Horseback Riding on the Big Island

If you like riding horses the Big Island has got you covered, saddle up!

Horses are part of the recent local history and you can still find a good amount of them on the Big Island (and especially in and around Waimea). 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:

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 Waipi’o 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 ordered by location:

• Tours near Waimea + Waipi’o Valley
• Tours near Hilo + the Hamakua coast
• Tours in South Kona (Captain Cook area)

You can also compare the prices of most of these operators, including possible discounts, on the hawaiiactivities website¹ website.

Horseback riding tours in Waipi’o valley (and close to Waimea)

Several vendors arranging horseback riding tours are located on the northernmost tip of the Big Island, 20 minutes (by car) north of Waimea:

• Paniolo Adventures at Ponoholo Ranch offers 5 different rides.
• Na’alapa Stables at Kahua Ranch. They offer a tour of the Kahua ranch and a 2.5-hour excursion on horseback deep into Waipi’o valley.
• Dahana Ranch (formally known as Nakoa Ranch) offers rides at their ranch that last between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. All rides need to be reserved ahead of time.
• Waipio on Horseback organizes 3-hour horseback rides on the Waipi’o valley floor. Tours include transport down into the valley.

Especially the horseback riding tours in Waipi’o valley are an unique experience. Have a look at the follow video by PBS featuring the Na’alapa stables tour for an impression:

Horseback riding tours near Hilo

On the east side of the Big Island, near Hilo. This part of the island is know for its lush forests and waterfalls:

• Pa’ani Ranch horseback riding tour: offers small group tours of approximately one and a half hour in length riding through their 220-acre working cattle ranch for $120 per person (2020 price).
• The Silver Crest Farms tours take you on a 1.5 hour ride through the lush jungle of Kapoho. [Silver Crest Farms stopped offering tours]
• Wailea Horseback Adventures organizes a 2.5 hour horseback ride + waterfall swim tour at the lush Hamakua coast, 20 minutes north of Hilo.

Horseback riding tours in South Kona

On the South / West east side of the Big Island, near Captain Cook. This area forms the lush and plentiful heart of Kona coffee country:

• Ho’omau Ranch organizes small group tours (up to 5 persons) through the native Hawaiian forests on their ranch.

The history of Paniolos – the Cowboys of Hawaii

Hawai’i 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.

A group on a Horseback riding tour in Waipi’o valley. Photo credit: Mike Neenan

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