Anna Ranch Heritage Center — Attraction in Hawaii

Anna Ranch is the real deal, an authentic Hawaiian cowboy experience. Living nearby, I always appreciate its Hawaiian heritage when I pass (which is often, en route to the grocery store or post office), and particularly treasure its poinsettia hedge which blooms gloriously each winter around the Christmas holidays.

The Hawaiian word for 'cowboy' is 'paniolo.'

Walking through the rooms of the ranch house and touring the property with a docent offered a memorable experience of genuine local history. I suggest a visit to all of my guests (as the unofficial tour guide for many guests).

Anna Ranch offers a glimpse of paniolo life in old Hawaii. The ranch has operated since the early 19th century, but was made famous by Anna Perry-Fiske (née Anna Leialoha Lindsey). Anna (1900-1995) is and was a venerable institution in Waimea. She created a successful ranch (her childhood home) after her parents died in 1939. Performing all of the duties of the ranch, she worked to pay off debts, improve the ranch, and become a noted benefactor to the community. A founder of (and major donor to) Hawai'i Preparatory Academy (HPA), Anna contributed the proceeds from her "Old Hawai'i on Horseback" shows to the Hawaii American Heart Association chapter. In 1983, she was named its most generous individual donor.

The ranch house has been restored to 1939 condition (the year Anna took over the ranch) and contains ancient Hawaiian artifacts that have been found on site, and the belongings of at least three generations. Anna's dining table, her parents' dining table, and her grandparents' dining table were all put to regular use in Anna's fund-raising efforts. Learning about Anna was fascinating, as was viewing the tools, saddles, clothing, living rooms, outstanding collection of koa (furniture, bowls, other implements), china, art, victorian furniture and more. The outbuildings reflect the working ranch, and house a saddle maker and a blacksmith. The gift shop sells items made on the ranch.

Anna Ranch occupies a gorgeous setting. As you wander around the property, posted signs with illustrations and accurate information enrich your visit, and your understanding of...

A hidden gem in Waimea, it should be part of any visit to the area! Waimea is a ranching town of cattle and paniolo where the tradition still runs deep. Anna's is part of that history, preserved as a museum by a small foundation.

Wandering the grounds and gardens is free, making this a nice place to stop and just get out of the car if you need, maybe have lunch at one of the picnic tables. A classic Hawaiian ranch house set in a beautiful garden.

To really learn a little local history take the house tour. It is offered twice a day, you should get reservations ahead of time, check the website. The tour guide will take you through a house filled with antiques, heirlooms of the family, and lots of...

My husband and I came to Anna's Ranch for a special dinner with Hilton Grand Vacation owners in August 2022. It also happened to be my husband's 29th birthday. They celebrated his birthday in a memorable way, and provided a birthday cake and sang a birthday song. Chef Ippy was excellent as he provided fresh and appetizing food, and checked on our satifaction. He took care of my dietary restrictions and prepared a special fish entree for me since I could not eat beef with the other guests. The ranch management arranged a beautiful live music performance, shared the history of the ranch in great detail, and ensured our comfort for the evening. We would definitely...