Maui is a place that begs to be explored. From the rim of Haleakala’s vast volcanic crater to the depths of the Pacific Ocean floor, secrets wait to be revealed and adventures follow naturally.
A guided horseback tour is a great way to not only explore out-of-the-way terrain, but also to become familiar with the lay of the land and the island’s culture. Tours are as diverse as the terrain. Pick your way to the floor of a crater. Ride through a generations-old, family-owned cattle ranch. Or saddle up for a “talk story” ride in remote Kipahulu where life as it was still exists.
Kipahulu, just beyond Hana, is a wildly beautiful and ancient place where people still follow traditional Hawaiian practices and life stories are written much the same as the stories of their ancestors. Guided by the belief that a culture dies when it stops being practiced, these people, often at great hardship, hold close their relationship with nature, taking seriously their role as caretakers of the ‘aina, or the land.
You’ll get to know Kipahulu and its Native Hawaiians when you set off with Maui Stables on a horseback ride. Each tour begins with a traditional pule, or prayer, and native chants will be used as part of the tour narration. Maui Stables is located 50 miles from major resort areas near the pools of Ohe’o Gulch. Call for directions.
Outside Makawao, at the edge of an Upcountry rainforest, Pi’iholo Ranch offers horseback rides and a glimpse of another era of Hawaii’s history. Owned and operated by Peter Baldwin, the ranch has been in the Baldwin family for six generations. The Baldwins trace their history to the missionary era of the 1830s and have a long history of cattle ranching and prominent public service.
Tours, conducted by family and friends, offer gorgeous views, stories about Maui’s ranching history and glimpses of wildlife, like the endangered Hawaiian nene goose, which is the state bird. The Baldwins have established a preserve and nursery for nenes on the ranch. There are three tours a day from Monday through Saturday. Private tours also are available.
Another company, Pony Express, conducts tours that descend from Haleakala’s summit to a massive volcanic valley, erroneously referred to as a crater, where 500-foot cinder cones and other strange formations punctuate the otherwise barren terrain.
Riders travel the Sliding Sands Trail, which descends 2,500 feet to the valley floor where a picnic lunch is served before heading back up the trail on this four-hour, 7.5-mile ride. Riders check in at the Haleakala Ranch office and then meet with a guide at the Haleakala National Park Visitor Center.
Less experienced riders may want to pass on this trip and opt for a Pony Express Haleakala Ranch ride. Cowboy up and ride through Maui’s largest working cattle ranch, located at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Catch terrific coastal views as you hear stories about Hawaii’s legendary cowboys, the paniolo.
