5 Best Sights in Waimea, Big Island

On the National and State Registers of Historic Places, this stunning heritage property belonged to the "first lady" of Hawaii ranching, Anna Lindsey Perry-Fiske, and now provides a rare opportunity to see a fully restored cattle ranch compound and learn about the life of this fascinating woman. She rounded up and butchered cattle by day and threw lavish parties by night. Wander the picturesque grounds and gardens on a self-guided walk, watch a master saddlemaker and an ironsmith in action, and take a guided tour (by appointment only) of the historic house, where Anna's furniture, gowns, and elaborate pau (parade riding) costumes are on display. The knowledgeable staff shares anecdotes about Anna's life. (Some staff and visitors have even reported strange goings-on in the main house, suggesting that Anna may still be "hanging around.")

Exceeding 130,000 acres and regularly running tens of thousands of head of cattle, Parker Ranch is an impressive and compelling backdrop for the scenic town of Waimea. It was established in 1847 by a sailor from Massachusetts, John Palmer Parker, who was permitted by the Hawaiian ruler King Kamehameha I to cull vast herds of out-of-control cattle; thus, the ranch was born. It later grew into the empire it is today, and the foundation started by Parker's descendants supports community health care and education. In addition to taking self-guided tours of two of the ranch's historic homes—Hale Mana and Puuopelu—free of charge, you can also visit Parker Ranch Center, the town's largest shopping and restaurant complex.

Highlights of this stunning church, which was established in 1832 and rebuilt in 1857, include a gleaming, restored koa interior and unusual wooden calabashes hanging from the ceiling. Be careful not to walk in while a service is in progress, as the front entry is behind the pulpit.

The road between North Kohala and Waimea is one of the most scenic drives in Hawaii, passing Parker Ranch, open pastures, rolling hills, and tree-lined mountains. There are a few places to pull over and take in the view; the lookout at mile marker 8 provides a splendid vista of the Kohala Coast and Kawaihae Harbor far below. On clear days, you can see well beyond the resorts to Maui, while at other times an eerie mist drifts over the view.

Although the twin, 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes (among the largest and most scientifically productive in the world) are at the summit of Maunakea, the headquarters and visitor center of the observatory are in downtown Waimea and make a great stop if you want to learn more about the telescopes without making the long journey up the mountain. Top global astronomy teams have used the scopes to make astounding discoveries, thanks in part to their location atop the mountain, far above the turbulence of the atmosphere. Docents at the visitor center offer personalized tours weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm, showing you models of the telescopes and the observatory, as well as one of the original instruments. You can also peruse the exhibits and interpretive infographics at your own pace. About six times each year, highly renowned speakers, including Nobel Prize laureates, give free astronomy talks to the public.