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Map of the Island of Hawaiʻi in Hawaii. The island is roughly triangular and shaded in natural browns and greens. White clouds start to drift into the top left corner of the map over vivid blue water.

Extended Description

Dozens of sites are labeled especially around the perimeter. This description will start at the northernmost point and work clockwise, describing the densely populated coastal boundaries before discussing the inland points of interest.

Around the Perimeter

The northernmost point of the Island of Hawaiʻi's triangular shape is called ‘Upolu Point. Both Moʻokini and the birthplace of Kamehameha the First are located near here. State Route 270 runs along the coast of North Kohala District from west around the top to the northwest edge of the Kohala Mountains. State Route 250 runs north-south from where it intersects with State Route 270 at the town of Hāwī and continues southeast to State Route 19.

Continuing along the top edge of the island, State Route 19 heads east through Waimea, then converges with State Route 240 at Honokaʻa. Now also designated as the Māmalahoa Highway, it runs towards the southeast along the coastline and through Hāmākua District, North Hilo District, and South Hilo District to the city of Hilo and Hilo International Airport, both located off Hilo Bay. Here State Route 19 intersects with State Route 200, also labeled Saddle Road.

State Route 11 travels south of Hilo to Keaʻau. Here State Route 130 continues southeast to Pāhoa in Puna District and the East Rift Zone which includes the towns of Kalapana and Kumukahi at the easternmost tip of the island. State Route 11 then heads southwest to pass through Mountain View and intersect an access road leading into ʻŌlaʻa Forest in a noncontiguous portion of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It then travels past Volcano Village, Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku), the Kīaluea Visitor Center, Volcano House, and Jaggar Museum along the northern rim of Kīlauea and the eastern half of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Other sites in this area, from east to west, are Wahaʻula Heiau, Hōlel Sea Arch, Puʻuloa Petroglyphs, and the moku boundary marker at Okiokiaho along the coastline; and Chain of Craters Road, Hilina Pali Overlook, Kaʻū Desert, and the Southwest Rift Zone a bit further inland. This portion of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NP between SR 11 and the coast lies within the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor.

State Route 11 continues along the northern edge of this section of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, past the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa, the Kahuku district of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and Pāhala in Kaʻū District, after which it is labeled the Māmalahoa Highway. Here the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor hugs the coastline past Punaluʻu Beach Park and Whittington Beach Park at Honu’apo to the southern tip of the island. State Route 11 continues past the towns of Nāʻālehu and Waiʻōhinu, Kahuku Visitor Center, Ocean View, Manukā Bay, and the moku boundary marker at Kamoi. Near the visitor center South Point Road travels south to Ka Lae (South Point), and the nearby Kahuku Road travels north into the Kahuku District of the park. Blue arrows sweep together to join just below Ka Lae. The left arrow is labeled Kāwili and the right one Halaʻea. Text at the convergence reads Ke Au a Halaiʻi. Kapalilua follows the coast between Ka lae and Hoʻokena Beach Park. State Highway 11 follows the coast, continuing up the west coastline to Hoʻokena Beach Park at Kauhakō Bay, Kauleoli, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Hikiau Heiau, the settlement of Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park (Cook’s Monument), and Puʻuohau, all of which are in South Kona District. Next along the coast is North Kona District with Lekeleke/Kuamoʻo Battle Grounds, Keauhou: Kauikeaouli Birthplace, the city of Kailua-Kona, Huliheʻe Palace State Monument, and Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park.

Now State Route 19, denoted as the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway, parallels the coast, labeled Kekahawaiʻole, to travel north past Kohanaiki Beach Park, Kona International Airport at Keāhole, another callout identifying the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor (which continues to comprise much of the land between SR 19 and the coast), Kīholo, and the moku boundary marker at Keahualono. Waikoloa Road branches off from SR 19 to the town of Waikoloa in the South Kohala District  which includes Kuʻualiʻi & Kahāpapa fishponds at ʻAnaehoʻomalu, Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve, fishponds at Kalāhuipuaʻa, Puakō Petroglyph Preserve, Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area, Nā Ala Hele’s Ala Kahakai Trail (marked in yellow), Spencer Park at ʻOhaiʻula Beach, Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, and Oneloa moku boundary marker. At Pu‘ukoholä Heiau National Historic Site, SR 19 heads inland and the coastal stretch of road continues north as SR 270.

The final leg up State Route 270 through North Kohala passes Kaiholena, Lapakahi State Historical Park, Māhukona Beach Park, and Kapaʻa Beach Park. Finally, the coastal highway circuit closes, with SR 270 again reaching the town of Hāwī at the northern tip of the island. Likewise, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor ends at ʻUpolu Point, stretching from here south to a point along SR 270 just east of Hāwī.

Inland on the Island

Mauna Kea, at an elevation of 13,796 feet (4,205 meters), is in Hāmākua District near the northern tip of the island. The summit is accessible by a road leading off State Route 200 and passing the Mauna Kea Visitor Center at 9,300 feet (2,835 meters). The Humuʻula Saddle runs across the center of the island south of Mauna Kea, separating it from Mauna Loa, which is at an elevation of 13,677 feet (4,169 meters). State Route 200 runs east-west across South and North Hilo districts to Hāmākua District between Mauna Kea and Humuʻula Saddle below. Mauna Kea and Mauna Kea Visitor Center can be accessed by a park road traveling north from State Route 200. Sites around Mauna Loa include the Mauna Loa Weather Observatory at 11,150 feet (3,399 meters), Mokuʻāweoweo Caldera, and Mauna Loa Lookout at 6,662 feet (2,031 meters), which is accessible via a road from the Jaggar Museum at Kīlauea. Hualālai is to the west at 8,271 feet (2,251 meters).

Legend

A scale at the bottom right corner of the map shows distances of 10 kilometers and 10 miles. A legend below reads as follows:

Dashed boundary lines for districts,

Yellow line against tan for Nā Ala Hele’s Ala Kahakai Trail,

Tan for the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor,

Black triangles for Moku boundary marker, and

Blue arrows for Ocean current.