Waimea, known to the US Postal Service as Kamuela, is a small town of approximately 9000 located on the Big Island of Hawai`i at the 2900 foot elevation. Waimea, meaning red waters in Hawaiian, gets its name from the reddish color of the streams that flow through the center of town.
Waimea was historically a ranching community, with cattle coming into its history through a gift to King Kamehameha I in 1792, who put into place a kapu (taboo) on killing of the cattle. This kapu allowed them to multiply in great numbers for the next three decades which eventually caused havoc on the land, ruining many crops and forest.

Around 1830, Kamehameha III turned to Spanish cowboys “vaqueros” to help teach the Hawaiians how to ride horses and the basics of cattle control. Hawaii had its first cowboys, called “Paniolo”, by 1836. In 1848 John Palmer Parker founded Parker Ranch in Waimea. Parker Ranch is still among the largest ranches in the United States, spanning approximately 150,000 acres across Hawai`i Island. It is also one of the country’s oldest ranches, with more than 160 years of history.

The Kahilu Theatre Foundation was conceived and built by the Parker heir Richard Smart in 1980. Today, Parker Ranch still controls much of the land and resources in North Hawai`i.

Currently Waimea offers many shopping, dining, and visitor experiences. In addition astronomy and education provide much of the employment opportunities in the town.