Hawaii's Saddle Road Part Deux

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Click here for my October 2013 blog entry on the Saddle Road.

Last week, I had the opportunity to drive the new and improved Saddle Road again, but this time in the opposite direction from Kona to Hilo. A vendor I was working with was at our Kona office on Wednesday, and we both had to be on the Hilo side for a meeting the next day, so I flew into Kona where my vendor picked me up at 8am. From Kona airport, we headed to the Mamalahoa Highway, reaching the Saddle Road at 8.45am. Unlike my last drive, we weren't in a hurry this time, so we stopped to take photos several times (that means no pictures taken through a windscreen or window this time!). The scenery along the route was nothing short of amazing, with Mauna Kea to our left, Mauna Loa to our right, and Hualalai behind us.

I had hoped to drive a few miles up the road that goes up Mauna Kea, but we somehow missed that turnoff, so we proceeded into Hilo where we stopped at Pe'epe'e Falls (also known as Boiling Pots) before heading into Downtown Hilo where we had lunch before heading for our afternoon workshops.

It took us fewer than two hours, including stops for photos, to get from Kona Airport to Downtown Hilo.

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Photos

Start of Saddle Road
Hualalai behind us.

Start of Saddle Road
Mauna Kea in the distance.

Start of Saddle Road
My vendor guy risking life and limb for a photo op.

Start of Saddle Road
It's a long way to Hilo!

Start of Saddle Road
Looking north towards Kohala.

Mauna Kea State Park
Cabins in the foreground, Mauna Kea behind.

Mauna Kea State Park
View of Mauna Loa.

Mauna Kea State Park
Another view of Mauna Loa.

Mauna Kea
The Mauna Kea Observatory is visible in this shot.