Our Story
Tracy grew up in Hauula, on the island of Oahu, having a deep love and fondness for horses. She was raised in a Christian home and embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. Across from her home there was an open field where a neighbor kept their horse and she dreamed often of having her own horse one day. At age 19, she moved to Denver, Colorado to help her aunt run a preschool. Since than, working with children and youth have always been a significant part of her life.
For her birthday, in 2004, her husband, Stephen, surprised her with a 3-year-old horse, named Hope. Working with Hope, and seeing how Hope nurtured her youngest daughter, Tracy saw firsthand the therapeutic healing that a horse provided. Even now their horses have helped nurture their grandchildren. Horses are very intuitive animals. They can sense what we are feeling and are tuned in to our emotions. Most people may not be aware of this ability, nor do they realize how horses can mirror what we are feeling and what we may need to address.
Tracy wanted to someday share the healing power of horses with others and envisioned combining horses and therapy to help disadvantaged youth. Eventually, Tracy and Stephen purchased an acreage, with a home, where they could keep horses. With the goal of combining horses and therapy she continued her education in counseling and equine psychotherapy. Tracy received her master’s in counseling psychology and served as a Behavioral Health Specialist for the DOE’s windward district. She also holds a certification in equine psychotherapy. Her daughter Azure, at the same time earned her certification in equine assisted learning. Tracy is currently in the last year of her doctoral program studying cognition and instructional psychology. In 2018, Tracy visited a ranch in Oregon where they incorporate the equine, with nurturing activities, and a strong emphasis in Christian values. She knew this is what she wanted to bring home to Hawaii and where she would also integrate her experience with psychology, therapy, and Hawaiian culture.
In 2019 she created a nonprofit organization, Manaolana Ranch for Youth and Their Families. About a month after the nonprofit was created, Tracy and Stephen were gifted two miniature horses, Buddy and Moonie. The miniature horses were an inspiration to open up Manaolana Ranch. Within two weeks, of receiving Buddy and Moonie, and with much work and effort, they started the transformation of their homestead into a little ranch in Hauula. Many blessings and miracles were realized then and continue to this day. The ranch was named Manaolana, meaning Hope in Hawaiian, after her first horse who brought an abundance of joy and healing to three generations of her family.
For her birthday, in 2004, her husband, Stephen, surprised her with a 3-year-old horse, named Hope. Working with Hope, and seeing how Hope nurtured her youngest daughter, Tracy saw firsthand the therapeutic healing that a horse provided. Even now their horses have helped nurture their grandchildren. Horses are very intuitive animals. They can sense what we are feeling and are tuned in to our emotions. Most people may not be aware of this ability, nor do they realize how horses can mirror what we are feeling and what we may need to address.
Tracy wanted to someday share the healing power of horses with others and envisioned combining horses and therapy to help disadvantaged youth. Eventually, Tracy and Stephen purchased an acreage, with a home, where they could keep horses. With the goal of combining horses and therapy she continued her education in counseling and equine psychotherapy. Tracy received her master’s in counseling psychology and served as a Behavioral Health Specialist for the DOE’s windward district. She also holds a certification in equine psychotherapy. Her daughter Azure, at the same time earned her certification in equine assisted learning. Tracy is currently in the last year of her doctoral program studying cognition and instructional psychology. In 2018, Tracy visited a ranch in Oregon where they incorporate the equine, with nurturing activities, and a strong emphasis in Christian values. She knew this is what she wanted to bring home to Hawaii and where she would also integrate her experience with psychology, therapy, and Hawaiian culture.
In 2019 she created a nonprofit organization, Manaolana Ranch for Youth and Their Families. About a month after the nonprofit was created, Tracy and Stephen were gifted two miniature horses, Buddy and Moonie. The miniature horses were an inspiration to open up Manaolana Ranch. Within two weeks, of receiving Buddy and Moonie, and with much work and effort, they started the transformation of their homestead into a little ranch in Hauula. Many blessings and miracles were realized then and continue to this day. The ranch was named Manaolana, meaning Hope in Hawaiian, after her first horse who brought an abundance of joy and healing to three generations of her family.
