Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii
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.
