Waimea town

Waimea town has misty green hills, two adorable churches, a wooden playground with gorgeous views, a place to hang out called Parker Square, and lovely countryside drives. Here, a soft rain almost like mist falls often, and the weather is cooler than most other towns in Hawaii. 

There are two tiny churches just off the main road in Waimea town (also called Kamuela town). One, a pale yellow church with a castle-like steeple, is called Imiloa Church. The other, a green church with white outline and steeple, is called Ke Ola Mau Loa, or Keola Mauloa Church. It's lovely to stop and take a look at them with the misty green hills of Waimea behind them. How sweet it would be to have a small wedding in one of these churches! In February, check out the rows of flowering cherry blossom trees nearby.
After, walk around Waimea Park and enjoy the views of Waimea's misty green hills. If you have kids, they will love Anuenue Playground in Waimea Park, which has everything a kid could want in a wooden playground and great views!
Another nice park is Waimea Nature Park, where you can have a picnic in a gazebo, surrounded by bucolic views. Kids like to chase the chickens at this park. There is a 1.3 mile walk along the stream here, on a narrow dirt trail, with lovely views of the hills. It extends from Lindsey Rd in the east, through Waimea Nature Park, to Kahawai Street in the west. 
There are many cute places to eat in Waimea. Check out Big Island Brewhaus, a favorite because of its sunny patio that is sheltered and warm, something you appreciate on a cold Waimea day. Have a fun shave ice at Original Big Island Shave Ice (11:30-6:30, closed Mondays).
Parker Square is a gorgeous place to hang out. Here there is a huge lawn with chairs and tables, surrounded on three sides by a two-storey reddish brown building with adorable white banisters. Check out Waimea Coffee Company, a pleasant place to find something yummy to eat. Sit out on the lawn and enjoy the views of bright green hills. A resident rooster will cluck by. There is live music on Saturdays and Sundays at Waimea Coffee Company until noon. Waimea General Store, a gift shop, is here, as well as other boutiques.
Take a drive along Mana Road and check out the peaceful views of greenest farmland and cows. It is so beautiful and refreshing!
Waimea, or Kamuela (as its also named, which is the Hawaiian name for Samuel, after Samuel Parker), has a strange micro-climate. Twenty minutes away at the Kohala coast there is dry vegetation and lava, and endlessly sunny beach such as Mauna Kea Hotel Beach. But just up the hill, at Waimea, it is almost always raining, misting, foggy, or cloudy, and ten degrees cooler! You can have two totally different days in the span of one hour.
Drive east from Waimea town along the stunning Hamakua Coast, stopping for a meal at Papaaloa Country Store. You can hike at expensive (but worth it) Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, or for a free hike check out beautiful Onomea Bay Trail. These hikes are an hour's drive from Waimea town.

Directions

Imiola Church is located at 65-1084 Mamalahoa Highway, Waimea 96743. Keola Mauloa Church is located almost next door, at 65-1108 Mamalahoa Hwy. These churches are on Church Rd, strangely, on google maps.
Big Island Brewhaus, 64-1066 Mamalahoa Hwy, Waimea, HI 96743. Open for lunch and dinner.
Waimea Coffee Company in Parker Square, 65-1279 Kawaihae Rd, Waimea, HI 96743.

Click on map for interactive view