ALOHA, E KOMO MAI!

(Hello, do come in!)

By Ross Creech

As the first installment of our celebration of multiculturalism in dressage series, YourDressage is highlighting Marla Braun-Miller and her dedication to dressage and the Hawaiian Islands she calls home.

Marla’s equestrian career began early, as a young girl growing up in Tahiti, where she excelled in jumping. However, Lahaina (on the island of Maui) has always been home. Marla’s grandmother was a second-generation Japanese immigrant born and raised in Olowalu, a small town outside of Lahaina, and her grandfather, originally from Peoria, IL, worked for the sugar plantation in Lahaina after the war. Her paternal grandparents also lived in Lahaina, owning several restaurants on the island from the 1960s to the 1990s.

By the time she reached her college years, she was enrolled in the University of Denver, where she joined their Equestrian Club and competed within the Intercollegiate Hunter Show Association (IHSA), earning many ribbons and high point awards. After graduating, Marla expanded her focus to include reining as well. During this time, she primarily trained and competed paint horses, ultimately earning a reserve champion title at the 2000 American Paint Horse Association (APHA) World Show, in her hunter/jumper class. However, there was always a longing for home.

For Marla, living in Lahaina was never a question, it was home and her future. This future not only consisted of raising a family, but also owning and operating her own horse stable. So, by the end of 2000, Marla had moved back to Maui. Unfortunately, at this time, she was forced to take a break from riding, as there were no riding facilities available in Lahaina. As several more years went by, Marla’s family, and the need for boarding and horse training, had grown significantly. Always holding onto her dream of further honing her riding skills, Marla’s world opened up in 2010, when the opportunity to purchase agricultural land in Lahaina presented itself and Kahalawai Farms & Stables LLC was established. Purchasing and establishing Kahalawai allowed Marla to realize her dreams of owning horses and being back in the saddle, in the place she loved, surrounded by her family.

It was 2005 when dressage came into Marla’s life. Dressage differed from any of her other equestrian experience and significantly impacted the way she trains and rides, even today. Originally viewing dressage as “just another discipline”, she soon realized that dressage is much more for your horse, helping them stay in shape and keeping their joints and muscles healthy. She also gravitated to the sport for its emotional connection between rider and horse, the seamless communication with the use of aids, and the trackable and achievable progression evidenced as one moves through the levels. This connection and understanding between horse and rider influenced her philosophy and goals as a trainer, to not only put the horse first, but to train young riders to see the horse first. 

Then, in 2006, one of Marla’s riding coaches planted the seed of telling the story of the horse in Hawaii. With Marla’s curiosity growing about this history, she discovered how a gift became a beautiful lifestyle and tradition to the Hawaiian people.

While the horse has always been a part of our history and daily lives, and this is true in Hawaii as well, it is a much shorter story on the island, relative to our world history. Horses were first introduced in Hawaii in the early 1800s, when American trader Richard Cleveland presented the first horse brought to the island as a gift to King Kamehameha I. After witnessing the riding demonstration, King Kamehameha was so impressed that more horses were soon brought to the island, establishing an equestrian culture that still exists on the islands today. Once horses had arrived on the island, the first cowboys (Paniolo) and women (Pā’ū) riders were born with the help of Mexican vaqueros. On special occasions, riders and horses would be adorned with flowers and leis to celebrate King Kamehameha I. In fact, until the recent devastating wildfires, the town of Lahaina would commemorate King Kamehameha I, every June, with parades of Paniolo and Pā’ū riders down Front Street, a tradition that they plan to continue once the town is rebuilt.

This story, rich with history, sparked true inspiration in Marla, which combined with her love of the horse, the island, and equestrian sport, prompted the development of Nā Lio (The Horses) Maui. Nā Lio was established to bring the story of King Kamehameha I and Paniolo and Pā’ū riders to life, in a live show, with the help of Marla’s horses and Kahalawai Farms and Stables. The show is meant to showcase three things; an authentic cultural experience, staying true to the history of the horse and the Hawaiian people, and how horses and riders are in harmony with each other. While Nā Lio Maui ended in 2017, the story, steeped in the history of the Hawaiian people, lives on and the impact on the growth of equestrian interest and participation in the area can still be felt today. 

Despite ending the show, Marla continues to teach and train horses and students of all ages and experiences, utilizing dressage as the foundation and applying it to all riding disciplines. In 2022, she, along with another trainer on the island, started a two-day show series that is still ongoing, and they plan to host their first USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized dressage competition in October 2024.

However, in the summer of 2023, the island of Maui and town of Lahaina suffered a terrible tragedy, when wildfires tore through the island causing massive damage and leaving many homes destroyed. While Marla, the stable, and the horses were lucky enough to have survived the fires mostly unscathed, the devastation was still felt, and Marla used her position to try to maintain a sense of normalcy for her young riders, workers, and boarders, especially those displaced by the fires. The first horse show held after the deadly wildfires was in October 2023. This show proved an especially touching experience as the horse community from the entire island came together to participate. This was the start of their healing process. Things in Lahaina have been slowly moving in the right direction, but there is still a long way to go in the rebuilding process, and many people still need help. USDF encourages everyone to continue to support our fellow members of the equestrian and dressage communities in any way they can. To donate to the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Maui, visit the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund website.