First things first: you’ll want to know why this town has two names. Here it is: Waimea Hawaii, the traditional name of the area, is also the name of a place on Oʻahu and a place on Kauaʻi. To avoid confusion, this Waimea was also given the name of Kamuela (Hawaiian for Samuel, after Samuel Parker of Parker Ranch). So you’ll see both names appear in various publications. Waimea is a farming and ranching town located in the saddle between Mauna Kea and Kohala Mountain. Its 2600-foot elevation makes for a cooler climate, so bring a jacket for the evenings if you choose one of our scenic Waimea rentals!
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Many people looking to escape the coastal heat enjoy the cooler weather of Waimea, which could easily be called the land of rainbows. The town stretches along several miles of highway, and has distinct “wet” and “dry” sides. In the center of town where they meet, you will often see rainbows in the afternoon as rain and sun mix together, an amazing view from every single Waimea vacation rentals. No matter what the weather, views of the two mountains flanking the town are always gorgeous.
Parker Ranch, the largest private ranch in the United States, is essentially the genesis of this town. This area is heavily dominated by paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture, a unique blend of Hawaiians with the early Latino cowboys who came to tame the wild cattle here in the 1800s. Ranch life is still prominent today, as you’ll see if you happen to be here on a rodeo weekend. Farming is also huge, and consequently, Waimea is probably the best place on the island for farmers’ markets; there are four on Saturday mornings, and one all day Wednesday at Pukalani Stables. Choose your stay in one of our Waimea vacation rentals and peruse the the fresh produce, stay for the food and entertainment! Waimea is also the headquarters for several of the telescopes on Mauna Kea, and Keck Observatory has a visitor’s center in town that’s open most days.
Whether you call it Waimea or Kamuela, you’ll love the farm fresh food and beautiful views here when you stay in one of our relaxing Waimea vacation rentals!
