On Thursday, May 21, the lights over the arena at Waikōloa Stables came on for an invite-only crowd. Eight working cowboys rode in for a first night of team roping, double mugging, and other ranch events. Aki Smith, the third-generation paniolo who produced the show, had spent the previous six months rehabbing the arena to get it ready.
Five months later, the stables calendar has evening events on three Fridays in a row, and the show that opened in May has dates running into January 2027. All of it happens at a property the Village already owns.
The arena belongs to the Village
The Waikōloa Village Association owns and manages Waikōloa Stables, as Aloha State Daily reported when the show premiered. The association's stables page lists what sits on the grounds: a 10-stall barn, turnouts, two riding arenas, an event courtyard, a nonprofit thrift shop, and a community garden.
The partners behind the new programming describe the property as the historic home of the Waikoloa Rodeo. They also call it a long-standing center of ranching and paniolo culture on the Kohala side. The new show puts a rodeo program back in that arena. For people who live a few minutes up Waikoloa Road, the trip to the show is short.
How the rodeo found its way back
The show is called "Paniolo Legends Under the Lights." Aki Smith produces it. He owns the western store Paniolo Culture Co. It is presented with 1832 Hawaiʻi Living Co. and Waikōloa Stables. According to Aloha State Daily, the idea came from Karen Morgan of 1832. While working with the stables, she found the property's paniolo archives and wanted to revive them. She then met Smith at his store. Smith had ridden in a similar show at the same arena as a boy, alongside his father, Gilbert.
Smith told the outlet how long the idea had been building:
"It's becoming real. We've been stirring this pot for seven years."
He also described the cowboys in the arena as people who ranch every day, and said, "Nothing is staged."
The arena program names the people in the ring. Josh Gomes, Breeana Gomes, Kamalani Kalaukoa, Makaleka Deguire, Troy Wood, Levi Wood, and Gilbert Smith are listed as cowboys. Preston Deluz announces, and Hoʻopono Wong plays the music. The events listed are team roping, double mugging, match barrels, tie-down roping, ribbon mugging, ranch branding, cattle dressing, and a flag race. Smith chose eight signature acts, and guests get to take part in three of them.
Dinner comes from Chef Nakoa Pabre of Umekes. It is served family style at a long table. The promoted menu includes huli huli chicken, BBQ ribs and brisket, paniolo mac and cheese, sides, and dessert. The show page also suggests arriving early for the custom hat bar and a golden-hour photo with the performance horses.
What a seat costs, and what the kamaʻāina rate saves
The ticket page sets the kamaʻāina price $40 below general admission. A standard adult ticket includes dinner and two drink tickets.
| Ticket | Listed price | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | $225 | One adult |
| Kamaʻāina admission | $185 | One adult |
| Keiki | $75 | Ages 5 to 12; under 5 free |
| Family package | $450 | Two adults and two keiki |
| VIP | $315 | One adult |
| VIP table | $1,800 | Six guests |
For a resident couple bringing two keiki, the package and the kamaʻāina rate come out almost the same. Two kamaʻāina tickets plus two keiki tickets total $520, so the $450 package saves another $70. A couple hosting two visiting adults would spend $900 if all four paid general admission. With two kamaʻāina tickets and two general tickets, the total is $820.
The calendar from here
As of this Thursday, October 29, the stables' own event calendar and the 1832 show page list these evenings:
- Friday, October 30, 4 to 6 p.m.: Sip & Ride. Guided horse grooming, an arena ride, and an outdoor social hour with refreshments at sunset. Riding slots are limited and require an RSVP.
- Friday, November 6, 6 to 8 p.m.: Sound Healing With Horses. An evening of time with the horses, crystal sound healing, and island refreshments at the Historic Waikoloa Stables.
- Friday, November 13, 5 to 8 p.m.: Paniolo Legends Show. The first of the holiday-season dates.
- Tuesday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 29: Paniolo Legends Show. These two dates fall in the week before Christmas and the week before New Year's.
- Wednesday, January 6, and Thursday, January 14, 2027: Paniolo Legends Show.
The pattern shifts in December. Through mid-November, the stables events are Friday nights. The December show dates are Tuesdays, during the stretch when many households have family visiting and the weekends are already full. If guests are coming for the holidays, a Tuesday rodeo dinner close to home is a night out that does not need a drive down to the coast.
Some outside event calendars list Paniolo Legends dates that differ from the organizer's schedule. The dates above come from the stables and 1832 pages. Confirm on the ticket page before you plan around a specific night.
The Waikoloa Lions Club 1st Annual Chili Cook-Off was held at the stables on Saturday, October 24, with proceeds going to Aloha Therapeutic Horsemanship. The stables calendar billed it as the first annual cook-off, which adds to the run of events that have filled the stables calendar since spring.
The same gate in daylight
The ticketed evenings are the newest use of the property, but the daytime calendar keeps the stables busy too.
Saturdays bring the Waikōloa Grows Farmstand. It had a soft opening on January 17, 2026, at Waikōloa Stables. Big Island Now reported its hours then as 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Waikōloa Grows describes it as a year-round weekly program that runs nearly every week. It sells island-grown fruits and vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, grab-and-go foods, artisan baked goods, and locally made sauces and seasonings. It accepts SNAP and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits. Hours can change, so check the Waikōloa Grows site before you go.
Aloha Therapeutic Horsemanship teaches here. The nonprofit offers equine-assisted riding lessons for community members with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges. It teaches at Waikoloa Stables and at Horseplay Equestrian Center. Founder Robbi Nanni is a PATH-certified instructor. The program started privately in 2022, became an LLC in 2024, and became a nonprofit in 2025. The calendar has also offered Mindful Mornings, a guided meditation, sound bath, and stables walk with light refreshments, most recently on October 23. It requires advance booking.
The association rents out the rest. The Waikōloa Village Association lists riding lessons, therapeutic riding lessons, horse boarding, and event rentals for parties, fundraisers, weddings, and special events. It directs people to contact the stable or an instructor for details and pricing.
Taken together, these uses explain why the night shows were a natural fit for the property. A Saturday produce stand, a therapeutic riding program, boarding, and event rentals already brought people to the stables before anyone hung lights over the arena.
If you are thinking about life near the stables, or have friends asking what Waikoloa Village is like after dark, we're happy to talk it through. The team at Aloha Kona Realty Inc follows what is happening up the hill, including the Village's own arena, and we can help you get a feel for the community beyond the listing details. Contact Us anytime.
