Drive Time

We are staying in Keauhou for 5 nights in May. We need to drive to Puna, Hawaiian Paradise park to be exact to look at some property that a family member owns. What is the quickest route?

Drive Time

I am not an expert, for sure, but I think it would be the southern route. The only problem would be current activity at the park and if all roads are open, etc. Honestly, I don%26#39;t know how much quicker one is than the other. We stayed at HPP in January but traveled at such a slow pace, I don%26#39;t know if you would rather enjoy the northern route (I would) or drive on a mission.

If you put a search into the box, like southern route, northern route, I think you will get hits with posts you could use.

Just curious, where is their propery? We stayed oceanside there and enjoyed it.

Drive Time

The South route certainly is quicker to HPP and if you know the shortcut through Hawaiian Acres and Ainaloa it will be even more shorter.

In case you don%26#39;t know, this is your tip to click on typicallytropical%26#39;s name and send a message to ask for those special directions, in case you family member doesn%26#39;t have them. Do it. It will probably save alot of time. Have a great trip.

allow at least 3 hours....maybe 3.5 to get there under good conditions

Well, whichever way you go, you leave Hwy 11 at Kea`au (unless you take that local shortcut through the subdivision), so check the map to see which is shorter.

Once you get on Highway 130, there are four roads that turn into HPP, and it%26#39;s best to know which your property is closest to, because the lateral roads are red cinder, dusty, and have some potholes, and the less of them the better.

What is the address? I can tell you which road to take.

From Keauhou it is about halfway around the island to Hilo, and Kea`au is basically Hilo, so your main consideration, I would think, is whether you want to see anything else on the way.

Are you doing it in one day? If so I would probably drive there via the north and return via the south, simply due to the way you get longer sunlight in the afternoon on the south, and more morning light on the north.

Thanks to all for the advice! I would take a short cut in a split second, however the hubby hates to do that when he is in an unfamiliar area.

KamaainaK,

Once I have the exact address I will take you up on your offer for directions. We will be doing this drive all in one day. I like your idea of driving clockwise.

Thanks Again

If it%26#39;s an unimproved lot they probably don%26#39;t have an address and you will never find the property. Make sure you get the Tax Map Key number (TMK number) from them and we can give you the direction based on that. It should start with 3-1-5 followed by two more numbers.

oh, that is so true. It%26#39;s impossible to tell one unimproved lot from another without some very specific directions. If it%26#39;s adjacent to a built lot, that%26#39;s helpful. I would take TT%26#39;s offer to look up the TMK number.

As for which road to take down, just ask your family member whether it%26#39;s closest to Kaloli, Paradise, or Maku`u, and take that one. Also print yourself out a map, like from Google maps, of the HPP area. A regular drive map that comes with your rental car won%26#39;t have any details on HPP.

The best guides are the Ready Mapbooks, for about $12, sold in some grocery stores and in bookstores. (Like Borders in Hilo, which you pass by on your way)

With a Ready Mapbook you can even take on shortcuts. ;-)

But in Puna you don%26#39;t want to take any shortcut through a subdivision unless you%26#39;ve been told that it goes through and is good, or you may find yourself on a gawdawful road surface (and possibly on a dead end).

If you%26#39;re willing to pay shipping you can get a Ready Map book here:

http://www.hiloagent.com/readymap.htm

Thanks again for the suggestions. I am in the process of getting the prpoerty information and the hubby works for a large title co. The plan is to get all the info and search for specifics thru work. As always, the experts on this board are amazing!