Waimea Area Guide

Welcome to beautiful, serene, Kamuela, Hawaii! Located on the northwestern coast of the Big Island between towering volcanic mountain ranges, this blissful island oasis contains tons of fun, freedom, and family-like citizens. Known by locals as Waimea, the area boasts a rich history of agricultural growth proceeded by a recent surge in upscale development.

History

Waimea is located on the Big Island of Hawaii in the middle of the watershed area surrounding the Kohala Mountains.

Massive sandalwood trees once fostered a native population of thousands well before the arrival of the first European settlers. The Big Island's earliest arrivals came across the Pacific Ocean in Kayaks first from Polynesia, and later, from Tahiti.

When Europeans arrived, much of the legendary sandalwood forest was razed to fuel development and shipping.

At this time, the five islands were ruled by a common chieftain by the name of King Kamehameha the Great, who was venerated and honored by British military captains and explorers through numerous gifts and tributes.

One of these captains was George Vancouver, who introduced black longhorn cattle to the area.

The future of the area was largely impacted by the 1809 arrival of John Parker, who boarded a ship from Britain at the age of nineteen and found himself on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Great Hawaiian King hired the young man to tend his herd of semi-wild cattle, which had grown out of control.

Parker later married the daughter of a high-ranking Hawaiian chief in 1815, allowing him to establish the historically prolific Parker ranch with the help of his royal allies.

The 19th Century saw many significant changes and arrivals on the tropical oasis of Hawaii, including horses, culture, agriculture, and livestock. In 1832, skilled Latin American cowboys arrived upon invitation from the Hawaiian King to teach native islanders how to domesticate wild cattle. Just four years later, Hawaii was home to its own unique breed of cowboy called the paniolo.

These developments fueled massive growth in the area of Waimea as blacksmiths, craftsmen, missionaries, cowboys, tanners, and adventure seekers began to flock to the area nestled between the five massive Hawaiian volcanoes.

World War II brought many changes to the area. Swelling food prices attracted many farmers and cattle ranchers, and the purchase of enormous swathes of island shoreline by the United States military resulted in expansive tent cities being erected to house army troops as they prepared for battle.

In 1939, only seventy-five acres of Waimea were devoted solely to agriculture. By the end of the War, this number has increased by six-hundred percent!

An airstrip was constructed during this time that later became Waimea Kohala Airport. Following the 1940's, this explosive trend of development and population growth continued, eventually making Waimea one of the most diverse and beloved Hawaiian communities.

Parks and Recreation

Hawaii is a tropical wonderland with looming forestry, rushing waterfalls, and endless stretches of gorgeous white-sand beaches. The official State Park System consists of fifty-three state parks encompassing a total area of over twenty-five thousand acres. Environments range from landscaped garden grounds to wild-land areas inundated with winding trails and naturalistic splendor.

America's island state offers a robust recreation programming consisting of a diverse breadth of coastal experiences including picnicking, camping, swimming, snorkeling, diving, surfing, kayaking, beachcombing, hiking, as well as premier destinations for bird watchers, anglers, and geological enthusiasts.

Additionally, the Heritage program protects, preserves, and educates on Hawaii's diverse and rich historical lineage by providing opportunities to survey superbly maintained examples of unfettered Hawaiian landscapes.

There is never any shortage of excitement on this electrifying five-island paradise!

State parks are open year-round and offer guided tours, riverboat cruises, access to various monuments and mountain summits, and much more!

DLNR, Division of State Parks
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, HI 96809
Phone: (808)587-0300

Mauna Kea State Park Recreation Area
This twenty-acre park situated at the base of the mighty Mauna Kea volcano is a favorite place for hiking, hunting, camping, and other sensational recreational activities! The park rests at roughly sixty-five hundred feet above sea level and provides awe-inspiring views of the surrounding area. Hunting permits, cabins, and camp sites are available, as well as plentiful picnic spots along the shrub peppered trails and bird watching paths of the open aired expanse. The cool dry nights and tropical days in this state park continually provide premier views and experiences to elated visitors and residents!
Saddle Road
Hilo, HI

Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
This sixty-two acre stretch of landscaped beaches provides a calm enclave ideal for fishing, snorkeling, body-surfing, as well as sun-bathing, beach-combing and picnicking. Entrance is free and the park offers shelters, pavilions, picnic tables, restrooms, and was named the "Best Beach in America" by Florida International University Professor "Dr. Beach!" A historic trail connects the beach to neighboring resorts and shores, and camping permits are available.

Mauna Kea Beach
Located just north of Hapuna Beach is Mauna Kea Beach, which shares several similar characteristics including a gently sloping shoreline ideal for swimming or snorkeling between two rocky flanks jutting into the emerald green surf. Mauna Kea is one of Hawaii's best beaches and provides a gorgeous shoreline dotted by shade-bearing palm trees nestled between upscale vacation resorts!

Kalopa State Recreation Area
This one-hundred acre public park rests at the end of Kalopa Trail at two-thousand foot elevation in a native ohi'a forest amongst a diverse collection of amenities and recreational opportunities. The park includes a two-mile horse-back riding trail, an arboretum of native botanical life, picnic areas, cabin lodging, clean water, and an adjoining forest reserve.
Honokaa, HI 96727
Phone: (808) 587-0300

Pu'U O 'Umi Nature Reserve
The unique public area at the foothills of the legendary Kohala Mountains contains diverse ecosystems, animal populations, and geographic features. This ten-thousand acre nature reserve includes the wet summit lands of the Kohala region as well as montane bogs surrounded by 'ohi'a forests and open grasslands. The parkland continues toward the Kohala sea cliffs and also supports rare animal and plant life. Hunting, camping, hiking, and bird-watching are all supported between the park boundaries, which are comprised of the majestic cliff side valleys of the Waipi`o and Waimanu.

Attractions and Activities

The Big Island has become one of the most renowned collections of resort communities on planet earth, with lush green forests and gorgeous white-sand beaches sprawled beneath the backdrop of breath-taking volcanic mountains. Originally created through seismic geological activity, the island now plays host to elated permanent residents and astounded seasonal visitors delighting in its babbling waterfalls, shade-bearing tropical plants, and diverse recreational offerings. There is never any shortage of fun and excitement on this island paradise which features endless opportunities including golfing, parasailing, surfing, fishing, beach-combing, hiking, mountain biking, swimming, snorkeling, boating, and much more!

Dolphin Quest
Board a unique vessel porting from Hilton Waikoloa Village offering the chance for humans to come closer than ever to our aquatic mammalian brothers in a fun, interactive program perfect for all ages. Dolphin Quest's Learning Center Lagoon has been in operation for more than fifteen years and takes reservations eight weeks in advance to secure the opportunity to enjoy this one-of-a-kind natural habitat. A portion of all proceeds go to marine preservation, research, and education, making Dolphin Quest the perfect outing for the whole family!
Phone: (808) 886.2875
425 Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa, HI 96738
http://www.dolphinquest.com/

Mauna Kea Summit
This stunning peak offers incredible panoramic views of the island's lush tropical landscape as well as close-up encounters with the lava, desert, and valleys that make up the surrounding area. At nearly fourteen thousand feet, this breathtaking summit has become a favorite spot to soak in crisp, clean air and taste the freedom of peering down from high above the islands canopy of mighty trees. Due to the fact that much of the mountainous volcano lies underwater, the one-million-year old summit of Mauna Kea is actually taller than Mount Everest! Due to its altitude and environment, it is one of the best places in the world for astronomical observation and has become the site of many state-of-the-art observatories featuring incredible telescopes able to map the cosmos!
74-5606 Pawai Place
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
Phone: (808) 322-2366

Isaacs Art Center
This six-thousand square foot art museum and gallery enriches the Waimea area with a top-notch collection of oil paintings and paper works showcased and retailed for the benefit of the Hawaiian Preparatory Academy; a coeducational boarding school fostering the growth of excelling young minds from elementary to post-secondary levels. The original building was erected in 1915 and restored less than a decade ago. Isaacs Art Center specializes in intermixing its own permanent collection of thirty oil canvas works with temporary exhibits from other galleries. Most of the work has been rendered by renowned Hawaiian artists such as Jean Charlot, Martha Greenwell, D. Howard Hitchcock, Herb Kawainui Kane, Huc-Mazelet Luquiens, Ben Norris, Louis Pohl, Horatio Nelson Poole, Lloyd Sexton, Jr., and Lionel Walden. The arts center is open Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm and includes something for everyone! Enjoy an eclectic and veritably endless arrangement of paintings, books, furniture, quilts, jewelry, photographs, wood-work, glass, ceramics, and much more at this incredible cultural capital!
65-1268 Kawaihae Road, Waimea, HI
Phone: (808) 885-5884
www.isaacsartcenter.org

Anna Ranch Heritage Center
This former cattle ranch preserves and presents the rich history of Waimea to visitors via guided tours and preserved historic sites. The surviving buildings have been restored to their early 20th Century intention and include a ranch house, slaughter house, barn, garage, and other historic structures recognized as Historic Places by the National Register of Historic Sites.
65-1480 Kawaihae Road, Waimea, HI
Phone: (808) 885-4426
www.annaranch.org

Kamuela Museum
66-1655 Kawaihae Road, Waimea, HI
Phone: (808) 885-4724
www.kamuela.com

Waimea Community Theatre
The Waimea Theater has been serving north Hawaii for over four decades by brining top-notch theatrical and musical productions to the adulation and chagrin of delighted local residents. What sets Waimea Community Theatre apart is its inclusive nature, top-notch direction, and diverse seasonal offerings.
66-1250 Lalamilo Farm Rd, Waimea, HI
Phone: (808) 885-5818
www.waimeacommunitytheatre.org

Events

http://eventful.com/waimea/events/

http://www.waimeavalley.net/calender.aspx