I'm not sure what was more impressive, the skilled driving down into the valley, or the amazing views while riding their well trained horses. All was a great adventure and well worth the time and money while you are on the big island. Make sure to wear long pants and closed shoes since you will be riding through water, plus rubbing up against many plants. Also, you cannot bring a backpack on the horse, but they will secure it for you at the barn. Say hi to my "gas powered" horse Smokey for me! read more

I booked this tour online due to the great Yelp reviews. Unfortunately I was not impressed at all. A few years ago my family and I did horseback riding on the big island but I cannot remember what tour or ranch so I booked the one with the best reviews. The one I did with my family was a few hours and they took us through huge open fields and actually had the horses run! Galloping through the beautiful fields with gorgeous views was one of my favorite memories of Hawaii. I booked the 2 hours tour with Na'alapa Stables through Waipio Valley and it was so lame! I thought booking the Waipio Valley one would give us gorgeous views but heres what actually happened: We get picked up from the arts valley in this shuttle van. She drives us through the most narrow dangerous road in all of the island. Then we get on horses on the most boring pony ride I've ever been on. It was literally nose to butt the entire time. What am I, 2 years old? I cannot believe I paid over $200 for my husband and I to have a damn pony ride. He had never been horse backriding and of course I really made it sound like an amazing galloping through fields tour. Boy were we both disappointed. I booked this as his birthday gift and I felt terrible. He said he still enjoyed it but that is because he does not know what a real horse back riding tour should be. Our horses did not want to be together so I could not even ride next to my husband, I spent the 2 hour pony ride with strangers when this was suppose to be a thing to do together.. Then we get back on the shuttle on the roller coaster ride back! It was so bumpy and windy I almost threw up and definitely got whiplash! At the top there was a look out point and she didn't even stop to let us take pictures. Overall, if you are elderly or a child, this is a good tour for you. Except the awful shuttle ride there is not safe. But if you want to go on a real horse back ride, where the horse actually has room to run and is not nose to butt, this is the last place to look. We booked the 2 hour Waipio Valley tour just to be clear. I am not sure if they offer any other tours where it is not nose to butt but based on the pictures, it seems all the same.The only reason for the 2 stars was there was a lot of fruit trees which I got to see, I enjoy that but sadly, not allowed to pick any.. such a crap tour. Also I'd like to add, no where on the website does it say it will be a nose to butt tour with a horrible shuttle ride to get to the ranch. They should be more clear on their website what the tour is like and the fact that the horses have to be a in line and do not run.. read more

Na'alapa Stables - Literally only time I got to be with my husband on this tour was to take a picture.. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Na'alapa Stables is amazing! They take great care of the horses, they aren't over worked like a lot of the other stables I've seen around the islands. Jackie was our guide and she was awesome! She was a wealth of knowledge and had a great personality. My girlfriend and I have ridden horses plenty growing up and after checking our knowledge a little and giving us the rundown of the horses and what commands they go by we hopped on and took the 1.5 hour trek through the rolling hills and around the ranch. It's a great time if you want something not too long but not too short. The biggest reason we chose Na'alapa is because they allowed us to go off the path a little and get up to a canter which is awesome because for experimeced riders, a face to butt horse isn't that exciting and I wouldn't pay for a tour that didn't allow us a little freedom. Horses are well behaved and great for all type of riders. I'm a bigger guy (5'11 225) and my horse (Paul) had no issues and was a great companion. The shorter tour option was great, did not tire our legs out much at all and got everything we hoped for out of scenery and a good ride. The ranch has waterproof jackets with and without hoods, boots, and saddle bags to store your stuff in and take with you (phone, water, cameras) or lockers to store keys, wallets, purses etc. in) The weather was very light misty rain and our guide told us it is usually always windy up there . The elevation is around 5,000ft and the hills out there are rolling type, so the wind gusts freely. If you want to ride with a little freedom and get to know your horse a little give this place a visit they dont disappoint! Thank You Jackie. read more

We did the 2.5 hour ride. Jackie was terrific. We were a family of 4 including 11 and 13 year olds with not much experience riding. Our guides made it super easy and relaxing and it was great to get the chance, at our own pace, to try things more advanced than butt to nose walking. Very good horses. But best of all were the views and scenery. We were at the top of the island with tremendous views all around. The ranch had everything we needed from carriers for our phones and water bottles to sweatshirts available to borrow for chilly weather. Highly recommend. read more

Today was an amazing experience with our Tour Guide, Jackie! We booked the 1.5 hour tour at Kohala. No other riders booked the same time slot as us, so it was just my boyfriend and I with Jackie. We arrived a little early, but thankfully we knew where to go because we were at a Wedding yesterday at the Kohala Ranch side. We watched as Jackie and her colleague carefully were taking saddles off of the horses from the morning rides and taking them to the pasture while the horses we were going to ride waited at their station until we were ready. We talked story with Jackie's colleague for a minute about the ranch. I wish I could remember her name! She was very nice and informative about the horses and the ranch over all. We soon went inside where they had all sorts of equipment for us to utilize. I wore a pair of their boots which fit comfortably and a better fit than my sneakers I had brought along. I chose to not wear a helmet, although they are provided if you like. They had little saddle bags for us to take any carry-ons, such as our phones, sunglasses, or even a water bottle which BTW they did provide water bottles. And it was a little misty outside so my boyfriend and I both borrowed jackets from their equipment room. Although the equipment had been used, it was all still in good shape! Then we stepped into the office where I went ahead and paid, which they do take cards so don't worry if you didn't bring cash. Jackie asked us questions about our riding experience and gave us a verbal overview about riding. And then we went outside where the horses were waiting for us. Jackie brought one horse over, Matt, to demonstrate how we would be handling the horse for our tour and gave good examples or what to do in certain situations. Jackie was very knowledgeable about each horse so that was really beneficial and overall made the experience more comforting than anything! We stepped up and hopped on our horses. We let them drink some more water, and then off we went! It was a beautiful ride all around!!! Jackie was seriously the best person for this job! She really was fun to be around while giving us a lot of history information about the ranch, and other miscellaneous things around. She was patient with us the whole time and really encouraged us to have fun. We got to trot around some which was super cool! Although it's not a nose-to-tail ride, my boyfriends horse liked being closer to the other horses so don't mind that in the photos! My horses name was Matt. Matt was so perfect! I haven't rode a horse in a while(over 10 years), although I grew up riding some occasionally (I'm from Texas). Matt was really great at making me feel at ease as I was riding on his back. He listened very well, as I noticed the other horses were too. I would imagine all the horses here do an amazing job as I can CLEARLY see that they are well taken care of. Which brings me to another point... I could really see how happy these horses were. They were well-fed and you could notice that they are probably loved daily. I heard they don't ride everyday either, which is good that the company has enough horses to rotate them for riding tours. Over 5 stars is a YES !!! I really enjoyed my time today. I think Kohala was the perfect place and Jackie was the perfect tour guide! I would love to do this again when I come back, and do the longer tour!! Thank you for today!!! read more

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Jackie n skye were fantastic guides. They were attentive to our needs , provided excellent service and information. Scenery was awesome. Well worth it. Highly recommended for family and friends. read more

Had an advanced rider tour on the ranch with this company. The horses were well taken care of and very well behaved. Our tour guide was very friendly and informative. The ranch is beautiful and the views of the coastline below are lovely! Would highly recommend!! read more

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Great trail ride experience! The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, and took care to match horses to riders. I'm an experienced rider and my husband is a confident beginner, and we both really enjoyed it. The horses know their job and are well cared for. We'd definitely ride here again and recommend it to anyone. read more

The reason we picked this was because we wanted more freedom and adventure than your usual ride. This tour did not let us down. Derrian was great and took us on an amazing 2.5 hr tour. It was just my wife and I, and it was great to be able to get our horses off the path and trot and canter a bit. Would highly recommend, especially if you've ridden before! read more

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We had the best time with our guides, Kira and Bridgette, on horseback in the Waipio valley. They were the nicest people and made us feel very comfortable and were very knowledgeable. We also enjoyed great conversation so much that the time went by so quickly. Also, loved the 4-wheel drive van ride as well. Thanks, Kira. You both left us with one of our most favorite memories of our vacation. Something we'll remember for a lifetime. Thank you. I highly recommend Na'alapa Stables....well worth it. I read more

My family and I just visited in early November and had an incredible time. The guides/wranglers were amazing, patient, energetic and very knowledgeable. We had all levels of riding experience (those who could trot and my youngest who had never been on a horse before) in my family of six, but we were each given the perfect horse that matched our riding ability. The staff made my son, who was a bit nervous to begin with, because he had never been on a horse before, feel comfortable and confident on the horse they provided for him within just a short time (Thank You!). The sweeping views up there were some of the most beautiful I have seen anywhere on the island and the ongoing commentary of our guides were both interesting and funny. The experience we were given was by far our kid's favorite that week. As a side note the horses were beautiful and very well taken care of. Oh, my son said to say that the dogs are awesome too! read more

We had a ride here this week for our family of four and it was fantastic. The women who run the program are the grandchildren of the founder - they are very committed to the horses health and safety as well as that of their riders. Our family of beginner to advanced riders felt ride at home. They also were well equipped if you didn't have appropriate shoes, they had boots for you. If you forgot sunscreen or a sweatshirt, they had you covered. I was so happy that this was the company we ended up booking with. The site was also so stunning that our pictures look fake - like they had superimposed us onto the horses on an artificial backdrop. They also gave us a great history of the region from the ranch to the island. Will definitely book again with Na'alapa! read more

First, I want to start by saying I missed our tour Wednesday morning! For some reason, I had been thinking "it's on Thursday," since we arrived on the Big Island! So Wednesday, I find a voicemail on my phone stating "we have you scheduled for a ride today at 830 and we haven't heard from you; please call us...." I immediately call when I hear the message, which is probably 10am! I apologized and told them I couldn't believe we missed our ride and it was all my fault. I asked if there was any possibility for us to ride Thursday.... She didn't have to say yes. I had already paid and we missed our ride. They could've kept our money and not let us have a make up day...but they worked us in... We got to ride today and it was amazing!! Our guides Maileh and Derrian were very helpful, reassuring and knowledgeable. Maileh usually works on the Waipo Valley Ride; which I've done before, but due to an outbreak of Dangue on the island, they stopped tours for a few weeks (mosquitos thrive in the wet valley). The horses, the land, the view: all beautiful and rate 5 stars in my book. All the Na'alapa guides have impressed me... Even 5-6 years ago when I did the Valley ride... Still remember how impressed I was! read more

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My husband and I went horseback riding here yesterday. It's very clear that the staff love what they do and the horses are well taken care of. They carefully matched everyone in the group according to their ability and took time to talk to each of us about our horse's personality. The views were stunning and our guides talked about the history of the ranch and folklore of the island. Thank you Jackie and Darien, we had a great time and we will be back! read more

Highly recommend this place! We had tried to come when we were here a few years ago but the timing didn't work out. Made a reservation the day before and drove up from kona. That took a bit longer than the predicted hour but it was easy and direct. A cold front came through making the weather less than ideal but they had jackets and hats and boots that we could use. Guide was super friendly and knowledgeable. All in all a great experience. read more

What a lovely way to spend a day. Our guides were really friendly and the horses were great. My horse snuck up behind me when we were choosing horses and started eating my hair. I have always believed that animals choose us, so Sunny was my guy. He was such a good boy. He challenged me a little for some initial snack stops, but once we worked it out that I was boss (or at least that he'd pretend to let me be), we were all good. The trail is not challenging, but the views in the valley are beautiful. Nice and relaxing. Perfect for a stress-free vacation. read more

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Mahina and Lauren were wonderful guides for our horseback ride through Waipi'o Valley. The horses were well-trained and individually suited (as best they could be) for each rider's size and level of experience. The views were breathtaking, even though the waterfalls were a little dry due to the drought. We saw a horse with her foal and a wild pig-- cool! Also learned about the local botany. The guides explained the fruits, the flowers, and the local crops. You meet at the Wiapi'o Valley Artworks store (better directions could be helpful) and then take a 4WD van down into the valley to the stables. The ride down is pretty shaky and maybe a little scary if you have to pass other vehicles but rest assured, it's pretty safe. This trip is amazing; my friend described it as a "must do" on my trip to the Big Island and I couldn't agree more. It was my favorite activity on our vacation! read more

Our guides were friendly and humorous without overdoing it. Ride was totally gorgeous, but as another reviewer mentioned, you end up retracing both of the paths you go down. It was also disappointing that there were 14 guests in our group--I was often reminded of being in the endless chain of horses in summer camp trail rides. Thankfully there were parts that weren't nose-to-tail, as the roads can be wide at times, and crossing the rivers was pretty neat. The guides took photos of each party crossing the stream using the guests' cameras. Because I felt like I was constantly trying to pull my horse from eating stuff, I didn't have much time to just soak in the views. Next time I would opt for getting a ride down to the valley and just wandering around. read more

This was our first time for our family to ride horses. It was a really nice casual 2 hour ride through the beautiful Waipio Valley. We got to the artworks building to check in. Basically they were a contact point for several businesses into the valley as well as some atv companies. To get there, you have to take a left on the street before the lookout. You go down this street for 1/3 mile and then you see the building on the left side and there is a parking lot on the right side. After you check in, grab a snack and use the restrooms. They want you to get there early so they can leave on time. They shuttled us in a 4 wheel drive van down the valley. It was pretty steep but also fun. Once we got to the stables, we were assigned a horse. Since we were new, they gave us basic directions on how to handle the reins. Please know that these horses are animals that need control. Like children they know if they can take advantage of you. There was a couple of very experienced riders who had great control of their horses and I noticed they held the reigns close. This was a great easy ride for a beginner but if you are very experienced rider, this may be too tame for you. Great staff, great horses, and great ride. read more

Solid trail riding experience. The gals who led us were so friendly and did a great job mixing the history of the valley with stories of their life in the valley. The trailride is a little different than you may get in other locales with numerous creek crossings and walking up creeks. But its still nose to tail riding. If your not a horse person you don't mind (like me) but if you're a horse person (like my girls) you want more freedom. The overall experience with the surrounding beauty is wonderful though. Its a great way to discover the birthplace of Hawaiian civilization. read more

On our family's vacation to the Big Island we took the horseback tour into the Waipi'o Valley. We had six of us and took up the majority of the group. We had a great time on this tour. The guides, Grace and Margaret, were awesome. They started the tour with an awesome run down of how to ride a horse. We had some experience horse back riding in the past but they brought up some great points. They changed the way we rode horses and it made a world of a difference. The change in posture was something no one had ever explained to us. Grace had great knowledge about the valley, which she lives in, and it's history. Margaret was a little newer to the area but still had a ton of knowledge. The horses were very well mannered and very calm. I've only ridden a few times but this was one of the best experiences. I'd suggest this tour to anyone looking to experience the valley. read more

I am so glad that we decided to go for a horseback ride at kahua Ranch. we were trying to choose between a few different stables and we like this one because it was closer to us but also that it would allow for us to trot and Canter and not just go on a nose-to-tail trail ride. The ranch was very beautiful and the guides that went with us were Jackie and Darian and they made sure everyone felt comfortable. our group was just the right size and it was a mix of experience levels but everyone seemed to have a good time. the scenery was beautiful the horses were great very healthy and energetic. I rode a horse named lightning.. this was one of my favorite activities on the big island and I would definitely recommend to anyone! The ride was the one and a half hour morning ride but I know we went for at least 2 hours so that was nice. Do not hesitate to try this you'll be glad you did! read more

Had a great time! We had a group of 8 of all varying skill levels (one guy had never been on a horse before and we had one girl who had just visited her horse on the mainland that week) and I think they adapted pretty well to our needs. We really only had issues with 2 horses - 1 was pretty aggressive. It always had to be at the lead (named Care Bear) and would kick and bite any other horse that tried to edge up. The other was Lilliana (?), which, to be fair we were warned was a "mellow horse". Mellow to say the last - this horse was asleep while mounting, asleep during the ride and really only came alive during feeding time after the ride. My husband had the slow one and he was trying to do everything in his power to get her to go short of abusing her. He's only been on a horse once before but I did see him trying his best - still, no go. Lilliana could not be bothered LOL. The only thing I didn't like was how Sherry the owner apparently chastised my husband when he was falling behind... "I can't ride the horse for you!" Again, not saying my husband is an expert but scolding your paying customers isn't a wise move. The ride was very nice - you really do get to see a version of the island no one else does and they don't make you bunch up all the time in a straight line. Plus, there are times when the more advanced riders can trot and canter ahead of the rest of the group. On the whole, the guides were nice and knowledgable... not overly nice (I guess I'm talking about the owner) but she was pleasant enough and seemed to know about the area enough to educate us tourists. Oh, they have boots, jackets and helmets you can borrow free of charge. I had forgotten my sneakers and just had flats and they loaned me some adorable pink cowboy boots that did just the trick. And if you think you don't need a jacket - holy crap it's cold up there! Also, I read a review that says you can't get up to the stables without 4WD - totally untrue. We were driving in a slow Nissan Altima rental and we made it up just fine. All roads were paved except for the driveaway into the stables. read more

Beautiful ride 7/7/21 with guides that are fun and very accommodating to our skill level (none!). I was very nervous about our 8 and 10 year old kids riding solo for the first time but Jackie and Hina eased us thru it. We relaxed soon enough and really enjoyed their company and knowledge. Our weather went from sunny, to wind/misty, and back to warm and calm. Majestic place and one of the top 2 experiences of our trip. MUST DO! read more

GREAT riding experience. The crew was friendly and informative, the scenery beautiful, and the horses well cared for. There was plenty of room to spread out, trot, and even cantor a bit. read more

Amazing afternoon out at Na'alapa stables. The guides Jackie and Darian were very good. The scenery was gorgeous! Nice and cool up there in the hills. Great day!! read more

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This was hands down one of the best experiences we have had on the big island!! The guides were fun and friendly, with great experience and knowledge of the area, and the horses were awesome! It had been awhile since I had ridden and I was afraid I might struggle to remember, but the guides offered great tutoring and the horses were sweet and personable. They did have a lot of personality and had to be controlled closely. Lol I would rate this a 5 for the guides and horses alone...but the scenery and views were awesome!!! This is truly one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been. I feel absolutely blessed to have experienced this. I highly recommend the tour!! read more

We visited in September 2017. Jamie was an excellent tour guide - he deserves a raise!! It made the experience so much more authentic to hear from someone who not only grew up in the Waipio Valley, but knew the plants and cultural history of the area. He was so knowledgeable, and I loved hearing his tour while we were riding. His quick "how to ride a horse" demo was great - my fiance was a first timer, and I'm more experienced, but it was perfect for both of us. He gave great riding instructions to keep everyone safe. It was my favorite part of our trip to Hawaii. Thank you, Jamie! My only detractor here is - why is the 17 year old girl (apologies, I forget her name?) the manager over a 30 year old father? She was very nice and helpful at the end, but didn't provide the same oral narration that Jamie was able to give. Price was very reasonable for the length of time. I had no idea it was so hard to get to their stables - I was grateful Jamie was there to drive us down the crazy hill that leads to the stables. Gorgeous views along the path, and the tour goes farther in the valley than other tours. I highly recommend! read more

Sis had a wonderful time riding here. She said the guide was amazing, and filled them in on all kinds of little known facts. It was a highlight of the trip for her, and the weather even held out (it rained while we were driving there, then cleared up for her ride). read more

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Amazing!!! The tour guide was so welcoming and the trail is truly breathtaking !!! You really to see how beautiful Hawaii is. Definitely recommend to anybody wanting to ride horses in Hawaii. The horses are very friendly and well taken care of. You do get to see waterfalls and actually ride through a couple of streams. Amazing !!!! read more

Na'alapa Stables - Great tour guides !! They're so welcoming and make you feel super safe. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Kamuela, Hawaii

Loved the horseback ride through Waipio Valley! The guides were great and very friendly, the horses were fun, and the valley was beautiful. Also loved the trail dog, Koa, leading the way. read more

There's only a few places on earth where one can escape from modern culture --this is it. We rode in Waipio Valley while our tour guides told stories about living in Waipio Valley as natives there. Amazing. I will go back. I cannot say enough about it. read more

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Good horses and beginner friendly ride (I had zero experience riding). Nice way to explore the valley other than hiking, they will drive you down the Waipi'o valley to reach the horses so you don't need a 4 wheel drive. Note: majority of the valley is private owned lands, only certain trails (no access to the waterfall) are open to the public. read more

Absolutely loved this little trail ride! You meet at Waipi'o Valley Artworks, a little store that offers up some lovely gifts, food, and so on. Once you check in, sign the waivers, then you pile in to the van. Jamie was our driver/tour guide. Turns out Jamie was raised down in the Valley, so he had a lot of lore to share. It's a steep drive down (45% grade). I wouldn't have minded the hike, but I was all about the horseback ride. I loved the occasional view of the black sand beach (one of the longest in Hawaii, at 1 mile long!) and the beautiful views during the ride down (and back up). When we arrived at the stables, Jamie and his trail partner, Grace, took inventory of riding skills. (Apparently I was the only one who'd actually done some riding before.) Jamie gave a lesson in how to ride, how to start, stop, turn. And what to do when your horse decides he wants a snack. (I wish more people had paid attention to this bit, as this was a trail ride, and when one horse stops to snack on tender greens, you have to stop and wait. Really. It was really getting monotonous to wait because someone didn't pay attention to how to show your horse you're boss!) I had Pua, supposedly a bit of a feisty horse, but not really. The ride was leisurely. When I later checked my GoPro footage, all I really saw was lots of lovely greenery, and the soft clop clop of horses. It was peaceful and quiet. Deep within the Waipi'o Valley they are off the grid. No phones, no electricity, and especially no cell service. So quiet, so lovely. Occasionally we'd stop to let a car go by, more often they'd wait for us to pass. The horses were obviously well trained (I rarely had to do a kick to get Pua moving, she would initiate on her own once I gave her the lead). A nudge to the left or right and she was moving. She would try to steal a snack, but I'm smarter than my horse, and I wouldn't let her unless we were taking a break. We'd stop a couple of times to let the horses drink in the streams... I'm guessing they enjoyed the cool water breaks. All in all, a lovely and quiet way to learn more about old Hawai'i and the culture. If you're looking for a race, go do the ATV ride. This was a perfect way to spend a few hours on a lazy Saturday! read more

I had the best experience ever. It was just my Mom and I and we got the best guided tour with a lot of knowledge and time spent to make our trip memorable. We had Jackie as our guide, and she was awesome!!! read more

The guides were welcoming and easy to communicate with. They were knowledgeable about the area and engaging with the group as a whole. Great attitudes! Kira & Grace are awesome!! Highly recommended to explore the valley this way!! Mahalo Na'alapa!! read more

This trip was incredible - my highlight to my Kona trip. The road to the stables was an experience all in itself. We had locals Jamie and Grace as our wranglers - they were great in sharing valley history, plant ID, personal stories, etc. I was a little surprised that the ride is on a road versus trail, but it's so pretty it really didn't matter. We even got to see "wild" horses. On a side note, I grew up with horses so one thing I really pay attention to is the care and condition of dude ranch horses. I was very impressed with this operation. All the horses were of healthy weight, their feet were well cared for, and they were given grain after the ride. read more

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What a great time. The adventure started with a 4WD van ride down a steep incline, to the lush, beautiful valley floor. Along the way was spectacular views of the coast and huge waterfall. Our guide pointed out the vegetation and unique features of the valley. After the short ride, we arrived at the stable, and were paired up with beautiful, docile horses. We began a 90 min horseback ride, finding even more lush vegetation and waterfalls, occasionally riding along side of beautiful, gentle and curious wild horses, that roam the trails and plantations. On return to the stables, a short break to take pictures with our noble steeds, and the steep van ride back to the tour location. It was a high point to our vacation, reasonably priced, and thoroughly enjoyable. I recommend this experience to families with young teens , to older folks like us (young 60's). read more

Had a great day, did the 1.5 hour ride. Our guides were knowledgeable and fun, so glad we tried this.

Despite wind and chill today, we enjoyed the ride today. The two young ladies were fantastic guides. Horses were awesome!