Island politician Samuel Mahuka Spencer, suggesting he was a Postmaster for the facility, but there are no records that indicate he ever held that position. What seems plausible (and is supported by documentation within the records of the US Board of Geographic Names) is the story that the Kamuela Post Office was named for Samuel “Kamuela” Parker, grandson of John Parker (founder of the Parker Ranch.)<ref name="imagesofoldhawaii.com"></ref> Spanish The early 19th century also saw the arrival from the Viceroyalties of New Spain and Río de la Plata of the horse and Spanish vaqueros ("cowboys"), bringing the traditional Euro-Latin culture of riding and roping skills. The king hired these vaqueros to teach Hawaiians herding and ranching skills, and by 1836 the island had working cowboys. As the Hawaiian culture and Latin vaquero cultured commingled, a unique breed of cowboy emerged, the paniolo. World War II During World War II, beef and vegetable prices increased, and farmers returned to cultivate maize, beets, cabbage and a variety of other green vegetables. Farm and ranchland acreage increased from 75 in 1939 to 518 in 1946. Waimea saw many soldiers during this time who built a large temporary tent city, Camp Tarawa. When the war was over and the military had left, Waimea had an entertainment center, now Kahilu Theatre, and an airstrip, now Waimea-Kohala Airport. Geography Waimea is located in the northern part of the island of Hawaii at (20.023926, -155.647357), at an elevation of above sea level. It sits at the southern foot of Kohala, the oldest volcano on the island, and it is near the northwestern base of Mauna Kea, the highest volcano. Hawaii Route 19 passes through the community, leading southeast to Hilo and southwest to Kailua-Kona via a route close to the shore. Hawaii Route 190 leads south from Waimea and provides a shorter inland route to Kailua-Kona of . According to the United States Census Bureau, the Waimea CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.10%, are water. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 7,028 people, 2,371 households, and 1,782 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 2,589 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 30.65% White, 0.33% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 20.29% Asian, 15.61% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 0.73% from