Horseback touring on Big Island

My husband and I will be on the big island the last week of May for 4 days. We%26#39;ll be staying south of Kailua-Kona but want to see some of the lush vegetation on the east side near Hilo without spending hours in the car. We%26#39;ve considered a horseback tour of the Waipio Valley or one that offers a snorkel break near Capt Cook Monument. I know that these are very touristy events but I have a bad knee that prevents long steep hikes but can ride expertly. Any recommendations as to which of the tours or rides might be the most enjoyable and offer the best scenery? We know we%26#39;ll not be able to do and see all that the island has to offer but want to have some memorable time there. Our favorite memory of Hawaii was a trip two years ago to Maui, where we did a great zip-line tour that I%26#39;ll never forget.

Horseback touring on Big Island

Well pardner, stick to Horse rides in Texas.... all will be short 2 hours... either open range or in Wiapio Valley.... also 2 hours

The best of the choices Horse or Snorkel, will be the snorkel tour hands down.....it is the best in the state.... and as said...Horses would be Waaaaaaay down the line as somthing to do Seeing the Volcano and Snorkeling are the 2 best things here.

We really dont have many amusement-park like things like zip lines... This Island is much more rural and quiet than Maui....night and day difference.

A much better tour would be to drive to Hilo, detour to the Botanical Gardens, and drive the 4 mile scenic drive.... much better and easier... Then in the Volcano Park..... rain forests and lush jungle.

Horseback touring on Big Island

The Kona Cowboy people do have a site about rides to the Monument area...but this January I saw a ';horsaes for sale'; sign on their place so I am not sure what%26#39;s up. http://www.konacowboy.com/trailride.htm

If they are doing it and are permitted to take you to snorkel, bring fins. Please read the snorkeling page for info on Kealakulua. It%26#39;s 1400 feet down in about 2 miles...I used to walk it and it is pretty steep and rocky in many places. A boat trip might be better, leaving from Keauhou.

SNORKELING and Kealakukua info:

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g29217-c7522/Island-O…

Its out of Business.... Please, any shore entry or Kayak use in this bay is very harmful..... The state will hopefuly be closing the shore soon to all. and require licenced tours only... there will also be a $5 pp/pd use fee

Hawaii Forest and trail has a Mule ride....

Thanks for the input we%26#39;ll probably pass on the horseback riding idea even in the Valley area. It%26#39;s nice to have local folks who can give up to date info that%26#39;s not available even on the Internet.

We%26#39;ve reviewed the info about snorkeling in the Monument area and will likely do a boat tour since there are several that don%26#39;t destroy the marine life. And we%26#39;ll be sure to do the Volcano area and lush tropical vegetation on the east side near Hilo.

Not looking for an amusement park atmosphere, just want to stay a bit active instead of just driving around in the car all day.

And yet realize some physical limitations might keep me from doing some activities. A good clean place to sleep, access to good food, beautiful scenery and friendly people will make for a memorable trip, I%26#39;m sure.

Dear Houston: I was gonna say stay in Waikoloa or Waimea cause:

-Easy day trip to do horse ride at Parker Ranch area and maybe drive to Pololu Valley overlook (trails too steep for your trick knee)

-More feasible long day trip to Akaka Falls, Botanic Gardens, Hilo town, Rainbow falls (avoid driving back in rain and dark)

-Best beaches right there in Waikoloa area

-Pretty easy day trip to Place of Refuge and Two Step for do it yourself snorkeling (rent gear)

Its 95 miles to/from Kona to Volcano plus about 45 miles more to Akaka falls going thru Captain Cook, so day trip and back in that direction%26#39;s gonna be a long day (at least 6 hour driving not including side trips). If so start out really early.

If you don%26#39;t like driving much, range from Captain Cook south to Hawi in the north.

Aloha, TheodoreJay

Check this out

Na%26#39;alapa Stables

http://www.naalapastables.com/waipio2.html

Hey TxRedhead,

Some people here in Kona have been giving you wrong and irrerponsible info regarding horseback riding here on the Big Island. Just because King%26#39;s Trails has a horse for sale sign in front of their store does not mean they are going out of business. As we horse people all know, sometimes you%26#39;ve gotta sell a horse. And Hawaiian Dan is wrong... King%26#39;s Trail Rides (Konacowboy.com) is NOT out of business. They have just moved their office up to the house. I don%26#39;t know Hawaiian Dan and usually his advice is good but this time he has done my friends Bones and Sally a disservice saying they are no longer in business because they are still running a great trail ride operation. Maybe, Hawaiian Dan is in the snorkeling business and would like to see your vacation money going in that direction. At any rate, there are several terrific riding stables here in Kona and I think you would be happy with several of them. King%26#39;s Trail Rides is in Kealakekua and you ride down to a small bay, not Kealakekua Bay but close to it, where snorkeling is very good if the surf conditions are calm. If the surf is up it can be dangerous but that is also the case with snorkeling in high surf.

I have been fortunate enough to have my own horses and have ridden all over this island and it is fantastic! Since we are both horsewomen, I%26#39;m sure you will agree there%26#39;s nothing quite as wonderful as exploring a new location from horseback. The first thing I do whenever I go on vacation is check on trail rides in that area. I played golf in Scotland, Italy, Canada and Mexico but I also rode. I suggest you get in touch with King%26#39;s Trail Rides and also Na%26#39;alapa Stables which runs a ride in Waipio Valley and another at Kahua Ranch in upper Kohala. You might combine your ride at Na%26#39;alapa in Kohala with ';A Night at Kahua'; which is a really terrific BBQ and great entertainment. The Richards family owns Kahua Ranch and they do it up right. So Tex Red,don%26#39;t give up on your dream of riding in Kona.

It%26#39;s very doable and you won%26#39;t be disappointed!

Thanks so much for the input, we are still making plans but realize that 3 days in not nearly enough time to do all we might want to do on the big Island. I%26#39;ll send more info in a day or so, when time allows.