A Hawaiʻi pāʻū riding family is gearing up for the holiday parade season, keeping alive a horseback tradition rooted in island pageantry and passed down through generations.

Pāʻū riding traces back to women riding on horseback to formal gatherings, evolving into the pageantry seen today, where riders represent each of the main Hawaiian islands and dress in flowing pāʻū skirts alongside a pāʻū queen and her court.

For this family, the practice is a multi-generational passion started by the parents and now carried on as a way to preserve and share Hawaiian culture, both locally and internationally.

Getting ready for a parade is a major group effort: sourcing flowers, building dozens of lei bundles for the horses, lining up helpers, feeding the crew, and making sure the horses are groomed, insured, and safe on the parade route.

Rising costs for horses, gear, outfits, and flowers are making the tradition harder to sustain, which is why the family stresses passing the skills and culture down to the next generation.

Outlook: The family is preparing for upcoming holiday parades and continuing efforts to recruit and train the next generation of pāʻū riders.