Will be vacationing in Oahu in February. Not really interested in taking any trail rides, but I seem to remember years ago, there may have been a few events hosted there. Does anyone know of the farm that hosted the events? I would love to walk around see their cross country courses.
Not sure on eventing but there is polo on Oahu…I didn’t find out until I had already missed that week’s game, but I would try and check it out if there was a game going on while you were there!
I grew up there…there really wasn’t much eventing when I lived there. Maybe a little more now…but land is a real premium in Hawaii so not exactly a hot spot for eventing.
The little that I knew about was on the Big Island. I think there may have been a course built on Kualoa ranch on Oahu (but that was after I had already left).
Trust me…going on a trail ride at Kualoa ranch would be worth it…totally worth it…even if no xc course. They filmed some of Jurassic Park there…fabulous location.
As for Polo…always been a pretty big sport in Hawaii. I spent a lot of time legging up and cooling out polo ponies as a kid. Plus really good rodeos in Hawaii too. A lot of the polo ponies chased cows too 
I totally agree with BFNE about Kualoa Ranch. It’s less than 5 minutes from my Aunt’s house and it’s so pretty. A horseback ride would be a great way to see the valley. The last time I went in there was to see Matthew Fox (a family friend) shooting Lost on the ranch. It was even prettier than he is. 
The ranch has lots to do as well - they grow macadamia nuts, etc. Worth the trip over to the windward side.
You might want to go see the Dillingham Ranch as well. Their website says that they have “hawaii’s only three-day eventing course.” Whether or not that is true, I have been up there and it is staggeringly beautiful. The Dillinghams are/were one of the oldest wealthy “haole” (read: non-native Hawaiian settlers) families and it is a historical landmark worth the trek to the north shore.
Have a great time!!
That’s where we would go for a lot of the polo matches (I’ve been run away with on those grounds;)).
Just treking out to the North Shore is always worth it. Love seeing the big waves in the winter. Makes you feel the power of nature and how insignificant we are!
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Just treking out to the North Shore is always worth it. Love seeing the big waves in the winter. Makes you feel the power of nature and how insignificant we are![/QUOTE]
I totally agree! It’s so special up there and you HAVE to go to the shrimp truck. BEST.SHRIMP.EVER. But you better like spicy food!
Not to hijack, but any good horsey destinations on the “big island” near Kona? Going in January, first time! 
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Not to hijack, but any good horsey destinations on the “big island” near Kona? Going in January, first time! :)[/QUOTE]
Not really, I’ve included a few sites below. Also, while not horse related I can HIGHLY recommend Kona Brewing Co. if you like pizza and beer. Also Mountain Thunder Coffee. BEST COFFEE EVER!
http://www.panioloadventures.com/ <— This is my recommendation. Looked at the business to purchase, nicely run. Plus you can see the horses’ pictures online.
http://www.tombarefoot.com/hawaii/horseback.html
BFNE: What’s your recollection of the Big Island? I’m being hounded to up root my life and farm… transfer everything to the Big Island. Though I don’t think anyone would come look at my horses!! Maybe if they’re enticed by a nice place to say in Hawaii? :lol:
I’ve done rides at paniolo adventures twice and agree - it’s well run and the horses are happy. You can ride a slightly spicy one if you want and they let you do some nice canters - not nose to tail tourist stuff. It’s beautiful up there but it can be cool and wet so be prepared!
On Kona, if youre willing to drive, make the trip to the south side and go to green beach (its a hike, but incredible!). The drive there is filled with horses, and the scenery is almost Savannah like but with horses and you can see the ocean. totally different from what you think of when you think “Hawaii”. Check it out if you can. there is also the parker ranch, which is huge. I haven’t ridden there, but its there.
kona-wise, you will love it! Go to Mahina pizza downtown (Darcy is super nice!), lava java (coconut croissant), turtle beach, go to the Sheraton at night because they feed the manta rays so you can see them (you dont have to be a guest). oh, and check out the kona web cam, its dandy.
Love the Big Island. A lot of my family still lives there and they have horses. Most people in Hawaii do a bit of everything. Their horses will jump a course, chase cows and run barrels. There will not be much, if any, eventing. People keep horses more like those in CA than on the east coast (which makes sense given the weather). Hay is a luxury. Mold grows on your tack in a blink of an eye.
Beautiful place and great people but you are on an Island…in the middle of the ocean;) Can’t beat the weather and it is one of the prettiest places on earth. Cost of living is fairly expensive.
Love Waimea (Kamuela) on the Big Island. That is where I would go if I moved there.
I keep my boy at Dillingham Ranch. Probably the most beautiful place I have ever had the opportunity to ride at. The ranch is nicely spread out, with 3 arenas the CC course, a pond for swimming and a field to ride in that is larger than some of the facilities I boarded at in the mainland. Throw in the mountain in the background and the constant cool breeze off the ocean and it’s paradise any way you slice it.
There is a cross country course by the pond but it’s tiny, and is often used as an alternate pasture for the ranch’s main herd. Walking around on the course wouldn’t take you but 5 minutes and might be frowned upon. Especially if the herd is out there.
The polo field is across the street and is right on the beach. Unfortunately February is not polo season. If you are lucky you may be able to see a workout or two as they start getting the ponies ready for the season.
As Twisting stated, it is a small course, suitable for C-3 and under Pony Clubbers. Since these are kids who ordinarily wouldn’t get to run and jump, it’s pretty basic. The facility is in a wonderful location.
From Kona it isn’t that far of a drive to get up to Waimea (or Kamuela). Parker Ranch is up there…and it is just beautiful.
But honestly…it doesn’t take long to get anywhere in Hawaii;) The Islands are not that big.
While on the Big Island…you have to make sure you get up to the Volcanoes National Park. It is closer to Hilo than Kona but still worth it. Not many places on earth that you can get that close to active volcanoes.
I’ve also always loved Waipio Valley.
But there is also a ton to do in Kona. We usually did fishing and diving trips from Kona. I also remember as a kid driving up to see the Observatory (not sure that is still open post 9/11) or really just the summit of Mauna Kea. You are really high up…and in January, there can be snow (that’s a big deal when you have never seen snow before:D). But man did most of us get altitude sickness form driving up so high and then going to the beach!
Terry Tugman
Many years (I mean decades) ago, I was about the only National Examiner for USPC on the west coast. I was sent to Hawaii to do a B test (Pan Am was still flying then as I remember).
Anyway we did the test at Terry Tugman’s. I see she has a scholarship named after her so perhaps she has passed away.
I remember the cross country portion. The brush boxes were stuffed with orchids.
Dolphins and Manta Rays - best time ever http://sunlightonwater.com/ (this was in June when I ran the Kona marathon in 2010), so not sure what the winter schedule is. I did not ride, but chatted with these folks and checked out the ranch, which is pretty cool http://www.naalapastables.com/kahua.html
Breakfast at Island Lava Java right on the beach. I also really like watching the dragon boat races.
LOL…my roomate from Law school still gives me a hard time about my absolute utter disgust that I had when she bought potted Hibiscus for our front door. I couldn’t believe how much she had to pay for them in VA when I had spent much of my life considering them a bit like a weed. (they tend to be a filler plant/bush that grows out of control in Hawaii–I remember one of my weekend chores as a kid was cutting them back)
Another vote for Paniolo adventures. I rode Chamois. We had a few cnater sessions and I was very motivated to not fall off onto one of the black lava rocks. Unlikely to fall of with these good horses. I was glad I was wearing a helmet as the wind was whipping, good for keeping the hair a bit under control.
The other super fun adventure for us was night diving to see Manta Rays, can be done as a snorkel too.
I just moved from Hawaii last year. I rode at Dillingham. Their XC course is not a real course. It’s xc style jumps in a pasture. I have a pic of it somewhere on my blog, I’ll post a link when I find it.
Dillingham is definitely drop dead gorgeous but there are no horses to rent there. But Hawaii Polo, across the street, does beach trail rides.
There is no XC course on Kualoa.
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