Hawaiian women have been noted riders for generations. They rarely rode sidesaddle, preferring to ride astride over the challenging terrain of our volcanic islands. To keep their gown clean, they developed a voluminous style of pāʻū to wear over their other garments. Eventually, the pāʻū became a riding fashion in its own right. Today, pāʻū riders are seen in most Hawaiian parades, they and their horses adorned with lei.
