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Paniolo
Princeville Ranch is one of the oldest cattle ranches in the state of Hawaii, established in 1831 during the reign of Kamehameha III. By 1840, the herd of longhorn cattle originally brought from Norte California numbered 100 head. As the cattle population continued to increase statewide, King Kamehameha III was forced to summon Spanish Vaqueros along with their horses to teach the Hawaiians how to ride and herd cattle. The Vaqueros were successful in teaching horsemanship skills and created the word “Paniolo” to describe the Hawaiian cowboy. Steeped in history, cattle remain an important part of the ranch to this day.
Naturally with cattle, come horses. In 1978, Curly and Gale Carswell created horseback riding adventures and started the popular Hanalei Stampede Rodeo that was a favorite amongst Paniolo statewide. Together with their children, additional eco-adventures were created and ran successfully on the ranch for almost 45 years. Through it all, education surrounding horseback riding has been the foundation of all operations. Encircled by the majestic Hanalei mountains, trail riding and arena lessons continue to be offered in the heart of the ranch. Our team of instructors are trained in natural horsemanship skills and with a special touch of Aloha, will help you feel like a true Paniolo.
E Komo Mai!