Waimea is known for many things! Its rolling hills, the crisp nights and beautiful clear skies, its close proximity to the impressive Waipiʻo Valley and, of course, the beautiful white sand beaches on the north Kona and Kohala coast.
If you are spending the night in one of the charming bed and breakfasts in Waimea you should definitely take your car and drive a little bit out of town to look for a dark spot and go stargazing. Even better, drive up to the Onizuka visitor center halfway up Mauna Kea.
Hiking and horseback riding
The scenery around Waimea is stunning and you will find many hiking and horseback riding opportunities here. At a small distance driving you find the unmissable Waipiʻo valley (at the moment visitor access to the valley floor and the subsequent valleys is only possible as part of a tour) and the almost as beautiful but more easily accessible Pololu valley.
The beach in Pololu valley is well-suited for a rewarding rest after you hike down into the valley. This hike, by the way, is one of our favorite 5 short hikes of the Big Island.
If you are into horseback riding, we can also recommend a visit to the Parker ranch and the Anna ranch heritage center. In both places you can learn a lot about the history of ranching and the Hawaiian cowboy (pianolo).
Waipiʻo on Horseback: Mountain-to-Ocean Ranch Ride on the Hāmākua Coast
A small group of eight rides a 500-acre working cattle ranch, mountain to ocean, with fresh fruit from the family farm along the trail. Set high above Waipiʻo Valley, with sea-cliff views to Pololū and, on a clear day, Maui.
from:
$150
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Magnificent white sand beaches and Whale Watching
The white sand beaches at the north Kona and Kohala coast are only a short 20 minute drive from Waimea. The easiest to reach beaches most popular beaches here are Mauna Kea beach, Hapuna beach, and Waialea beach (beach 69).
See our big list of beaches for all beaches close to Waimea.
Waialea Beach is a somewhat “off the beaten path” beach in between the Waikoloa resorts and Hapuna beach
Whale watching (December – March)
The northern tip of the Big Island is the best place to see whales from the shore. The 3 best places to do so are all very close to Waimea:
- Puukohola Heiau National Historic park (11 miles / 17 minutes by car)
- Lapakahi State Historical Park (22 miles / 29 minutes by car)
- Kapaʻa Beach Park (25 miles / 34 minutes by car)
Read more about seeing whales from the shore (DIY guide).
Of course, you can also join a whale watching tour to go and look at the whales from up-close. Larger tour boats have amenities such as toilets and a bar on board, and equipment such as hydrophones (to listen to the whales) and a whale cam. A household name that we trust to provide consistently high-quality whale watching tours with a bar on board and great professional guides on board is Body Glove:
Whale Watching Cruise from Kona
2.5 hour Whale Watching Excursion with free snacks, guaranteed whale sightings (or come again!), an on-board marine life naturalist, and underwater hydrophones so you can hear the whales sing.
from:
$140
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.
Spencer beach park offers good whale watching conditions through the picnic spots right next to the seaside. Image credit: google street view.
Eating and drinking in Waimea
Once back in Waimea, one must-visit for home made tasty beers and Mexican food is the local brewery and Mexican restaurant the Big Island brewhaus.