As you visit the Big Island of Hawaii, sooner or later as you make your way around this beautiful and expansive island, you will probably visit the unique little town of Waimea (known as Kamuela to the post office to distinguish it from the two other towns with this same name in the islands.) in the northern part of the island along Highway 19.
While you may think you are somewhere in the cool, rolling hills of northern California instead of in Hawaii, the town of Waimea sits at an altitude of 2600 feet giving it a much cooler climate with frequent winds, rain and seafog from time to time. The town is dominated by Parker Ranch which is still in operation today. In fact, stop off in the Parker Ranch company store learn more about the Hawaiian Paniolo or Hawaiian Cowboys dating back to the early 1800′s. In the store, you can munch on local beef jerky, pick up souvenirs to take back home or buy authentic Parker Ranch western wear.
The saga of the Hawaiian cowboy began when John Palmer Parker married King Kamehameha’s granddaughter Kipikane and was given two acres of land for $10. He began capturing cows that roamed the area and built a bustling cattle business. He soon brought in Mexican cowboys to teach their Hawaiian counterparts how to be real, cattle-roping, cowboys in Hawaii. The paniolo tradition continues today and no where on the island can it be seen more clearly than in bustling little Waimea.
Although horses are less commonly used than ATV’s today, the spirit of the paniolo lives on in this quaint Big Island town. It is definitely worth spending a few hours exploring visiting the Parker Ranch area and company store and having lunch in the many excellent restaurants in the area.
If you want to learn more about Hawaiian culture and history, the place to go while on Maui is the Bailey House Museum. Located in Wailuku, this museum, run by the Maui Historical Society, is the place to go to learn about Hawaiian culture, see artwork and artifacts and view furnished rooms from 19th century Maui. The house is a mission home built in 1833 on the site of the Royal Compound of King Kahekili, the last ruling chief of the island of Maui. Originally, the house served as a mission school for girls. It was purchased by Edward and Carline Bailey in 1847 where the Bailey family lived until 1888. The house has been resorted to it’s 19th century condition and currently serves to house many Hawaiian documents, artifacts and resources owned by the Hawaiian Historical Society. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Admission is $7 for adults ($5 for seniors)and $2.00 for children between the ages of 7-12. Children under 6 are admitted free of charge.
The coral reefs of Hawaii were very special to the Hawaiian people. In ancient times, not only did ancient Hawaiians get food from the sea, but they also worshiped coral as one of the first creatures to emerge from the sea during creation. The coral reefs are highly prized and protected as the special treasure that they are.
Exploring the Hawaiian coral reef is one of the outstanding things to do while vacationing in Hawaii. The waters are temperate and filled with fish of every color in the rainbow. Visitors can go snorkeling, scuba diving or even “snuba diving” on every island. Sea life is abundant and colorful among the swaying sea plants and corals. The Hawaiian coral reefs are home to to unique species of sea animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet. It is believed that well over a quarter of the reef animals living in these waters are unique to the islands. Places like Hanauma Bay on Ohau or Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, to name just two, are great places to see unique marine life and enjoy all that the ocean has to offer in Hawaii.
If you enjoy Hawaii’s gorgeous lush foliage and tropical plants, a visit to Queen Liliuokalani, last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands, should definitely be on your list of things to see and do while on the Big Island of Hawaii. The gardens span some 30 acres and have huge banyan trees, pathways, pagodas, ponds and bridges to make your stroll around the lush gardens both enjoyable and memorable. The garden is located next to Coconut Island just off of Banyan Tree Drive. Take the road past the hotels and turn right toward the ocean. The gardens will be on the left with a gorgeous view of Hilo Bay sprawling before you. Wander over the footbridge to Coconut Island while you are there.
If you love Mother Nature, a visit to Goat Island Bird Sanctuary (also known as Mokuauia Island) might be just the kind of experience that you would enjoy. Located on Oahu’s northeastern coast on the southern part of Malaekahana Bay, the island can be reached by swimming over to it during low tide from Cooke’s Point. Kayaking over is also a good way to get to the island easily and safely. This 13 acre area is home to many species of birds and is a protected seabird sanctuary. If you swim over to visit the island, be careful not to disturb or bother the seabirds, especially if it is during nesting season. The currents can be strong here so do not venture out into the water when the sea is rough or during high tide. If you swim over, you may want to take a flotation device as the ocean floor is sharp here and there are many reefs that you could step on and damage.
The center of the island is restricted for nesting birds and there are signs so do not go into the center of the island. If you travel to the island, be sure to obey all posted signs and take care not to disturb the birds or any sea turtles who may be basking in the soft sands here. To get to the location of this island, take Kamehameha Highway north of Laie to the Malaekahana State Park Recreation area. You will find parking in this area.
