Driving to Honakaa (Hilo, Waipio, Kailua: for sale, house, theater)

[JoDan]

Is best route from Naalehu to Honakaa through Hilo? Would also appreciate recommendations for a two night visit. Very familiar with Waipio Valley, Mulawi trail and Tex!

[davephan]

There are several routes, but none of them will be short, all will take several hours because that's a long drive. I think it might depend on when you drive and if you want to stop along the way. It could also depend on what you want to see along the way.

For example, you could drive through Hilo because you want to stop by the farmer's market along the way. You could drive though Kailua Kona because you want to stop by Costco (if you have a membership) to fill up with the lowest gas prices.

Some of this depends on when you are driving. If it is during the daytime, then the Farmer's Market will be open. If it's not too late, Costco will be open. The drive north of Kailua Kona near the coastline offers a nice view of the ocean. You could also stop by the Hapuna Beach Recreation area, which is the best beach on the Big Island that we discovered. The beach was not crowded and I believe it was voted the best beach in the US several times. The downside to going thorough Kailua Kona is the going through the twisty and slow roads south of Kailua Kona, and the possible higher level VOG area you'll have to drive through.

So, either drive north towards Kailua Kona on highway 11, then go along the coastline on highway 19, or you could take the inland route on highway 190. The inland route to Honokaa, Mamalahoa highway, is more rural and has a lot of things to see along the way. You can also cut over from highway 19 near the coast on Waikoloa Road to Mamalahoa highway if you want to drive through Waikoloa Village.

If you drive the northeast route, and have extra time, you could take the longer route, driving north on 270 towards Hawi, then on 250 back to Waimea. There's lots to see long that route too. Without the Hawi side trip, both northeast routes are about the same distance in miles and in time.

You could also drive toward Hilo on highway 11, then north on highway 19. You'll drive past several botanical gardens along the way to Honokaa driving the Hilo route.

[hotzcatz]

There is only one route. You start in Naalehu and get on the highway heading towards Hilo. There is only one highway, so no need to worry about which one or what it's name is, it's just "the highway". Sometimes it's called the "Belt Highway" or "Mamalahoa Highway". If you call it out by number nobody will know which one you mean.

Anyway, get on the highway and head towards Hilo. I think it's about seventy miles or so from Naalehu to Hilo. Once the highway ends at Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo, turn left. Go along bayfront and half way along you jog down a bit to get to "the highway" again. It's all the same road except now you're where the mile marker numbers are going up instead of going down. If you don't do the small right turn at the big monkeypod trees (that's the little jog halfway down) to get to the bayfront road, you'll be able to turn when you get to the end of the shopping buildings along Hilo Bayfront. Last stoplight before the road disappears around the corner of the building before the river, turn right and go to the bayfront road. That's "the highway"/ "Belt Highway" / "Mamalahoa Highway". Same road as it was when you started out in Naalehu, actually. So, anyway, keep going about forty two miles and then you'll be at Honokaa. You actually have to get off the highway to get to Honokaa, it's one of the few towns that doesn't have the highway running through the middle of it. But, there's a big sign so it's not hard to find. If you find Tex's Drive Inn, that's right above Honokaa. So as long as school's not in session, you can continue down Pakalana street (that's the street Tex Drive Inn is on) and then turn left at the bottom and you'll be in Honokaa town. When school is in session, Pakalana is a one way street, so go out of Tex's, go downhill and then follow to the left around the edge of Tex's and that road will take you down to Honokaa town. You'll come out near the post office.

Hmm, starting in Naalehu, it's gonna take awhile to get to Honokaa. Probably not enough time to go to Volcano National Park along the way? A quickie tour of the park is just the visitor center, the Halemaumau overlook and Thurston Lava Tube. That's about a two or three hour quickie trip.

Akatsuka Orchids is worth a stop, especially since they have clean bathrooms and it's about fifteen to twenty minutes to see their orchids for sale. They have a LOT of orchids. They are below Volcano Village but above Mountain View.

Probably not enough time for Hilo zoo, but if you had a spare forty five minutes to an hour, it's a nice little zoo. It's free, too. It's just before you get to Hilo coming in from the Volcano direction. Nice place for a picnic lunch but you have to bring your own lunch they don't have any for sale there. I think they do have a soda machine in the picnic pavilion.

In Hilo, there's the Hilo Farmer's Market along Bay Front. Also Rainbow Falls is in Hilo and that is a short stop. It's a ten to twenty minute waterfall (takes that long to visit).

There are several scenic drives you can take as you leave Hilo and head towards Honokaa. There's a sign that says "scenic drive" so that's easy to follow. I think it's about four miles long.

At Honomu, there's a bigger waterfall - Akaka Falls. Takes longer to see it, though, since you have to walk a bit to get to the viewing area. There might be a parking fee, too, I've heard something about some sort of fee there. If you want to see Akaka falls, figure an hour to an hour and a half.

At Laupahoehoe across from the only gas station along the highway between Hilo and Honokaa there is a small train museum. That's about a forty five minute to an hour if you like trains. It's also worth driving down to Laupahoehoe Point Park, even if you just do nothing other than drive down there and take a picture of the cliffs up above. Very scenic and the site of a big tsunami in '46. Short drive, figure fifteen minutes to drive down, take a picture and drive back to the highway again.

Honokaa has gotten a busy little main street these days. Lots of new little places to shop and eat so you may want to wander up and down main street a bit. If there's a movie you want to see at the People's Theater, that's always a fun thing to do. Movies are $6 and the theater was built in the early 1900's. They serve snacks there during the day now and have usually two movies at night. Honokaa town closes pretty early, though, so figure most shops will close around 4:00 to 5:00. The grocery stays open longer, though, and movies are usually at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. On the First Friday of each month there's a big block party in Honokaa and the stores will stay open until about 8:00 pm.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

There is only one route. You start in Naalehu and get on the highway heading towards Hilo. There is only one highway, so no need to worry about which one or what it's name is, it's just "the highway". Sometimes it's called the "Belt Highway" or "Mamalahoa Highway". If you call it out by number nobody will know which one you mean.

Right arm, sistuh!

I'm in a mellow mood today, and I'm moved to say once again... Hotzcatz, you are fabulous!

With a proper nod to your husband, I've had a crush on you since forever for your straight talk, common sense, and generosity of spirit. I consider you one of the heroes of this forum.

[hotzcatz]

***blush!!*** Gee, I'm nothing special, you add a lot to the forum, too! There's loads of folks who add a lot to the forum and it wouldn't even be a forum without all of us.