While many are still family-owned working cattle ranches, an increasing number of Hawaii ranches are evolving into full-fledged outdoor adventure centers, offering a host of activities, team-building challenges and venue sites for groups.
“Hawaii ranches have long been a staple for trail rides or a country and western, rodeo-style evening, but now they offer so many more ways to do customized programs,” says Tony Vericella, president of Island Partners Hawaii, a local DMC and meeting planning firm. “They have expanded their product offerings with ATV rides, ziplines and even the chance to learn about Hawaii ranching traditions and how they contribute to the local farm-to-table movement.”
One thing that Vericella especially likes about ranches is that they offer a variety of experiences to suit the preferences and fitness levels of various attendees.
“Any group is going to have different types of people—you can’t assume that everyone is going to want to zipline or go horseback riding,” he says. “You can also offer more passive activities such as a ranch tour or even visiting film and TV locations, which you can do at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu. Then you can bring the group back together for lunch.”
While ranches can be used for evening events, they usually make more sense for daytime use, according to Vericella.
“For evening, it can get expensive as you have to bring a lot of the elements in yourself, such as lighting,” he says. “And the ranch may be 30 or 40 miles from the hotel, so you may not want to transport people back and forth at night.”
Group-friendly ranches can be found on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Here are a few of the most versatile.PageBreak
Kualoa Ranch, Oahu
Kualoa Ranch is a 150-year-old working cattle ranch that has gained fame in recent years as the location for the Lost TV series as well as such Hollywood films as Jurassic Park and Pearl Harbor. A narrated tour across the ranch and into the Kaaawa Valley visits the filming sites, including a World War II bunker housing exhibits on the ranch’s movie history.
Among the many adventure-oriented options are exploring the 4,000-acre ranch on ATVs or horseback. Leisurely horseback rides on wooded trails lead to a scenic overlook above an 800-year-old Hawaiian fishing pond. There are also guided jungle expeditions in a six-wheel-drive Swiss Pinzgauer through the backcountry, which include a short hike to a spot that boasts views of the coast.
For team-building experiences, choices include the Kualoa Makahiki Team Challenge, which features traditional Hawaiian games and leadership training, and the Kualoa Kahakai Beach Challenge, which can include canoe racing and beach Olympics.
The ranch also offers a wide variety of event spaces, including a covered pavilion seating up to 250 guests, gardens and Secret Island, a beach area along Kaneohe Bay.
Mendes Ranch, Maui
Mendes Ranch is owned by the Mendes family, who came to Hawaii from Portugal in 1866 and now operates the 3,000-acre spread with its 300 head of cattle and 80 horses. The ranch offers horseback rides and ATV touring on trails with scenic coastal and valley views, combined with a barbecue lunch.
“Mendes has a variety of great spaces for events,” Vericella says. “A really great experience is to have the group arrive by helicopter and do a trail ride and picnic.”
Kahua Ranch, Big Island
Where Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy) culture and traditions run deep, Kahua Ranch sits 3,000 feet above sea level with 8,500 acres of grazing cattle, sheep and horses. Along with horseback riding and ATV rides, groups can hike through landscapes ranging from rainforest to high desert. Sunset barbecues followed by paniolo games and stargazing through a Celestron Telescope are also among the options.
Princeville Ranch Adventures, Kauai
One of Hawaii’s oldest cattle ranches, Princeville Ranch Adventures offers the chance to combine a variety of outdoor activities in one program, including horseback riding, ziplining, kayaking, hiking and swimming. On the Waterfall Picnic Ride, participants ride through the working ranch learning about paniolo history, then venture through the rainforest to picnic and swim at an 80-foot waterfall. mf
