News, Articles & Educational Resources

We are pleased to launch our website as the first public step in sharing our purpose: promoting appreciation of horse-related heritage through education, responsible equine stewardship, historical awareness, and community engagement.

Here you will find our mission and vision, the program areas we are developing, and ways to contact us. We welcome questions, ideas, and expressions of interest from community members, educators, and equine professionals.

Horses are not native to the Hawaiian Islands. Historical accounts record that the first horses arrived in 1803, brought aboard a ship commanded by American trader Richard Cleveland and presented to Kamehameha I.

In the decades that followed, horses became part of daily life across the islands — for travel, work, and celebration. In the 1830s, Spanish-Mexican vaqueros were invited to Hawaiʻi to help manage the growing cattle herds, sharing horsemanship skills that helped give rise to the paniolo, Hawaiʻi's own cowboy tradition.

Responsible horsemanship begins with the basics: constant access to clean water, appropriate forage, safe shelter and fencing, regular hoof care, and routine attention from a qualified veterinarian.

Every horse is an individual. This article offers general awareness only — always consult a licensed veterinarian, farrier, or experienced equine professional for guidance specific to your horse.