Waipi’o On Horseback

No better way to see the Valley than on horseback. As a local, Micah knows the area inside and out and embodies the spirit of the area. Breathtaking scenery and rich history wisely protected from massive tourism. They also don’t use bits on the horses so it’s a gentle, kind ride for the animals. Highly recommend this!

Great way to see the Waipi’o valley. Mellow ride along valley paths, past taro fields and the tropical lushness on super chill horses with nice guides. The big vistas change with each step, but look up close at all the different plants and flowers too. The horses forge across small streams. Our group ranged from 7 – 77 in age and included first time horseback riders. You’ll see a small, nice waterfall on the trip (as a note: no tours go to the tallest Hi’ilawe falls at the back of the valley, so don’t go expecting to ride up to them). Really a beautiful way to spend the morning!

This is a very well run operation. From the ease of booking, to local knowledge of the valley (our guide was a long-​time resident), to careful and professional handling of the horses and riders, there was never a second of regret that we chose WOH for our Waipio valley experience. Our guides were just the right amount of talkative, interweaving moments of silence to drink in the beauty of the land with interesting tidbits. There was an astonishing photo op every 10 – 15 minutes of this tour, not to mention a generous sampling of the mouthwatering fruits that grow here, which made it worth every penny.
NOTE: you are not allowed to carry anything but a camera on horseback, so come hydrated with sunblock pre-​applied. The valley is humid and not all paths on the tour are shaded, so dress appropriately.

This was the most mind-​blowing experience we had on the Big Island. Our guides tried to be prompt but we were riding with a party of five that was very late. I was in a bad mood about that until we got into the van and started the descent into the valley. It was impossible to stay mad once seeing the view.
The views just kept blowing me away, and seeing the taro patches in the valley against the valley’s dramatic backdrop was unforgettable. The horses were awesome, and the ride was leisurely.
At least one of our guides lived in the Valley and both knew all the fruits that grew there: pomelo, acai, guava, abiu, oranges, lemons, dragonfruit, and more. If it was hanging in the path, they’d pick it and give us a sample. No pesticides, no fertilizers, just pure Hawaii in the freshest, sweetest form.
The whole experience was unbelievable.

Overall, this trail ride was a pretty amazing experience. Although my family mainly interacted with one of the guides, Micah, both guides seemed very nice. Along the drive down to the stables and throughout the ride, Micah was very funny and knowledgeable about all the plants that grew alongside the trail which was really nice. The trail is just gorgeous, with lush greenery and beautiful waterfalls on either side. We even saw wild horses! The guides also made sure that everyone got a good photo op. However, my only complaint is that my particular horse, George, seemed to maybe be a little sore or off. I am an experienced horseback rider, having owned and competed my own horse and he just didn’t feel right but that could just be me. Definitely a worthwhile trip though!

I took this adventure at the recommendation of the Hilton activities desk. So glad I did! I am a seasoned visitor to the Big Island … this lived up to my expectations. Our guide, Micah, wasvery friendly, professional, informative and entertaining. Thanks, Micah! His sidekick Ronald was also great. They place a high priority on safety … and because the horses are very gentle and well trained … even the novice or beginner will enjoy the ride. Tip: Expect to see wild horses and ask questions! Learn the history and appreciate beauty around you.

We had an amazing experience with Dave-​a as our guide! He was super friendly and knowledgable and pure joy the entire time! Don’t let the strange behavior and short nature of the woman who answers the phone dissuade you from doing this awesome experience!

Our group had a fantastic time on our horseback ride.
Finding this place wasn’t too hard, which I was a little worried about because they didn’t really have an address.
To get you down to the stables they load you in a van and take you down a crazy steep hill. I recommend getting a seat up front and just closing your eyes if heights bother you. Trust me, it is worth it and the drive back up the hill is not as bad.
We had one member of our group who was very nervous, and I felt the guides, especially Davo, were very sensitive to their needs. We each got a nice horse, and even my animal rights activist sister was pleased with the condition and treatment of the horses.
The ride was beautiful. We went through rivers, saw waterfalls, taro farms and so much beauty! The guides, Davo and Sarah, gave us all sorts of good information whenever they were near.
I thought this was way better then some of the traditional trail rides out there and would highly recommend!

Called to make a reservation before we headed to the Hilo side of the island. I had to leave a voice mail but Thelma called right back. She began by asking for a lot of info I had already provided in my message. I thought it was odd how snippy she was; you are looking for customers, right? When Thelma asked where we are staying, I told her Mauna Kea (opposite side from the ranch) and she began to tell me how far we are from their ranch. I told her that I understand, we would be traveling to that side this week; do you have space on the day I am requesting? She asked where we will be staying but we hadn’t decided yet; do you have space on the day I am requesting? She continued on about the driving distance and time as though we don’t have GPS or maps; do you have space on the day I am requesting? She still hasn’t answered me…
I then told her that I would be making reservations with another ranch to which she seemed very happy for me to do. I’ve never had so much difficulty communicating and making a reservation. They receive 1 star because I’m thankful that I was able to see what she’s like BEFORE we went riding with them.

Wow! I mean Woh… This was awesome.
Stacy is a hoot. He does crack jokes continuously as another reviewer said but he is kind and happy to answer my 50 questions about the land, history, plants and all wildlife. They do help you get on the horse and are very concerned with safety at all times. I suspect if you can’t pull/​lift yourself up onto the horse, they worry about your ability to ride through all the streams and trails. But they hold the horse steady and help set the stirrups to the right length. If you need to sit a lot to rest frequently, I recommend you don’t take this tour. If you are in average condition, you will have no problems whatsoever. Our groups age varied from 30’s to 60’s.
The Waipio Valley is incredibly beautiful. We realized that James Cameron probably got his inspiration for Avatar from something like WV. Waterfalls are everywhere on the surrounding valley walls and waves for surfing crash into the base of the valley where it meets the ocean. There are even wild horses that roam the valley. Many types of plant, fruit, tree and bush grows in the valley.
The drive down into the valley is a bit scary, hence the need for 4 wheel drive. The road is STEEP, narrow and bumpy but Micah drove it carefully and slowly. Some people were walking it but it looked really hard to walk.
The horses are very well behaved and you don’t need to know how to ride them as they pretty much go wherever the guides go. Micah rode at the front and Stacy road at the rear so no one got off trail or had any problems with the horses. Both guides were friendly and informative and pointed out hundreds of sites, trivia and information we would have missed otherwise.
Oh, and the price is totally reasonable. You get the four wheel drive tour in/​out of the valley plus 1.5 hours of horse ride (once you are down in the valley — the horses are in a stable in the valley. You don’t ride the horses down into the valley.) all for about $ 80/​person. We’ve taken other tours here on the Big Island and this one was the most bang for the money.
Thelma was very helpful with good directions and getting our reservation done perfectly.

Dear me It was a shame that this company has a guide, Stacy, who does a great job of driving away business.
His loud, inane patter he used all the time we were on the tour was awful.
The stable area is muddy and no place to sit or rest except in the beat up 4 wheel drive SUV.
There is no help getting up on the horse. Stacy kept yelling that each person had pull themselves up onto the horse.
Maybe if Thelma had asked our ages we would have been warned about this.
I would use the OTHER company next time.

Gotta say, I booked with these guys solely because the spot recommended in Big Island Revealed (Nahala Ranch) was full up. That said, I loved this trip. They take you down the steepest grade I’ve ever descended, stopping periodically to show off the view and even point out the tallest waterfall in state, which I definitely would have missed otherwsie. The staff was full of colorful locals, two of whom (Davo and Ronald) know their stuff and constantly point out interesting sights, plant life, history, etc. There was one crazy-​looking bucktoothed guide who seemed more focused on yodeling and cracking loud, scary jokes, but I kept my distance and had a terrific time. Also, the guy back at the ranch provided fresh guava and macadamia nuts — nice touch.
And there really is no better way to go through the smashing Waipi’o Valley than on horseback — trotting across streams and gullies, mindblowing scenery all around you. We saw wild horses, and wild people and wild scenery, and it felt like visiting a gorgeous foreign country – highly recommended.

Comparing the different activities on our vacation: a plane tour of the entire Big Island, snorkeling with wild dolphins, and the Waipio on Horseback Ranch tour, the ranch tour was surprisingly our favorite activity for the whole week! Wonderful people, gorgeous setting, fascinating tour! Native Mike Olival and his son Guy love what they do and it shows! Well worth the drive over from Kona side. We opted for the ATV tour instead of horses since we weren’t wearing long pants and had a blast. Next time we’ll do the horses for a different experience.

We recently were on the Big Island for a family reunion and went to Waipio on Horseback (WOH). We had the most amazing time seeing the beautiful country and meeting Mike with WOH. When we booked our visit on the 800 #, Thelma was fantastic and very kind and helpful.
We loved the property and hearing about the culture. There was so much more to see so we will be back!