J: LITTLE...IS BIG. AND IT'S AMAZING HOW FAR SOMETHING SO SMALL CAN GO TO MAKE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

(TAKE 'OHANA RANCH PKG) FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, LIKELY ONE OF THE LAST CONCEPTS THAT MIGHT COME TO MIND WOULD BE...LITTLE. BUT'S JUST WHAT GOES ON AT 'OHANA RANCH IN KULA. IT SEEMS KIND OF CONTRADICTORY, SORT OF JUMBO SHRIMP - BUT THE FACT IS THAT 'OHANA RANCH IS THE LARGEST MINIATURE HOURSE RANCH IN THE STATE, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE NEWEST HORSE RANCH BUSINESSES - HAVING STARTED JUST LAST AUGUST WHEN THESE LITTLE HORSES WERE EVEN - WELL - LITTLER

Toni Martin,Owner/Dirtector, 'Ohana Ranch

TM01: "Most of them came from Texas and they were shipped over when they were about three months of age - in a dog crate on Continental Airlines - that's how tiny they were. And then from Texas to O'ahu they came to Maui."

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON MAUI KNOW TONI'S CHIEF RANCH HAND, HER HUSBAND, KIHEI DERMATOLOGIST DR. GEORGE MARTIN - A GUY WHO IS EQUALLY AS PROUD OF HIS PRACTICE AS HE IS OF HIS WEEKEND DUTIES ON THE RANCH.

George Martin, Farmhand, 'Ohana Ranch

GM01: "Lackey at 'Ohana Ranch, water boy, manure boy..."

HIS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE IN KIHEI HAS HELPED HIS FAMILY'S DREAMS COME TRUE.

GMO2:"Well, Toni's always had a passion for horses. And living on Maui for over 20 years, we were fortunate to come upon the ranch and it presented a great opportunity to raise horses. And what we decided to do is because Toni had two miniature horses, Obie and Tiny who are now over 20 years old, the decision was to fill a special niche on Maui. We're a resource for children over the age of two and younger than - say - 13, 14 years old who really have a special interest in horses but are fearful of parger horses. So the miniature horses create a comfort zone for these children. When we have two year-olds on horseback and on the cart and because miniatrure horses are really small - they're not intimidating - children easily come up to them, pet them, look them in the eye. And there's just not a fear of trampling. Sop parents are really engaging us - we're having birthday parties and having 20 kids out on the ranch. They'll be petting and brushing horses - falling in love with the horses and the horses fall in love with them. They create a very special bond very quickly."

TM02: "I'm passionate about horses and I'm passionate for children as well. I love horses and I love children and I wanted to put them together. I wanted to create a nurtuting, loving, positive environment for both."

TONI CREDITS HER STAFF FOR CREATING A PLACE OF CONNECTION BETWEEN THEIR HORSES AND CHILDREN...

TM03: "...where they can feel 'precious,' where they can feel important, where they can build confidence; where they can feel connected to horses in a special way because horses are so special. They're intuitive and they are honest - as one of my staff shared - because of their level of honesty, children connect with them because they're so honest. It's a beautiful connection."

THESE BEAUTIFUL CRITTERS ARE AS TAME AS CAN BE - AND THEY'RE NOT SHY. AMONG THE FAVORITES IS BUBBA WHO IS ACTUALLY A DWARF MINIATURE - REQUIRING SPECIAL SHOES, AND DESERVING SOME EXTRA LOVIN.'

IT TAKES THIS PANIOLO CREW ABOUT TWO HOURS EACH MORNING TO GET THE HORSES FED - ALL-NATURAL GRAIN AND PASTURE GRASS. THEN THERE'S THE GROOMING, MUCKING AND AMIDST IT ALL, THE FUN PART OF JUST GETTING TO BE WITH THESE GENTLE CREATURES. THE RANCH PLAYS HOST TO BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WEDDINGS, GRADUATION PARTIES - ALL WITH THE AMAZING FOUR-ISLAND VIEWS OF, AS DOC MARTIN CALLS IT, FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC.

AND - AS MANY KNOW - IT'S HARD TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE AROUND THIS GUY. FOR INSTANCE, WE ASKED IF - WHEN HE RIDES ONE OF THESE TINY CRITTERS INTO MAKAWAO TOWN TO PICK UP A FEW CASES OF SUPPLIES, DO THE OTHER PANIOLOS MAKE FUN OF HIM?

GM03: "Well, the fact that miniature horses don't carry over 40 pounds creates a problem - so you have to have a very special miniature horse. Usually I'm able to carry a couple of cases from Makawao Town back here to the ranch on my miniature horse. Of course I'm straddling because I'm walking the whole way. But we manage to get it done."

AND IF THAT DOESN'T CREATE AN ODD ENOUGH VISUAL IN YOUR HEAD, PICTURE THIS.

GM04: "I usually ride facing backwards because, you know, cars will come up on you rather quickly...and trucks and stuff like that."///

(GM-VO) "A LITTLE TO THE LEFT, WILBUR."

MR ED? YOU GET THE IMPRESSION THERE'S A LOT OF MUTUAL LOVE AT 'OHANA RANCH - NOT TO MENTION A PROMISING FUTURE AS A VENTRILOQUIST ACT.

THE LOOKS ON THESE LITTLE FACES SAY IT ALL. AFTER THEIR FIRST RIDE AT SUNDAY AFTERNOON'S BIRTHDAY PARTY, THE LINE QUICKLY FORMED FOR A THE CHANCE TO GO AGAIN. WE ASKED TONI WHAT, IN THIS IDYLLIC SETTING, WOULD MAKE HER DREAM COMPLETE.

TM04: "My dream is complete. Yesterday when we did a birthday party my dream was happening right then and there. A little boy was riding one of our welsh ponies and stated that when he sleeps the pony comes to him and he rides her. Every moment is a complete experience for me. I would love to have more exposure and have more children come. I'd love to have special needs come to the ranch and experience the love and support and connection with the horses."

IF THERE EVER WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF AN OLD SAYING, THIS WOULD BE IT: AT 'OHANA RANCH, A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY.

(ON-CAM TAG) IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT 'OHANA RANCH AND THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE, JUST GO TO MAUI TV NEWS DOT COM AND FOLLOW THE LINK TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES.