To get to Nie Nie a four wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended. The road is far from pristine, but it gets you there. There are two ways to get into the area, through either Waimea on the northern end or the somewhat southerly way of Ahualoa upslope from the town of Honokaa. The drive up to Nie Nie can be a breathtaking experience. Going up the rickety, bouncy gravel road the most striking thing that comes into view is the full majesty of Mauna Kea mountain. On any sunny morning the mountain, if not shrouded in low lying clouds is quite a spectacular site. During the winter months it is most striking if there is a cap of freshly fallen snow on the top.

Surrounding the mountain are vast acerages of green, rolling ranchlands. Along the way you will see cattle grazing and the early morning ranch hands working at their places. For the cowboys and small leasholders of the area, the ranching life is not one of merely taking in the beautiful sites.

There is after all work to do. Ranching is a tough life that requires constant attention to both land and livestock. Maintaining a balanced supply of water and cattlefeed is crucial to a successful operation. The livestock have to also be maintained so that they can be ready for eventual sale. It's not easy work and can be very time consuming.

Still in the end, ranching can bring great satisfaction to the right person who loves to work with animals and stay in touch with the land. For these people ranching sure beats the hussle and bustle of stress filled, traffic hassled urban life. It's a home on the range!

Pronunciation Guide: Nie Nie = nee a nee a (both long a's)