Waimea is paniolo country: the Big Island’s cowboy town, built around Parker Ranch. It sits above 2,500 feet on Kohala, the oldest of the island’s five volcanoes, where the air is cooler than on the coast and low cloud drifts over green cattle pastures. The town has farmers markets, restaurants and a ranch-town setting. The climate is closer to the Scottish highlands than a tropical beach.
It is a cooler base than Kona. Waipiʻo Valley and the Kohala coast are both within reach, and the town has some of the island’s best bed and breakfasts.
Waimea’s pastures at 2,500 feet often remind us of the Scottish highlands
Until recently, Waimea was a Parker Ranch company town. At 130,000 acres, the Parker Ranch is one of the biggest cattle ranches in the United States, and Waimea is still a ranch town, with restaurants, cowboy outfitters and gift shops around town.
Activities in Waimea
Waimea has more to do than ranch culture and the rodeo. Nearby Waipiʻo Valley is one of the most scenic spots on the island, but since February 2022 a county emergency rule has barred all pedestrians from the road down, so the overlook is as close as you can get. Half of all the island’s horseback riding tours are based here.
Our Waimea activities guide covers the farmers markets, horseback riding, ATV tours, hiking and the brewery.
Farmers Markets in Waimea
Waimea has a couple of farmers markets worth a stop for fresh local produce and a good breakfast. Market days are Wednesday and Saturday. Our Waimea farmers market guide lists each market with its day, hours and location.
Accommodations in Waimea
Waimea has only a few hotels and vacation rentals, but it has some of the best bed and breakfasts on the Big Island. Our Waimea accommodations guide lists the hotels, vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts in town, with nightly rates.
Directions to Waimea
Waimea sits in south Kohala, a short drive up from Kailua-Kona or a ride on the hele-on bus. By car, Kona is 40 miles (about 1 hr 10 min), Hilo 56 miles (1 hr 20 min), and Volcano Village 85 miles (2 hr 10 min).
The weather in Waimea
Waimea is cooler, cloudier and wetter than the Kona coast just down the hill. For the monthly averages of temperature, sunshine hours, cloudy days, and rainfall, see our monthly average weather for Waimea.
Average monthly cloud frequency, rainfall and temperature for Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
For current conditions and the forecast, have a look at the NOAA forecast.
Interactive Map of Waimea
We have added what we think are the most important stops and activities in and around Waimea on an interactive map. Click any icon to find more information about that local activity, shop, or hotel/vacation rental.
Are you looking for the map of another part of the Big Island? We also have interactive maps of:
Waimea’s second name: Kamuela
Three places in Hawaiʻi share the name Waimea: a valley and big-wave surf bay (Waimea Bay) on Oʻahu, a town on Kauaʻi next to Waimea Canyon, and this town on the Big Island. To cut the confusion, a naming committee chose a second name for the Big Island town, honoring the Parker family, who owned much of the land around Waimea. “Kamuela” is the Hawaiian form of “Samuel”. Samuel Parker (1853 to 1920) was three-quarters native Hawaiian and played a large role in Hawaiian politics during the islands’ assimilation into the United States.
Waimea is still the official name of the town, and on road signs and in conversation with locals, Waimea is all you will see or hear. You only need “Kamuela” for a mailing address or when searching for the town online.
This blog post on the naming history has the full story of the committee’s choice and of Samuel Parker.