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. Founder John Parker arrived on the Big Island in 1809, and in 1815 married Kipikane, daughter of a high-ranking Hawaiian chief. The ranch stopped running horseback riding tours, so plan around that. If you are passing through Waimea, the historic home tour is the easy stop, while the rodeo runs one day a year, so plan around the date.
People come for three things:
Website: Parker Ranch
The history of Parker Ranch
The herd came before the 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, and so the Parker dynasty began.
What to do at Parker Ranch
Cattle are still the main business across the ranch’s 130,000 acres, but that land also supports the events and tours that bring visitors in.
1: Parker Ranch 4th of July Rodeo
The Parker Ranch 4th of July Rodeo is a Waimea tradition going back more than six decades, and 2026 marked the 62nd annual running. The day includes horse races, ranch mugging, team roping, keiki 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 will be in 2027; the ranch updates the exact schedule closer to the date. Tickets in 2026 ran $20 for kamaʻāina 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.
2: 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.
3: 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.