Parker Ranch Cattle Country Tour

At one time Parker Ranch was the largest privately owned ranch in the United States. It's still one of the largest, although the ranch has sold off some parcels of land in recent years.

A visit to Parker Ranch is a first hand experience in much of the history of the Big Island over the past 200 years. It was Kamehameha the Great who befriended the young John Parker, a 19-year old Massachusetts lad who had jumped ship in Hawaii.

Several years later, Kamehamaha hired Parker to control the wild cattle that were running rampant across the Big Island. The cattle were originally brought to Hawaii by English captain George Vancouver in 1793 and allowed to multiply uncontrollably.

Parker had his work cut out for him, but, as they say, that story is the story of Parker Ranch. You can read more in our Brief History of Waimea on Hawaii's Big Island.

When I learned last fall that the ranch now offered a Parker Ranch Cattle Country Tour, it was quickly on my to-do list for my November 2008 visit to the Big Island. Let me say this up-front, if you're ideal Hawaii vacation is lying on the beach in the warm sun, this may not be for you. If, however, you're in for a fun adventure and want to see places that 99% of the visitors to the Big Island never see, the Cattle Country Tour is a perfect choice.

My wife and I were very privileged to have Anthony Roberts as our guide. Anthony is the Operations, Sales and Marketing Manager at Parker Ranch - Visitor Division. As he says, "Being of Irish and Cherokee Indian ancestry and having spent many years in Texas - I have no problem telling a good story." Anthony was a great guide with so much knowledge of the history of the ranch and the ranch operation today.

The Cattle Country Tour begins at the Parker Ranch Store in Waimea. It's just a short drive to the Parker Ranch Historic Home site which I had visited several years ago and you can read about in my feature Parker Ranch Historic Homes - Marking Two Centuries of Parker Ranch History.

After a tour of the historic homes, the tour heads off to areas rarely seen by the public. A short drive down Highway 19 brings you to Mana Road and onto private ranch property. The road soon turns to dirt-and-gravel and the ride a bit rougher. Your journey back in time has begun.

You'll be passing through much of the land first owned by the John Parker and his descendants with rolling plains, green pasture, rolling plains and some more rugged range land. Scattered across the land you'll see cattle and other types of native wildlife. On one side you'll see the green Kohala Mountains. On the other the distant summit of Mauna Kea.

You'll pass by old corrals built from lava rock, old cowboy stations and sorting centers where cattle are prepared for shipment to the mainland. You'll see the remains of the old Jack Purdy homestead. The tour stops at the original homestead where John Parker first built his Mana Hale. The original building still stands. The koa wood interior was relocated to a replica building at the historic homes site in the 1980's. The home today is occupied by one of the ranch's cowboys. You'll also see the remains of a later home built by Samuel Parker. Only the front steps and a bit of the foundation still remain.

A short ride down the road brings you to the Makahalau Cowboy Station where still serves as a place where cowboys can spend the night. The building is old and steeped in history. When originally built it had few conveniences, although today it does have electrical service. Old multi-colored tin walls frame the sides and rear of the building. The front porch shows its age with a chair that has probably sat in the same place for a hundred years.

It's here that you'll enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing on to the next stop, the Parker Family Burial Plot where you'll see the graves of most of the owners of the ranch beginning with John Parker himself. Situated up on a hill, the location appropriately allows the spirits of the Parker family to gaze over their land on all sides.

The tour then heads back into Waimea for brief stops at Pukalani Stables which once housed the ranch's blacksmith's shed, saddle shop and veterinarian's office. You also see the Breaking Shed where young horses are trained. A short drive from there brings you to the original ranch corral which is still used today. A walk through the shed offers a view of old collections of horseshoes, anvils and horse blankets. You can easily envision the old paniolos gathered there.

The Parker Ranch Cattle Country Tour is offered Tuesdays through Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. with departure from the Parker Ranch Store in Waimea. The tour last approximately four hours and costs $140.00 per person. Free parking is available at the Parker Ranch Center while on tour.

The tour involves moderate hiking and is appropriate for all ages. A picnic lunch is provided including sandwich, salad and soft drinks, green tea and bottled water. Guests are encouraged to bring a rain poncho is conditions warrant.

Tours are range from a minimum of two to a maximum of six participants.

The tour travels rugged, off-road areas that are not for those with neck or back problems. Guests should be able to hike on uneven, grassy and rocky terrain. They sometimes encounter cool and wet conditions. They suggest sun screen, sun glasses, a hat, long pants, closed toe shoes and a light jacket or sweatshirt. All guests are required to sign a waiver of liability prior to participating in the tour. Other restrictions may apply.

For more information, visit the Parker Ranch website at www.parkerranch.com or email them at visitor@parkerranch.com.

You can view my photos in our Parker Ranch Cattle Country Tour Photo Gallery.