Parker Ranch still runs cattle across 130,000 acres of highland grassland around Waimea, which once made it one of the largest ranches in the United States. The ranch no longer runs horseback riding tours. The rodeo runs one day a year, on July 4. On any other day, the visitor stop at the ranch is the self-guided home tour.
What visitors can do at the ranch:
Website: Parker Ranch
The history of Parker Ranch
In 1793, British Captain George Vancouver gave King Kamehameha I five head of cattle, and they were left to roam and multiply into wild herds across the highlands. When John Parker arrived in 1809, the king eventually hired him to cull them, and that job became the foundation of the ranch.
In 1815, John Parker married Kipikane, the daughter of a high-ranking Hawaiian chief, who took the Christian name Rachel. The couple had a daughter and two sons.
What to do at Parker Ranch
Cattle are still the main business, and the ranch also runs a rodeo, guided hunts, and a self-guided home tour for visitors.
Parker Ranch 4th of July Rodeo
The Parker Ranch 4th of July Rodeo ran for the 62nd time in 2026. The day includes horse races, ranch mugging, team roping, keiki (children’s) activities, and live music in the afternoon.
The 2026 rodeo ran Saturday, July 4 at the Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena on Ala Ohia Street off Highway 190, with gates at 7:30 a.m. and the grand entry at 9:00 a.m. The next Parker Ranch 4th of July Rodeo is in 2027. Tickets in 2026 ran $20 for the kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi resident) presale, $25 in advance, and $30 at the gate, with children 12 and under free. For details, call (808) 885-7311 or look on their website in the weeks before the event.
Hunting excursions
Parker Ranch no longer offers horseback riding tours, but it does run guided hunts across its 130,000 acres, climbing toward 8,000 feet on the slopes of Maunakea. Big game includes mouflon sheep, goats, pigs, and Rio Grande turkey, the turkey in the spring season only.
Fully guided hunts last around 10 hours and start before sunrise, with firearms and ammunition provided. Big-game pricing starts at $2,000 for the first hunter. Book through the Parker Ranch hunting site or call 808-300-9180.
Self-guided tour of the historic homes
Two of the ranch’s historic homes, Mana Hale and Puʻuopelu, are open for a self-guided tour. Mana Hale shows the koa-wood interiors built by the Parker family, while Puʻuopelu is an 1879 Victorian manor with gardens and an art collection.
Confirm current access and pricing through the ranch’s Book a Tour page. The Parker Ranch Store nearby is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.