Daily Activities at Parker Ranch

Parker Ranch Cattle Country Tour

Figure 1: On Mana Road – Where it all began

2008 Cattle Country Tour Pricing:
Per Seat $140.00 plus tax

General Information:

Schedule: Morning tours 4 hours on Tuesday through Saturday. Tours depart from the Parker Ranch Store at 9:30 am. Guests need to arrive at the Parker Ranch Store by 9:15 am. Transportation provided as the tour heads out onto the Ranch. Free parking available at the Parker Ranch Center while on tour.
Rated: Moderate hiking, all ages welcome.
Included in the Tour: Sandwich & salad box lunch. Soft drinks, green tea and bottled water.
Gear Provided: Rain poncho if needed.
Group size: Min two pax. Maximum six pax.
Restrictions: The Cattle Country tour will travel 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. We sometimes encounter cool and wet conditions. We 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.

Full Description of the Tour:

What you’ll see:

• The Parker Ranch Family Estate
• The Original Homestead on Mana Road
• Historical Sites, Operational Corrals and Paniolo Workstations on Parker Ranch. Stops at operational areas are flexible to accommodate what is happening on the Ranch on any given day. Though we do not guarantee an up-close-and-personal experience with our cowboys and cattle operations, we will strive to get you out where you can see some of our herds and experience a little of what makes Parker Ranch so unique.
• Pristine Waimea cattle country seen only on Parker Ranch.

Starting at the Parker Ranch Store guests will climb into the Parker Ranch Country Suburban 4×4 and head over to the Parker Ranch Family Estate: Historic Homes and Gardens. The Parker Family Estate is the heart and soul of Parker Ranch. It contains the two most important family homes on the ranch; Puuopelu and Mana Hale. Puuopelu was the home to the Parker family from 1879 to 1992. Mana Hale was the founder’s home built in 1847 and denotes the official start of Parker Ranch. While at the Estate guests learn the family history in the homes where they lived. Once we’ve met the Parkers the tour heads out on to Parker Ranch.

Experiencing Parker Ranch begins with a trip down ancient Mana Road. This rugged, one lane, dirt-and-gravel country road is a bit bumpy at times but traveling down Mana Road is like stepping back in time. Here you will find ‘Aina Paka’, Parker Ranch. You’ll see majestic Mauna Kea looming high across from the verdant Kohala Mountains; both protecting a lush valley of rolling plains where John Palmer Parker founded the largest cattle ranch in the Hawaiian Islands. While on Mana Road guests visit the original homestead, cowboy stations and corrals and experience the beauty that is Parker Ranch.

After returning from Mana Road the tour will wind up with a visit to Historic Parker Ranch. Here we find the center of Ranch operations for much of the 1900’s with some areas still in use today. Stand-outs include Historic Pukalani Stables and the Cowboys’ Heiau, Pu’uhihale. The tour concludes at the Parker Ranch Store where each guest will receive a small gift courtesy of Parker Ranch.