Waimea-Kamuela is a "
Paniolo (Hawaiian Cowboy)" or cowboy town because John Palmer Parker became a cattle baron here. He jumped ship 150 years ago, got close to King Kamehameha III and married into the royal family.
He parlayed his two acres of land that the king gave to him into a 220,000 acre spread that is the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the US. It is now managed by a trust and many of his descendants are nearby.
They keep his legacy alive with numerous attractions in the area, including the Parker Ranch Visitor Center and Museum. It is all headquartered at the Parker Ranch shopping center at the junction of Hwy 19 and Hwy 190.
The Parker Ranch is larger than the island of Oahu.
