Big Island

Horse property on the Big Island – Puu Lani Ranch

Last week I had the pleasure to assist clients who had traveled from Tennessee to Hawaii to search for a dream horse-friendly property to buy now for future retirement. They were referred to me by someone who had been to the Big Island for Parelli Natural Horsemanship clinics I hosted.

It was imperative to this prospective buyer that the real estate agent she worked with own and ride horses, and so would be knowledgeable about whether properties would meet her criteria: that she could keep her horses on her own property, would not have to supplement pasture with hay or cubes, and that there be good riding without needing to trailer her horse. If any of those criteria are important to you, please read on!

The first two places I took them were obvious choices, since a secondary objective was a property with beautiful ocean views. Although there are a number of gated communities with equestrian riding easements on the Big Island, including Kohala Ranch and Puakea Bay Ranch, there are really only two with established equestrian facilities. One is Puu Lani Ranch on the upper road heading north from Kailua Kona. The other is Waikii Ranch, located on the Saddle Road about 15 minutes outside of Waimea (Kamuela). By the time we’d narrowed our search down from two dozen properties to a top five, both of these communities were still on the short list.

Puu Lani Ranch equestrian facilities

Technically speaking, Puu Lani Ranch didn’t meet the very first of my client’s criteria. The ranch has a gorgeous barn with stalls available to residents’ horses at a very modest rate. However since most of the home lots are only a little over 1 acre in size, the CC&Rs state that horses cannot be kept on the homeowner’s lot.

The current owner of the remaining undeveloped portions of Puu Lani Ranch has listed larger parcels ranging from 3.6 acres to almost 30 acres, so I gave him a call to find out whether the CC&Rs would apply to the purchaser of a larger acreage which clearly could support horses. He believed there were several ways to achieve my client’s goal, and took the time to fly over from Oahu to meet with us.

Although my clients ended up making an offer on another property, the result of our meeting is that the developer is planning to make the larger acreages even more appealing to purchasers with serious equestrian interests. [Contact me if you’d like more details, and I promise to blog more as plans move forward.] If having an on-site trainer is important to you, Puu Lani Ranch is also unique in that one of the respected names in natural horsemanship circles, Lester Buckley, offers training and lessons there.

If you plan to move sooner than my clients did, this is an excellent time to purchase a residence at Puu Lani Ranch. A developer-built home that was priced at $1.2 million in 2006 is now listed on close-out at $595,000. There is one bank-owned property (that will need some TLC), and three short-sales showing as active (although I’ve heard there is an offer on my favorite one next to the equestrian center).

Among the well-priced properties with no bank involvement, is a 3,000 sq. ft. home on 1.3 acres with maybe my favorite master bath ever. I’ve lived in Manhattan apartments smaller than this spa-style bathroom! The photo below is just the bath suite. And this bath suite is listed at only $625,000, including a kitchen, 4 bedrooms, living and dining rooms and a 3-car garage!

Puu Lani Ranch home with great master bathroom

Time to go feed the horses. Next post: Waikii Ranch.

A hui hou and happy trails!

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(S)
Direct: 808-443-4588
Email: beth@hawaiilife.com

Comments (16) Show CommentsHide Comments (Remember)

Cool. Add your comment...

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave your opinion here. Please be nice. Your Email address will be kept private, this form is secure and we never spam you.

Big Island Horse Property - Waikii Ranch « Hawaii Real Estate Blog

September 11, 2009

[…] along with my horse owning clients in search of property on the Big Island, we move from Puu Lani Ranch to the next great equestrian community Waikii Ranch.  Located along Saddle Road about 15 minutes […]

Big Island Horse Property - Waikii Ranch « Hawaii Real Estate Blog

September 11, 2009

[…] along with my horse owning clients in search of property on the Big Island, we move from Puu Lani Ranch to the next great equestrian community Waikii Ranch.  Located along Saddle Road about 15 minutes […]

Big Island Horse Property - Puakea Bay Ranch « Hawaii Real Estate Blog

September 23, 2009

[…] you are looking for Big Island horse-friendly property and the lots at Puu Lani Ranch seem too small and the elevation at Waikii Ranch seems too high, perhaps Puakea Bay Ranch near Hawi […]

Big Island Horse Property - Puakea Bay Ranch « Hawaii Real Estate Blog

September 23, 2009

[…] you are looking for Big Island horse-friendly property and the lots at Puu Lani Ranch seem too small and the elevation at Waikii Ranch seems too high, perhaps Puakea Bay Ranch near Hawi […]

More Horse Properties in North and South Kohala « Hawaii Real Estate Market

February 2, 2010

[…] the Hawi area (North Kohala), close enough to a harbor where he can keep his boat.  They knew that Puu Lani Ranch near Kona has horse facilities and a number of properties listed at short sale and foreclosure […]

More Horse Properties in North and South Kohala « Hawaii Real Estate Market

February 2, 2010

[…] the Hawi area (North Kohala), close enough to a harbor where he can keep his boat.  They knew that Puu Lani Ranch near Kona has horse facilities and a number of properties listed at short sale and foreclosure […]

Deb Dahlberg rowland

September 15, 2010

Glad I found your blog. I am a horse property specialist just outside of Austin TX and my husband and I own about six acres on the big island and hope to move there some day with our horses.

Deb Dahlberg rowland

September 15, 2010

Glad I found your blog. I am a horse property specialist just outside of Austin TX and my husband and I own about six acres on the big island and hope to move there some day with our horses.

Beth Robinson R(S)

September 15, 2010

Hi Deb, thanks for introducing yourself! Where’s your property on the Big Island?
Hope to meet you on your next visit!

Beth Robinson R(S)

September 15, 2010

Hi Deb, thanks for introducing yourself! Where’s your property on the Big Island?
Hope to meet you on your next visit!

Jen McGeehan

September 18, 2010

Please add me to your automatic e-mail blasts. Very interested in the information regarding equestrian on the Big Island. We took a drive up to Waikii and it was as dry as a bone! Wouldn’t work from what we could see, for grazing horses. Also, I haven’t heard that you can solely graze horses without supplimenting with cubes, pellets and other supplements. Are you connected to http://www.malamalio.com? Great quarterly horse journal for the islands. Great for equestrian information.

Thanks,
Jen McGeegan

Jen McGeehan

September 18, 2010

Please add me to your automatic e-mail blasts. Very interested in the information regarding equestrian on the Big Island. We took a drive up to Waikii and it was as dry as a bone! Wouldn’t work from what we could see, for grazing horses. Also, I haven’t heard that you can solely graze horses without supplimenting with cubes, pellets and other supplements. Are you connected to http://www.malamalio.com? Great quarterly horse journal for the islands. Great for equestrian information.

Thanks,
Jen McGeegan

Beth Robinson R(S)

September 22, 2010

Jen, wish I was smart enough to figure out how to do automatic eblasts specifically about equestrian properties, however that’s why you need a knowledgeable agent, because sometimes great horse properties are not marketed as such, while other times marginal properties have text referring to horses. You can definitely support horses on pasture alone (well, we do supplement with minerals and salt), depending on your location. The whole Kona side of the island is suffering from drought, but normally Waikii lots have great horse pasture.

Beth Robinson R(S)

September 22, 2010

Jen, wish I was smart enough to figure out how to do automatic eblasts specifically about equestrian properties, however that’s why you need a knowledgeable agent, because sometimes great horse properties are not marketed as such, while other times marginal properties have text referring to horses. You can definitely support horses on pasture alone (well, we do supplement with minerals and salt), depending on your location. The whole Kona side of the island is suffering from drought, but normally Waikii lots have great horse pasture.

Rocky Hill

January 21, 2012

We have a large house on Molokai but a little tired of wind and politics there. Also, have property with homes in Temecula, Ca. with a horse or two that we would like to bring over. We visited the so. kohala ranch (bit too dry) and Puu Lani ranch and liked the later. We have semi-listed our property on Molokai and may become more aggressive. Really liked the Big Island with calm waters. Like to get out on the water, as well, as compete on horses.
Our Molokai house is priced at $680k but we are negotiable. Not in any hurry so if something great opens up please give us a call.
Rocky

Rocky Hill

January 21, 2012

We have a large house on Molokai but a little tired of wind and politics there. Also, have property with homes in Temecula, Ca. with a horse or two that we would like to bring over. We visited the so. kohala ranch (bit too dry) and Puu Lani ranch and liked the later. We have semi-listed our property on Molokai and may become more aggressive. Really liked the Big Island with calm waters. Like to get out on the water, as well, as compete on horses.
Our Molokai house is priced at $680k but we are negotiable. Not in any hurry so if something great opens up please give us a call.
Rocky

More Articles from Hawaii Life