Hawaiʻi Island: Kona to the volcano

Route description

Kailua-Kona is a seaside town on the dry western side of Hawaiʻi Island, with Aliʻi Drive along the waterfront. The slopes above town are Kona coffee country, with small farms offering tours. Head south on HI-11 past Kealakekua Bay and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, a historic place of refuge with carved wooden figures and temple platforms.

HI-11 rounds the southern end of the island through lava fields and ranch land, past the turnoff to South Point, the southernmost point of the United States. At Punaluʻu, a black sand beach, green sea turtles often rest on the sand; keep your distance. The road then climbs to the village of Volcano, at around 4,000 feet, at the edge of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

In the park, Crater Rim Drive passes steam vents and overlooks into Kīlauea’s summit caldera, though part of the road has been closed since the 2018 collapse. The Nāhuku lava tube and Chain of Craters Road, which descends to the sea over old lava flows, are also worth the time. Eruptions come and go, so check the park’s updates before you visit.

HI-11 then descends to Hilo, a rainy, green town on a bay, with Rainbow Falls, Japanese gardens and a farmers market. Volcano is cool and often wet, so bring a jacket, and volcanic haze can affect people with breathing problems. From Hilo, you can return to Kona across the island on the Saddle Road, HI-200.