This small city in the upcountry goes by two names. Waimea (which means "reddish water") is its original moniker, but because there is also a Waimea on the island of Kauai, the postal service requested a unique referent after Hawaii became a US territory. The name that was chosen, Kamuela, means "Samuel" in Hawaiian; it honored a prominent citizen.

Today, this rapidly growing town set amid the rolling green hills of South Kohala continues to capitalize on its heritage as a farming and cattle-ranching community. One of the area's earliest ranches was established by John Palmer Parker, and Parker Ranch is still a dominant presence.