Kamuela Vacations, Kamuela Vacation Reviews, Tourism Guide

Kamuela Vacation Guide

Kamuela or Waimea? Locals use the two names for this town interchangeably. Since there are other towns in Hawaii called Waimea, and since two post offices cannot share the same name, Kamuela is the official USPS name for the town.

Kamuela is a ranch town, situated on the hilly, grassy slopes of the Kohala Mountains. The high elevation makes for cool, breezy days, with thick fog and a light mist being fairly common. Kamuela is the halfway point between Hilo and Kona.

Parker Ranch, the largest privately-owned cattle ranch in the US, is located in Kamuela. As such, the town's lifeblood is ranching and the "paniolo" (Hawaiian cowboy) culture. The annual Fourth of July Rodeo is one of the town's biggest events.

Kamuela offers some of the most unique shopping and dining on the Big Island. At Parker Square, find unique gifts and Hawaiiana from the Waimea General Store, Bentley's, and the Gallery of Great Things. The newly-renovated Parker Ranch Shopping Center also offers numerous gift galleries and boutiques, as well as a grocery store and several plate-lunch restaurants. Kamuela is home to some of the Big Island's best steakhouses and the notable Merriman's Restaurant, serving Pacific Rim cuisine. Lodging in Kamuela is limited to a few Bed & Breakfasts and the Paniolo Country Inn.