Waimea is a census-esignated place (CDP) in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States. The population was 7,028 at the 2000 census, and is now estimated to be nearing 8,000. Since each U.S. state cannot have more than one locality of the same name, the official USPS name for Waimea is Kamuela, since there are many 'Waimeas' on the islands of Hawaiʻi.