Big Island residents - question

[Hoomi]

We're here on a visit, staying in Kona. Monday morning, we're driving around to Botanical World, over in Hakalau. Which route is better - taking the 19 along the coast and then to Waimea, or taking what appears to be a shorter route up the 190? We need to be in Hakalau by 9 a.m. Driving direction estimates online give a drive time of about two and a half hours. I have no clue what the traffic is liable to be like anywhere along this route, and how much additional time we should allow to deal with it.

Any insights or advice will be greatly appreciated. I plan on asking at the dive shop in the morning as well, but figured I'd seek information beyond those living here in the Kona area.

Thanks, and we're enjoying our visit here.

 

[acooper]

The upper road moves much better much of the day and is usually the better bet. In the morning you have the advantage of going in the opposite direction from most of the commuters heading for jobs in the resorts and Kona. I expect the driving direction times are fairly close. I use the same road from Waikoloa to Waimea every morning, a rather pretty commute, so much better than my old commute of city streets and endless red lights.

 

[PhotoLucy]

We're here on a visit, staying in Kona. Monday morning, we're driving around to Botanical World, over in Hakalau. Which route is better - taking the 19 along the coast and then to Waimea, or taking what appears to be a shorter route up the 190? We need to be in Hakalau by 9 a.m. Driving direction estimates online give a drive time of about two and a half hours. I have no clue what the traffic is liable to be like anywhere along this route, and how much additional time we should allow to deal with it.

Any insights or advice will be greatly appreciated. I plan on asking at the dive shop in the morning as well, but figured I'd seek information beyond those living here in the Kona area.

Thanks, and we're enjoying our visit here.

I'm heading out to the Kona area soon and cannot wait, how did you find it?