BIRTHDAY
RIDE
BIG ISLAND WAIPIO VALLEY RIDE
June
4, 2004
TRADITION
Camille’s
first horseback ride was a gift from her Mom and Dad for her seventh birthday
in 1961. The new jeans and cowboy hat were part of the
package. Mom and Dad spirited Camille across the City Island bridge into the
Bronx for a lesson with this patient instructor on his gentle school horse. Little did they know that by doing so
they had created an insatiable love for horses in their daughter.
A SMART MAN. . .
takes his wife
riding on her birthday. A smart man also does not give his horse the opportunity
to pull any tricks. Bob’s pinto gelding, Ikaika has a reputation for
untying knots, opening gates and taking off his own bridle.
Ikaika, pronounced ‘ee-ka-ee-ka’ means strong in Hawaiian. Camille is riding a chestnut mare
named Hoku (hoe-coo is Hawaiian for star.) Hoku likes to play in the
water and will sometimes try to submerge herself.
Waipio Valley
Two views;
from above at the overlook and from the valley floor on horseback.
BROUGHT TO YOU
BY OUR GUIDES
A horseback
riding experience is only as good as its wranglers. Mounted on a gray
horse, Keoni, (kay-own-ee) which is Hawaiian for Johnny, talks story with a
passing bicyclist. Mahina (mah-hee-na) poses on her bay horse Kea (kay-a,
meaning white) at the gate to the valley floor. Kea has a striking
white eyelash.
PHOTO OP
Every tour has
a great spot in which to capture the memory with a picture. Waipio
(why-pee-oh) Valley is so named because the water (wai) turns
back upon itself (pio.)
YOU CAN LEAD A
HORSE TO WATER
But can you
make him cross it? These horses were used to this maneuver which can
be a challenge with a horse that isn’t comfortable stepping into the
unknown. This stream reminded us of Barton Creek in Belize which we
forded often both on horseback and with the Isuzu Trooper.
TROUTS
SWIMMING
UPSTREAM
Thanks to
Keoni, we came home with lots of superb photographs of our Waipio Valley
adventure. Although these horses are small, they come from the hardy
stock that Hawaiian ranches are famous for. The first horses were
brought to Hawaii in 1803 by Captain Cleveland from Spanish California as a
gift to King Kamehameha I. Today a herd of 50 wild horses from the
original Spanish and Arabian stock roam the Waipio Valley.
HAPPY AS A
CLAM
COMING AND
GOING
Notice
Ikaika’s wet legs and the puddles on the road. A fine mist kept
everyone cool and the horses dripped water from their stream crossings.
SMARTY
He wasn’t bad
but he had bad intentions. Here Ikaika attempts to catch the shaft of
his hackamore in his mouth so he can flip on of his reins over his nose.
HOME AGAIN,
HOME AGAIN, JIGGITY JIG
Mahina and Bob
bring up the rear of the string on the way home.
BACK AT THE
RANCH
This little
cute mule colt waits for us back at the barn with his bright eyes and
striking shoulder stripe. There are a couple of legends which
link Jesus with this marking.