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Waimea
(Kamuela),
Hawaii
Akaka
Falls | Waipio
Valley | Coconut Island | Pololu
Valley | Farmer's Market
Attractions: mountain views, Parker Ranch
Activities: rest stop, horseback riding, sight seeing
Pastures and
Hills of Waimea
 The interior of the Big Island
comes as a surprise: pastoral meadows roll over gentle hills where
once stood forests of sandalwood. This is cattle-ranching country,
most of it - ten percent of the island - owned by the United States'
largest private ranch, the Parker Ranch.
 Waimea
(also known as Kamuela - to distinguish itself from a town with the
same name located on Kauai) is located in the
cooler mountainous area of the Big Island, although only a short
distance from the Kohala Coast and its magnificent beaches. At 2,500 feet above sea level, the fenced pastures, clear skies, cool
air, and grazing cattle and horses offer a country-like
charm.
 Waimea is home to
many "Paniolo" cowboys, Physicians and Nurses at the new
state-of-the-art North Hawaii Community Hospital, Astronomers for
the Keck and Canada-France-Hawaii Observatories, and faculty, staff
and students of the prestigious college-prep school Hawaii
Preparatory Academy.
 Waimea, centrally
located at the northern part of the Island, is a 45 minute drive
from the Kona- Keahole Airport, or an hour and fifteen minute drive
from Hilo. The
town sits amongst grassy hills at 2,600 feet and is noticeably
cooler than the coast
 with afternoon mist closing in around the
hills but surprisingly little rain. This pleasant climate and town
charm has spurred a population boom in recent years and Waimea now
boasts a modern shopping mall along with traffic lights and road
congestion The old charm nonetheless has been maintained and there
are several fine restaurants and inns and a few historical
attractions making this a pleasant place to spend a night.
Turn onto Mana Road (see
map) from Route19 and you will experience a pleasant drive along
scenic rolling farmland and horse pastures.
Parker Ranch
 Waimea is the center
of Parker Ranch, a 225,000 acre ranch first developed by John Parker
Palmer over 150 years ago. Intermingling with the town and
adding to its country charm are over 50,000 head of cattle and 500
horses.
Parker Ranch also boasts a large collection of Impressionistic
artwork and a wonderful Jade collection.
The Parker Ranch Museum (Parker Ranch Visitor Center, at the
intersection of Route19 and Route190
see map) is located in the Parker Ranch Shopping Center.
This museum showcases exhibits of old ranching artifacts, weapons,
quilts, photos, correspondence, and clothing of over 150-years of
cattle ranching on the Big Island. The Thelma Parker Theater
also offers a 15-minute video.
Also nearby are the
Parker Ranch Historic Homes and Garden (located on
Route190) offering tours of several of John Parker's historic homes
containing collections of Hawaiian artifacts, Asian jade, and French
impressionist art.
Route
250 Scenic Drive
 Route
250 joins the town of Hawi and Waimea. This 27-mile ride along the
volcanic ridge climbs to 6,000 ft., with spectacular views of the ocean
below. The view is marvelous as this is one of the most scenic drives on
the Big Island of Hawaii.
 As you drive from Hawi up towards Waimea,
you ascend the Kohala Mountains and off to your right is the scenic Kohala
Coast. On a clear day you can see Kawaihae Harbor and all the way to
Kailua. Green pastures dot your drive as Mauna Kea looms tall in
front of you.
Nearby Attractions:
Kohala Coast,
Waipio Valley Overlook, Pololu Valley,
Akaka Falls.
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