o, began Na'alapa Stables nearly twenty years ago. The stables and riding tours spring from her fascination with Waipi'o's history and beauty and her love of horses. Na'alapa is the name of a sheer waterfall on the far side of the valley. Today Waipi'o's Na'alapa Stable is a favorite island activity for those who want to get off the beaten track.

Riders meet at the Waipi'o Valley Artworks in Kukuihaele village and are driven to the stable via four-wheel drive van. The horses you’ll ride in Waipi’o are all from local Waipi'o stock. The riding guides, including Sherri's daughter Maile, are well versed in Waipi'o's legends and lore.

Kahua Ranch: Ride the hilly landscapes of the Kohala Mountains at historic Kahua Ranch, a 12,000 acre working cattle and sheep ranch on this two and a half hour morning ride. You’ll take in panoramic views of the bright blue Pacific Ocean as you ride the grassy, open range. You won’t be riding nose to tail and might be allowed to canter, according to your riding ability and the guide’s discretion.

Kahua Ranch, located in the Kohala Mountains, was established in 1850. It is one of the oldest and most diversified ranches in Hawaii. The top of the ranch is a wet native rainforest. Green pastures slope down to rocky dry lands dotted with ancient ruins of agricultural sites. In fact these lower lands were once densely populated up until the 1850's. The introduction of cattle and upheaval in traditional land use patterns put an end to this era. Kahua's paniolos, Hawaiian cowboys, are from old Hawaiian families that have lived on the ranch for many generations. The paniolo of today has adapted his traditional skill to the 21st century, managing herds of Angus and Hereford cattle, and flocks of sheep in neat rotational grazing patterns across the lush slopes of extinct volcanic cinder cones.

 

Related Travel Articles

Hawaii’s Modern Paniolos

An Interview with a Paniolo Hall of Fame Inductee by Equitrekking host Darley Newman Doesn’t being born and raised riding horses on the island of Oahu sound dreamy? That’s what I thought as I listened to Michael “Corky” Bryan tell me about his childhood on Ewa Plantation on Oahu. From… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Luau

  So I still have this song in my head from tonight’s luau and festive musical extravaganza, the Gathering of the Kings on the grounds of The Fairmont Orchid. This is quite a production, complete with dancers, torch jugglers, people on stilts and all sorts of acrobatics. It tells the… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Waipio Valley

  To get to Waipi’o Valley, the Valley of the Kings, you have to drive or hike down a VERY steep road into a valley surrounded by high cliffs. 4 WD is essential. Many people hike down into the valley to take in the lush, tropical environment and its black… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Kahua Ranch

  Something that makes the rides at Kahua Ranch different is that if you are an experienced rider, you can ride fast. We’d do a bit of that meeting up with Maile of Na’alapa Stables. Na’alapa Stables, who runs a ride that we will take in Waipi’o Valley, also runs… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Volcanoes National Park

  For our first adventure on the Big Island, we headed from the airport in Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Lots of people venture here to see hot molten lava flowing. We did too, but that lava flows here are unpredictable, so that wasn’t in the cards for us. We… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Waimea

Today, we shot some footage around Waimea on the Big Island. This is the farm/ranch area of the Big Island. It's on the Northwestern part of the island and has a great history with giant ranches like Parker Ranch sprawling out over flat and rolling grasslands. We’ll be back to… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Outrigger Canoeing

I was out on the open seas today, using a paddle to navigate our long, white outrigger canoe with Umi, a beach boy at the Fairmont Orchid who loves outrigger canoeing. The Fairmont Orchid is a beautiful resort on the Kohala Coast. The waters are clear here. The ocean breeze… Read more »

Hawaii’s Big Island- Parker Ranch

Parker Ranch is an institution on the Big Island. Karoll of Cowboys of Hawaii took us out to ride a part of the ranch. Touted at one time as the largest privately owned ranch in the United States, Parker Ranch is huge.  The distances here can be deceiving too. Out… Read more »

Traveler Reviews

The Valley of the Kings Ride was featured in USA Today on April 30, 2010, in Equitrekking host Darley Newman's interview on "10 Great Places to go Horseback Riding"

Maui Equestrian Vacation Self Drive

Consider pairing the Big Island with an equestrian vacation on Maui. The Equitrekking Travel Maui Equestrian Vacation Self Drive includes three different horseback riding adventures on the Maui, 4 nights hotel and breakfast daily at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, a car rental for entire stay, and all taxes except on the rental car.

Contact us to further customize these adventures.

Reading List

General Guidebooks

Hawaii (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE) (Paperback) by Bonnie Friedman
DK Eyewitness Travel's full-color guidebooks to hundreds of destinations around the world truly show you what others only tell you. They have become renowned for their visual excellence, which includes unparalleled photography, 3-D mapping, and specially commissioned cutaway illustrations. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are the only guides that work equally well for inspiration, as a planning tool, a practical resource while traveling, and a keepsake following any trip.

Fodor's Hawaii 2010 (Full-Color Gold Guides) (Paperback) by Fodor’s
Your vacation never looked better. This Fodor’s full-color guide paints an unforgettable picture of Hawaii with vibrant maps, vividly illustrated features, and stunning color photos. Updated annually, Fodor’s Hawaii provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook. Fodor’s Hawaii features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime. If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places on Hawaii.

Frommer's Hawaii with Kids (Frommer's With Kids) (Paperback) by Jeanette Foster
Designed for visitors and locals alike, Frommer’s With Kids Guides show how to plan family trips and outings that are fun for kids of all ages. Written by parents for parents with exact prices, star-rated reviews of family-friendly hotels and restaurants, age recommendations for most activities. This book is for those traveling with children ages 2 to 14.

For Horse Loving, Hawaii Traveling Kids

Phantom Stallion: Wild Horse Island #1: The Horse Charmer (Paperback) By Terri Farley 
Darby Carter loves horses, even though she's never actually ridden one. Darby's grandfather is an expert rider—in fact, he owns a horse ranch in Hawaii. So when he agrees to take her in—along with the beautiful mustang Darby saved on the range in Nevada—she knows she can't refuse, even if she is a little terrified! But Darby's filly arrives in bad shape, and Darby's grandfather wonders if the wild horse will ever trust a human again. Can Darby take the reins and save her horse—or has she lost the mustang forever?

History Enthusiasts

Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands (Paperback) by Gavan Daws
Gavan Daws' remarkable achievement is to free Hawaiian history from the dust of antiquity. Based on years of work in the documentary sources, Shoal of Time emerges as the most readable of all Hawaiian histories. Starting with the Western discovery of the islands in 1778--on through the days of the whalers, the missionary period, the plantation era with its vast numbers of Oriental immigrants, to the fall of the Hawaiian monarchy, annexation by the United States, and the long, slow move to statehood--the characters and events of Hawaii's past shine with new vitality and immediacy.

Hawaii: A Novel (Paperback) by James A. Michener
In Hawaii, Pulitzer Prize–winning author James Michener weaves the classic saga that brought Hawaii’s epic history vividly alive to the American public on its initial publication in 1959, and continues to mesmerize even today.

Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen (Mass Market Paperback) by Liliuokalani
The Hawaiian kingdom's last monarch wrote her biography in 1897, the year before the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands by the United States. Her story covers six decades of island history told from the viewpoint of a major historical figure. Introduction by Glen Grant.

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.