Aloha Vacation Cottages

Waimea – Is An Up-Country Paradise…

No Longer Just An Average Cow Town!

Photo credit: Kamuela

The Big Island is …BIG!  With its 4,038 square miles, it’s actually still growing thanks to Kileaua’s continuous lava flow on the island’s south end. Hawaii’s Big Island is not only the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands, it has the most varied weather from tropical to desert terrain and just about everything in between…11 climate zones in altitudes ranging from sea level to 13,796 feet. Looking at a map of Hawaii’s Big Island, the northern area of Kohala is where you’ll find the cosy town of Waimea in South Kohala’s district. Waimea is also know as Kamuela to distinguish it from other locations in the State with the name of Waimea.

The town of Waimea on Hawaii’s Big Island has grown and developed from an up-country cow town to a comfortable, modern, and cosy community of professionals, farmers and ranching families who peacefully live in this lovely landscape.  Did you know that in 2000 Waimea was chosen by the Rob Report, which describes itself as a magazine for luxury lifestyle, as one of the ten most desirable places to live in the United States?

"No, we are not an affluent community," answers Waimea real estate broker Dodie MacArthur. But the Robb Report interviewed MacArthur before making its decision, and she agrees with it. "We are a community that's attractive to people who can afford to live anywhere," she said. Dan Phillips, president of Massachusetts-based Luxury Media Corp., which publishes Robb Report, said Waimea is rich in tradition and history. [extract from the Rob Report, March 2000]

Waimea is the home of Parker Ranch, the historic 175,000 acre cattle ranch which is the largest cattle ranch under single ownership in the United States.  Waimea’s ranchers, local farmers and other professionals share a picturesque, green, hilly landscape together with educators in seven schools, professionals from seven world-class hotels, staff from nine golf courses, astronomers and technicians from two major international observatories, health professionals from the North Hawaii Community Hospital, and an abundance of holistic health practitioners.

Thanks to the now deceased Richard Smart, the former owner of Parker Ranch, Waimea is host town to the Kahilu Theater which is a cultural center on the Big Island for entertainment from around the world. Yet, the town itself retains a small town look and feel with a relaxed pace.  An eclectic mix of artists and crafts people add a rich and stimulating culture to the backdrop of historic Waimea, the home of the western Paniola cowboys. The surrounding hills and open range and meadows are dotted with grazing cattle, horses, sheep, wild goats and donkeys. And, minutes away are the pristine white-sand beaches, palm trees and crimson sunsets one dreams of about Hawaii.

ANAEHO`OMALU © 1996  Victoria McCormick

Here, in Waimea, you’ll enjoy the ultimate location at the sun-drenched Kohala Coast, the Big Island’s premiere destination for vacationers - minus the crowds. Waimea is out of the tourist fray, but not isolated. It’s well suited for relaxation, family vacations, romantic weddings and honeymoons, and adventurous vacations situated between Hilo, Honoka’a, Hawi, Kawaihae, Puako, Waikoloa, and Kona. The best sandy beaches that the Big Island has to offer, as well as luxury resorts, championship golf courses, shopping, playgrounds, dining, spas, historical sites, hiking, sea sports, cultural events, and much more…are only short drives away. Neighbor to Waimea are lush, tropical Waipio and Pololu Valleys which are among many of the island’s best hikes. Of the island’s “101 Things To Do”, 43 of them are in the Kohala district. http://www.101thingstodo.com .

When you plan a vacation to the Big Island, keep in mind that it has eleven climate zones. As Waimea is on the border between the east and west sides of the island, there is a wet, rainy side of Waimea where the landscape is green all year round. We, at Aloha Vacation Cottages  are located on the dry, sunny side of Waimea where the air quality is arid and comfortable. Here, we have mostly sunshine year round that we refer to as perpetual spring when the rest of Waimea, at a higher altitude, is in the mist and rain. 

You’ll find us, at Aloha Vacation Cottages, nestled in the dry, sunny up-country at the foothills of North Kohala, right in the lap of rolling, wide-open South Kohala landscape…only minutes from the renowned white-sand beaches where you’ll languish in the warm waters of Kaunaoa (Mauna Kea resort), Hapuna Beach State Park, Spencer Beach Park, Puako, Anaehoomalu Bay and a number of other lesser-known white sandy beaches on the west coast. The town of Waimea is 3 ½ miles away from us, up the road.

When you stay with us, at Aloha Vacation Cottages, after a day of Big Island  adventure you’ll return to your cosy cottage in Waimea. This area is peaceful and affords lovely evening walks at sunset.  Your comfortable, adjustable beds and clean, vog free, fresh up-country air, will lull you into a restful night’s sleep. Air conditioning is not needed here in the cool up-country evenings which you will welcome after the heat of the days excursions at the coastal areas or hikes into the deep valleys.

The artistic Hawi is a 30 minute drive through beautiful North Kohala mountain range or via the scenic coastal road along the Pacific ocean.

Hilo, a diverse university town, with its boutiques, restaurants, parks, galleries and exotic marketplace is only a little over an hour away on the lush, tropical side of Hawaii’s Big Island.

For a taste of Waimea’s Paniola (Hawaiian cowboy) and Parker Ranch history, see   http://www.parkerranch.com/
With its convenient location, Waimea is the perfect spot to be based on the Big Island.