The road to Kona from Waimea takes in many changes in scenery. Most of the tourists probably make the drive using the Queen K Highway, which is shown on maps as Highway 19. That coastal route has some of the same changes in scenery seen along the Hawaii Belt Road, but also misses some of the beauty of this inland route.
From the rolling hills of the upcountry to the lava flows scarring the center of the island to the lush country surrounding Kona, the inland route is missing only one thing—the traffic. We traveled this route at midmorning and were pleased to see very few cars. It made for a peaceful drive through some amazing country.
