Evening at the Ranch

This event was enthusiastically described to us at an available activities session early in our week in Kona. We talked about it afterward and decided to treat our local relatives to an evening out — it sounded like a fun opportunity to experience the western Hawaiian culture, and a great gift experience. However, it didn’t measure up in most respects. We wish we had looked at the Unilocal comments before stepping up.
To summarize expectations: visit the ranch and tour, have a great dinner with drinks, musical entertainment and storytelling, do line dancing, view the stars through a telescope, try roping and branding, horseshoe pitching, picture on a horse, smores by the fire.
We drove separately to the event, a beautiful climb up the mountain to the ranch location. It was raining off-​and-​on, but the event seemed to have large covered spaces so that didn’t look like a problem. We were told the event was modest this night, about 120 attendees.
The Good: the history presentation was very informative and interactive (we learned a lot), the musician was very talented and the music fun, branding a shingle was fun and unique, The beer and wine were good and plentiful.
The OK: the food was OK — BBQ that was ready on time, and they managed the crowd OK.
The Less Good: There was an opportunity to learn and do a line dance but the teaching the dance and the one go at it were very disappointing. There was an opportunity to try roping, but one attendee monopolized one of the ropes so that many interested attendees never got to try it — a management issue. The clouds cleared and we could view the night sky, but the telescope never came out. The horse arranged for pictures was available, but very soggy (weather) and it didn’t happen. Horseshoe pitching never happened. Apparently the ranch tour happened during the drive up.
Bottom line: This could have been an exceptional experience, but instead, while we made the most of it, we were embarrassed at having spent over $ 400 on this evening — a little due diligence was needed.

We had a wonderful time on our trip to the Big Island, except for the trip to this ranch. We went to a talk on different excursions and they really gave this a raving review about how fun it would be. We were excited about going. It was a very long bus ride but the driver was interesting and funny. That was as good as it got. When he spoke there was a high pitched sound that everyone complained about and he could do nothing to correct it. We finally got to the Ranch and I have to admit the view was beautiful. That is the last positive thing I have to say. We basically went from the parking lot, heard a little talk about the ranch and then to the place to eat and really didn’t see the ranch itself. Oh, there was free beer and wine but we don’t drink, so we didn’t care. The entertainment was so so and the food was horrible for the outrageous cost. I was looking forward to looking through the «telescope.» I thought it was going to be some huge telescope so I asked where it was. It was a tiny little thing in a box and we couldn’t get it out because of the Vog. Of course the Vog is not their fault. After dinner a little entertainment most people looked bored, like they couldn’t wait to leave. When the bus pulled up we couldn’t get on fast enough and we glad to get back to our timeshare. Leave and learn. Don’t bother!

Attended a lunch thru dinner (corporate) event for 150 at the ranch. They did an excellent job for the 7+ hour event.
ATV, horseback, Pinzgauer (jeep) and helicopter rides. This pilot liked the (Paradise Helicopters) operation; good equip, plenty of safety staff, flown by former Marine Corp aviators. Pinzgauer drivers were exceptionally knowledgeable about plants, birds, geology and Pacific island history. Other entertainment included roping, saddle making and branding demos.
Lunch buffet was salad, BBQ pork ribs, BBQ chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, pie, soft drinks and water. After returning from our events, appetizers included shrimp, sushi, sashimi, fruit, Italian meat roll-​ups, beer, wine and water.
John (Ranch owner/​manager) had a good patter about Ranch ops and history. Staff was knowledgeable, attentive, helpful and focused on fun (with appropriate safety) ops. Band was good. They have a wide ranging repertoire. A bit too loud, as it was difficult to chat with co-​workers and spouses that we only see once per year.

Loved it! The food was fantastic. It’s self serve and it’s all you can eat steak, chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, baked beans etc. All you can drink wine, beer, soda and bottled water. For desert you get Mac nut pie and s’mores. The quality of the dinner was very good and the staff very friendly. We sang, danced a little, tried roping etc. If you know what to expect it’s really great.

I wanted badly to like this evening but in spite of some positives the scorecard had too many negatives by end of night. To start off bus backtracked 20 min to pick up late guest from first stop. Net result entire bus waited extra 15 – 20 minutes. Our vouchers all said what time to be at our stops and you gave courtesy reminder call day of to remind. At this point the delay cut into my time at ranch and others. Recommended you leave tardy members of group behind and run tight ship. Once at ranch a couple of things. Felt hurried from minute we got there until we were hustled back on to bus. Expected a ranch experience but our experience was limited to an area of very small proximity. Same program could have been done on site at any resort without missing a beat. That was a disappointment for sure. John did great job of sharing ranch history. Sue fell short for following reason. You did awesome job of catering to the regular at end of our table who told us this was her 6^th return trip. She had 2 others in her party. You kept her wine glass full all night and were very attentive to her and her guests. Unfortunately beyond her were another 16 or so guests that were all first timers. You not only didn’t look at us all but our glasses of beer and wine were mostly empty unless we got off our ass and went to bar. We felt like outsiders. Frankly you pissed off majority at our table. Also, please cease the sappy, corny and lengthy birthday, anniversary and where are you from crap. 20 or so minutes of my life I wish I could have back. Let guest spend this time roaming ranch. Start event earlier too so we aren’t there mostly in black of night. Whole night just felt rushed. On positive note your entertainment, minus you, was very good and food ok too. I would not recommend this to friends and would not return. I’ll include a picture of the guest sue was sucking to and date of our visit was 11÷19÷14.

Had a wonderful time tonight at the ranch. Wonderful staff, good food, and great music. Definitely a fun place if you are looking for something to go to instead of the traditional luau.

We were talked into this event by our Pleasant Holidays concierge in the hotel. I should have known better but she raved about it.
It was just like every other «BBQ Ranch Dinner» we’ve ever been on, only the food was worse.
The chicken was overcooked and inedible. The macadamia nut pie they raved about was hard and stale.
The line dancing was hokey and unnecessary. The history of the ranch was interesting and the fiddler/​singer was good.
The staff tried hard and they keep your glass filled with wine or beer, however for $ 250 for the two of us this was a huge waste of money. For that kind of money we could have had a sunset dinner at any number of fine places north of Kona.
And the next morning they called our room at the hotel, said they didn’t get our voucher the previous evening and asked if we could bring it to them or meet them somewhere with it.
I do not recommend this expensive event and it’s very poor food.

This was one of the highlights of our trip! It’s a very well done tourist event with fantastic food. Be prepared for the Hawaii you never expected… beautiful rolling hills, starry skies and generous hosts who explain the history of the ranch while making sure you are wined and dined. Dinner entertainment is a singer who plays guitar and fiddles while you eat and watch the sun set. Money well spent– I’d do it again!

Our group consisted of my husband and myself (60’s) daughter and son-​in-​law (30’s) and their five year old. Only went for the five year old so our expectations for self enjoyment were low. The presentation at our timeshare was an indication of what to come, push the button and the show begins, word for word the same every time I am sure. Driver to the ranch was nice but when asked questions mainly said, they will tell you that at the ranch. The food was OK but the chicken was terrible. Definitely not worth what they charge but if you have kids and have the time and money to waste and have done everything else on your list first, why not. Especially if you are Canadian. They ship the beef to Canada so really play up to the Canadians to the extent that they sing the Canadian National Anthem. Why I would never recommend this trip to an American: the grandson was repremanded for going back for additional brandings on cedar, he was getting one for each of the adults in our party and I was highly insulted that the American national Anthem was not song. I voiced this to both Sue (the women who sells the trip at the timeshares and song the Canadian National Anthem) and John (the ranch family member who explains the history of the ranch). Even after voicing my dissatisfacion about Hawaii being America so at least recognize the Americans in the group by signing our anthem, in the next set of music no Acknowledgement. Save your money and buy something made in Hawaii by Hawaiians instead.

Don’t get me wrong, the food was good, the scenery and the views were beautiful, but this was just NOT for me… the whole line dancing and country singing and cow roping thing was kinda just a little lame to me. Maybe its because i see it all the time at home and this just seemed so generic and over played. there was a lot of history of the cattle industry and the ranch but i think this targets a different group of people. Maybe for people who have younger kids and families, or for older couples looking nice night, but for this 26 year old newly married couple, we honestly just felt trapped up there… The one really great thing about this place is they never once let my cup get less than half full. They really walk around with pitchers of the kona breweries fresh beer and keep you full all night long, but its still not worth the $ 130/​person

Great alternative to the traditional luau. The family learned about the history of cattle ranching on the Big Island, had a great dinner, learned how to rope a steer and even got to do a little branding!

While we were on the Big island, we were looking for an outing that would be fun for our whole family. This place fit the bill, the views were spectacular. My children loved playing with the dogs, seeing Piggly Wiggly, and sitting on the horse. My husband loved the true cowboy atmosphere of a working ranch and meeting the owner of John Richards and trying his hand at some roping. Everyone there was warm and friendly. The food was great BBQ and a mac nut pie to die for. We had some great live country music and even some line dancing. The night ended with making smores and singing by the campfire. Would recommend it if you wanted to try something different than the regular luau.