‘Devastating’: horse riders outraged after city awards new management contract for Koko Crater Stables
For years -- a horse stable in Hawai'i Kai has been the center of feuding and mud slinging. Koko Crater Stables will soon get a new manager -- adding fuel to the fire.
By ‘A’ali’i Dukelow
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HONOLULU, HI (KITV) — Styling herself as an “old-timer,” Ruth Limtiaco has been riding at Koko Crater Stables for 11 years.
Limtiaco recalled what the facility was like before its current concessioner, Horse Haven, LLC, stepped in, “it just sat here for years and years and years, and just completely deteriorated.”
But that all changed a few years ago, when Horse Haven poured thousands of dollars into repairing it.
“They didn’t ask anyone for anything,” equestrian Nicole Silberfeld said.
“It was strictly volunteer-based, people who wanted to see it flourish.”
During the effort to revive the facility, Horse Haven reported it faced “unfair” criticism from some members of the Hawai’i Kai neighborhood board.
“We have been harassed, bullied,” Horse Haven member Michelle Mizutani said.
“Rumors, mistruths, misinformation, even to city officials, that this property is in dire condition, and as you can see, it’s beautiful.”
Some members of the board claimed Horse Haven has been violating its contract by not offering lessons to the public, but Mizutani explained they field a high volume of requests.
“We are in high demand and we do have waitlists, just like a good restaurant, a reputable restaurant, we do have waitlists,” Mizutani said, adding the company always follows up with anyone who is put on the waitlist when openings are available.
With more than 30 years of experience, many who have learned under Mizutani applaud her management of the stables.
“She’s (Mizutani) I mean, she’s got it, she’s got it,” Silberfeld praised.
“She’s a very, very skilled equestrian and trainer.”
Mizutani and the others at Koko Crater Stables have also ran monthly free keiki camps and arranged horse shows for the public.
“She has terrific credentials and I’ve seen the kids here just go from zero to a hundred in their skill level. Terrific,” Limtiaco added.
Now, the city awarded the management contract to Aloha Riding Lessons, whose owner, Kimberley Hollandsworth, also happens to sit on the neighborhood board.
Some questioned whether her position on the board was a conflict of interest, but Hollandsworth said she has recused herself from the board’s discussions on the stables.
Kaleo Nakoa, another board member, is relieved the contract has been re-awarded because he said the stables has been on the board’s meeting agendas for about a year.
“Now we can concentrate on bigger things out there,” Nakoa said.
Aloha Riding Lessons is welcoming owners who currently keep their horses at the stable to continue boarding there, but some want to leave the property.
Horse Haven’s equipment is removable and they said they’ll be taking all of it with them.
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