Waimea (Kamuela)

Waimea is a working town, not a tourist destination — Parker Ranch's headquarters, the regional hospital, the upcountry schools, the farmers markets. Park in the marked stalls; the residential streets are narrow. The restaurant scene punches well above the town's size and reservations are real; do not show up at Merriman's at 7 PM expecting a table. The Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy boarding-school campus is private; do not enter.