If you like riding horses the Big Island has got you covered. Horses are part of the recent local history and you can still find a good amount of them on the island. Our scenic open landscapes are great for horse-powered adventures, and did you know that island of Hawaii is home to the Hawaiian Cowboys?
But, first things first:
Table of contents
- Horseback riding tours (list + descriptions)
- Near Hilo + the Hamakua coast
- Tours into Waipio Valley
- Near Waimea + Kohala
- History of horseback riding on Hawaii
Table of Contents
- Horseback riding tours (list + descriptions)
- Near Hilo + the Hamakua coast
- Tours into Waipio Valley
- Near Waimea + Kohala
- History of horseback riding on Hawaii
Frequently asked questions about horseback tours on the Big Island
Before we start, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about horseback tours on the Big Island:
Check out the tours by Waipiʻo on horseback if you want to ride a horse in one of the most scenic and impressive places on the Big Island: Waipiʻo Valley and the Hamakua coast with panoramic ocean views.
The tour offered by 4D Quarter Horses is currently the best value tour package.
Horseback rides are available for kids from ty pically8 years old (depending on the tour operator), but 4D Quarter Horses allows kids as young as 3 to ride along on their own pony (they leave it up to their parents discretion whether or not they believe your child will enjoy the experience).
Saddle up, ride through the wide-open spaces of Waimea, the lush rainforest around Hilo, or explore the trails in and above Waipi’o valley for amazing sightseeing and back country waterfalls.
Horseback riding tour in the hills above Waimea with views on Mauna Kea. Credit: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Heather Goodman
Horseback riding tours on the Big Island
Several ranches offer the opportunity to explore their (often very large) range as part of a guided horseback riding tour. Trails take you through the pastures with spectacular views of the coastline and peaks. It is also possible to see other spectacular parts of the Big Island, such as the spectacular Waipiʻo valley close to Waimea or the lush rainforest around Hilo.
We list and shortly describe the horseback riding tour companies on the Big Island below:
| Price: | Duration: | Region: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waipiʻo on horseback | $150 | 3 hours | Hamakua Coast |
| Naʻalapa Stables | $115 – $157 | 1.5-2.5 hours | Kohala mountains |
| Paniolo Adventures | $135-$300 | 1.5-4 hours | Kohala mountains |
| 4D Quarter Horses | $110 | 1.5 hours | Kohala mountains |
| Wailea Horseback Adventures | $145 | 2.5 hours | Hamakua Coast |
Horseback riding tours near Hilo (Hamakua Coast)
On the east side of the Big Island, near Hilo. This part of the island is know for its lush forests and waterfalls. There are 3 providers currently offering tours.
Waipiʻo on Horseback
At this tour at a 500 acre mountain to ocean working cattle ranch you ride through a large coconut orchard, banana groves, and fishponds, go alongside the historic Hamakua ditch, and up into pasture blooming with purple flowers, tunnels of guava and iron woods.
Small Group Horseback Ride on the scenic Hamakua coast
A scenic horseback riding tour that takes you from fertile gardens and a working livestock ranch to sweeping grasslands, oceanfront, and tree canopies
from:
$150
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Wailea Horseback Adventures
Wailea Horseback Adventures also organizes a 2.5 hour horseback ride + waterfall swim tour at the lush Hamakua coast, 20 minutes north of Hilo.
Horseback riding tours in Waipiʻo valley
Waipiʻo Valley is hands-down the best place to go for a horseback ride on the Big Island. Not only because the valley itself is such a magical and historic place, or because that’s where you can find the only herd of wild horses in the state, but also because youʻll get a trip down into the valley (and up again) for free as part of your trip!
A group on a Horseback riding tour in Waipiʻo valley. Photo credit: Mike Neenan
Waipiʻo on Horseback (currently suspended)
Waipio on Horseback organizes 3 hour long small-group horseback rides in Waipiʻo Valley that include transport down to the valley floor. Local guides share their knowledge about local plants and trees, and about the legends and history of this rich cultural landscape throughout the journey. The leisure pace of the tour makes it a good choice for families.
Important: the tour below is suspended as long as the emergency order that closed Waipiʻo valley road remains active. You can still join Waipiʻo on Horseback for a scenic ride along the Hamakua coast.)
Waipiʻo Valley on Horseback
Small group horseback riding tour over trails in the majestic Waipiʻo Valley - great for families and includes transport down into the valley.
from:
$150
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.
Photo taken during the Waipiʻo on Horseback tour (see above).
Horseback riding tours near Kohala/Waimea
Several vendors arranging horseback riding tours are located on the northernmost tip of the Big Island, 15 to 20 minutes (by car) from Waimea. These tours are especially good for exploring their ranches on horseback:
- Paniolo Adventures at Ponoholo Ranch offers 5 different rides (20 minutes north of Waimea).
- 4D Quarter Horses (formerly known as Dahana Ranch, 15 minutes east of Waimea) offers rides at their ranch that last between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. All rides need to be reserved ahead of time.
Naʻalapa stables
Naʻalapa Stables at Kahua Ranch has two tour options:
- A leisure 2.5 hour ride exploring the Kahua ranch, and
- aA2.5-hour excursion on horseback deep into Waipiʻo valley. (currently unavailable as access to the valley has been restricted to residents only)
See the follow video by PBS featuring the Naʻalapa stables tour for an impression:
Horseback riding tour guides for the other Hawaiian islands:
if you are also visiting Oʻahu and are into sunset beach rides on the famous North Shore you should check out our guide to Horseback riding tours on Oʻahu.
Maui also has its fair share of equestrian fun. See our list of all Horseback Riding Tours on Maui to learn more.
The history of Paniolos – the Cowboys of Hawaii
Hawaiʻi has its own brand of cowboys, or Paniolo’s, and a rich history in horseback riding. When the Spanish vaqueros (“cowboys”) arrived on the island in the early 19th century they brought the traditional euro-latin culture of riding and roping skills. The king of Hawaii hired these vaqueros to teach Hawaiians herding and ranching skills in order to control the many cows that were given to the Hawaiian royalty as a gift, but now were roaming the island almost uncontrolled.
As the Hawaiian culture and Latin vaquero cultures mingled, a unique breed of cowboy emerged: the Paniolo. Waimea on the Big Island is Paniolo central, and the place to be if you like horseback riding – local style!
We highly recommend this 18-page article on the Paniolo History to anyone that wants to dig deeper into the history of Hawaiian Cowboys.