Meet our ‘Ohana
Our growing team is dedicated to making a positive impact through the power of horse.
Board Members:
Paige Deponte, Maurissa Deponte, Dirk Terpstra, Jack Naidich, Dr. Banks A (Advisory Board).
We are actively seeking more dedicated board members.
Meet our Team
Paige Deponte, Founder & Executive Director
Paige Deponte has traveled the world, but Maui has always been her sanctuary—a place of peace and grounding. A survivor of complex trauma, Paige is a dedicated advocate for healing and resilience. Her journey of giving back to Maui’s community began in 2011, after the passing of her husband. During this difficult time, she found solace and joy in her horses, whose sentient and inspiring souls sparked a profound sense of purpose. In 2021, Paige founded Spirit Horse Ranch, a Trauma-Informed Care Equine-Assisted Healing Center, to provide a space for children and adults affected by trauma to heal and build brighter futures, especially within Maui’s community.
Paige holds multiple certifications, including EAL Academy Certified Facilitator, Natural Lifemanship TIC-EP, HeartMath Certified Mentor, Brainspotting Trained, Art Therapist, Certified Belief Clearing Practitioner, and Youth Mental Health First Aid. She cherishes her ranch life with her family of four children, ten grandchildren, her beloved horses, and her loyal Australian Shepherd, Blue. Paige’s unwavering passion lies in protecting and nurturing the future of every Maui community member.
Maurissa Deponte, Facilitator
Maurissa Deponte is a dedicated single mother of three incredible children. Raised primarily on Maui, she graduated from Seabury Hall and has also had the enriching experience of living and traveling abroad in New York and Italy. Despite her travels, she finds her heart firmly rooted in Maui, where the mountains and ocean bring her a profound sense of peace. Growing up on her father’s ranch, surrounded by horses, was a formative and cherished part of her upbringing. Her travels with her mother and older brother further deepened her appreciation for her island home and the diverse individuals she encounters daily.
Maurissa is an EAL (Equine-Assisted Learning) Certified Facilitator, Natural Lifemanship TIC-EP (Trauma-Informed Care Equine Professional), Brainspotting trained, and certified in Mental Health First Aid. Her natural empathy and deep connection with others make her a compassionate and effective guide in helping program participants on their healing journey.
Lee Paradis, Facilitator
Before moving to Maui, Lee Paradis founded and managed non-profit Horses Healing Humans, Inc. in CT as Executive Director, Instructor, Grant Writer, and On-site manager until 2017, when a debilitating case of Lyme Disease made working through the winter months impossible. Having visited her Maui family during the winter months for 12 years, she knew the sweet Aloha spirit and the magical Aina provided the ideal environment to heal and transition to a new semi-retired lifestyle, and shortly thereafter founded Malama Pono Equine-Assisted Learning in Lahaina, which closed after Covid and the Lahaina fires. Lee has earned Professional Certifications as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy/ Learning Facilitator, Equine Sports Massage Therapist, and Trauma-informed Equine Services for Veterans. Outside of her work Lee enjoys travel, art, theater, music, and spending sweet time with her beautiful grandchildren, East Coast and Maui Ohanas.