Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Behind the beach, a hillocky ironwood forest vibrates like some Tolkien-inspired shire
wood. Deeper valley explorations are blocked by a pond, beyond which cattle roam
freely (an indication you shouldn't drink the water).
Tours
Hawaii Forest & Trail
WALKING TOUR
hala Waterfalls Tour is a 1.5-mile loop that follows the Kohala Ditch Trail to waterfalls
(swimming included); transportation from the Waikoloa Resort Area is included.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
PANIOLO?
So where does'paniolo'come from? The first cowboys who came to the Big Island
hailed from the Spanish part of North America, circa 1830. In the local diction,
these'espanoles'soon became'paniolos'
WAIMEA (KAMUELA)
POP 7030
The wide open plains and hilly pastures surrounding Waimea are Hawaiʻi the Big Is-
land's most unexpected face. This is cattle and cowboy country, and nearly all of it, in-
cluding Waimea itself, is owned, run or leased by Parker Ranch, the fifth-largest cow-calf
ranch in the USA.
But don't leap to any conclusions: this is no company town. For its size, Waimea con-
tains extraordinary depth, and one of the joys of visiting is to plumb it. From the highway
all you see are bland strip malls, but closer inspection finds an extraordinary art scene, a
long list of dining options, outstanding shopping, including
three
farmers markets, and a
rich cowboy heritage. Then there are all the fascinating transplants - organic farmers, as-
tronomers, artists, teachers - a most enlightened, well-traveled bunch whose headquar-
887-6409;
www.starbucks.com
;
67-1185 Mamalahoa Highway D108, Parker Ranch Center;
4:30am-9pm)
. Old West courtesy and small town pace prevail here, making it easy to
strike up a conversation.
