Minimum 4 Hours
From Big Island Motorcycle Co. go east on Waikoloa Beach Drive. Turn left (north) on Hwy 19, aka Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.
Hawi & Kapa'au
After about 10 miles you will reach a stop sign. Take a left onto Hwy 270 and head towards Hawi, about 25 miles away.
Take some time to explore the towns of Hawi and Kapa’au, about 3 miles apart. Both have delicious restaurants, beautiful galleries, and eclectic shops. The King Kamehameha statue is in Kapa’au.
Pololu Valley
Keep going on 270 until the road ends, this is Pololu Valley Lookout.
You can hike down into Pololu Valley to check out the very beautiful black sand beach (not good for swimming though). If you only want to hike a short distance, there are a few switchbacks that offer beautiful photo opportunities of the valley below. Hiking to the beach takes about an hour round trip depending on how long you stay to enjoy the beach. The trail is steep but short and manageable for most ability levels.
Hwy 250
When leaving Pololu Valley, go back west and look for signs directing you to Hwy 250 towards Waimea. The first left turn leading to Hwy 250 is Kynnersley Rd. At this intersection, you will see a gas station and credit union on the right and houses on the left. If you miss this first left turn, there is another left turn in the town of Hawi, at Hawi Rd. This turn puts you directly on Hwy 250.
Hwy 250 is our favorite ride on the island. A curvy road, sparse traffic, and stunning scenery make it a must-ride. This highway rims Kohala mountain so it’s cool and shady. You will be able to see the landscape all the way down to the ocean. It is gorgeous and a lot of fun!
Waimea
When you reach a T intersection make a left on Kawaihae Rd. towards Waimea. Make another left towards Honoka'a at the traffic light.onto Hwy 19, aka Mamalohoa Hwy. In the town of Waimea, there are places to stop for a bite, do a little shopping, or visit the historic Parker Ranch.
Continue on Hwy 19 towards Honoka'a for about 13 miles. Make a left onto Plumeria St (look for the signs that say Honoka'a and Waipio Valley). Make another left at the stop sign onto Waipio Road. Take this road about 8 miles, following the signs to Waipio Valley Lookout. Parking for the lookout is limited. You may see cars lining the road. Proceed to the parking lot to see if there is room for your bike before parking along the road.
Waipio Valley
Enjoy the views of Waipio Valley from the overlook. You will not be able to ride into the valley on your motorcycle. The grade is very steep and the park rangers will stop vehicles that should not be on the road. If you wish to go into the valley, you can walk down (about 1.5 miles to the bottom). It's a challenging walk especially on the way back up as you climb to an elevation of nearly 1,000 feet. You might be able to catch a ride from someone in a 4WD vehicle.
Honoka'a
Check out Honokaa town before heading back to Waikoloa. The town has some fun shops and Tex’s Drive In, known for making the best malasadas (Portugese Donuts).
Return to Big Island Motorcycle Co.
Go back to Hwy 19 and head west towards Waimea. Make a right onto Lindsey St. to stay on Hwy 19. After 10 miles make a left to stay on Hwy 19 (towards Kona). Turn right onto Waikoloa Beach Drive and find us in the Kings’ Shops.
Waterfall Route
Minimum 6 hours.
Catch a glimpse of Hawaii’s stunning waterfalls along this scenic route.
From Big Island Motorcycle Co. go east on Waikoloa Beach Drive. Turn left (north) on Hwy 19, aka Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.
Umauma Falls
After about 10 miles you will come to a stop sign. Take a right, heading toward Waimea.
In about 10 miles you will arrive in Waimea. There are nice places in Waimea to stop for a bite, do a little shopping, or visit the historic Parker Ranch.
Continue east on Hwy 19, aka Mamalahoa Hwy, towards Honoka’a. About 14 miles from Waimea you'll come to Tex’s Drive In on your left. Tex's is known for making the best malasadas (Portuguese Donuts). A few miles north of the highway is Honoka'a town where you can discover some fun shops and galleries.
Continue on Hwy 19 past Tex's Drive In towards Hilo. The highway takes you through several gulches, some of which have waterfalls.
USE CAUTION: if you feel the need to pull over and take pictures. Please remember this is a highway with a speed limit of 55mph. Slowing down or coming to a stop can be extremely dangerous. Please find an appropriate pull-out before stopping along the road.
A little over 17 miles from Tex's Drive in, you'll pass Laupahoehoe Lookout. Drive another 11 miles and take a right at mile marker 16 onto Leopolino. When you arrive at Botanical World Adventures, turn left on Kamaee Road. Drive to the end of this road for a spectacular view of Kamaee Falls.
Akaka Falls
Return to Hwy 19 heading towards Hilo. Watch for signs to Honomu and Akaka Falls. About 2 1/2 miles down the road make a right turn onto Honomu Rd. Turn left and then right onto Hwy 220. There is signage to direct you.
At Akaka Falls State park there are two waterfalls, Akaka and Kahuna Falls. There is a moderately easy 1/2 mile walking trail to the falls viewing areas. There is a fee for parking in the parking lot or a $1.00 pedestrian fee for all non-Hawaiian residents who walk into the trailhead.
Rainbow Falls
Hop back on Hwy 19 toward Hilo. The highway brings you right into downtown Hilo, which may be worth a stop to walk around. Downtown Hilo is charming and offers an array of galleries, shops and restaurants. If you have time to explore a little, you may want to consider Liliuokalani Gardens, a beautifully landscaped, 30-acre Japanese garden. There is a Farmer's Market in Hilo every Wednesday or Saturday. Some vendors may be set up to sell their goods on other days, too.
You may also want to get gas in Hilo. There is no gas where you are heading next.
To get to Rainbow Falls, find Waianuenue Avenue (your first right from the highway), the main road that cuts through downtown Hilo. Head West. Look for signs to Rainbow Falls. The turn will be to your right. Admission is free.
Returning to Big Island Motorcycle Co
Before starting back, you may want to check the weather over Saddle Road. Saddle Road gets very high in elevation. There are no street lights and there could be rain and colder temperatures. You can check the weather for US Army Garrison Camp Pohakuloa near the summit by using this link. If you have the gear (we provide jackets and gloves for rider and passenger with every rental) and you decide to use Saddle Road for your return, head west on Waianuenue Avenue, which turns into State Hwy 200, aka Saddle Road. Saddle Road ends at Mamalohoa Hwy after about 45 miles. Turn right towards Waimea. In about 3 miles turn left on Waikoloa Road. Descend down this road 12 miles until you get to the traffic light at Hwy 19. Take a left at the light and then a right at the next light to reach Big Island Motorcycle Co. in the Kings' Shops.
If you decide the weather on Saddle Road is not for you, consider re-tracing your steps using Hwy 19 to ride back across the north side of the island to return to Big Island Motorcycle Co.
Volcano Run
Minimum 8+ Hours
From Big Island Motorcycle Co. go east on Waikoloa Beach Drive. Turn right (south) on Hwy 19, aka Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. This road will take you all the way to Hawaii' Volcanoes National Park, 108 miles.
To make the most of your rental, we recommend renting your bike at 5:30 pm the evening before this ride so you can get an early morning start on this route. We recommend leaving by about 6 am to return the bike by 5:30 pm.
On your way south, you may consider a few side trips:
The highway through south Kona boasts several coffee plantations. Many offer tours and tastings.
South Point is the southernmost tip of the United States. Most days you will see cliff jumpers/divers taking a 40' plunge into the Pacific.
Pull into Punalu'u Bake Shop and Visitors' Center in Naalehu for samples of their famous Hawaiian sweetbread, Ka'u coffee, amazing desserts and a fun spot to pick up a picnic lunch to take to black sand beach. This little place has a great old Hawaii ambiance and is a fun spot to take a break.
Punalu'u Beach is a special treat if you've never seen a black sand beach, aka Punalu'u Beach, before. Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles are often seen resting on the shore here. Be respectful and keep your distance. Our Honu are protected and disturbing them can come with a steep fine. There are picnic tables overlooking the beach and rocky shoreline.
Continue on south to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. There is a small entry fee per vehicle. Once inside, stop at the visitor’s center for information and maps. Kilauea is a very dynamic attraction. What you can see and experience may vary greatly from day to day. Some things we recommend include:
Follow Crater Rim Drive which circles the Kilauea Caldera. Please be aware portions of Crater Rim Drive may been closed due to volcanic activity. There are many places to stop and explore along the drive. We like the Steam Vents, the Jaggar Museum, and the Thurston Lava Tube.
Continue down Chain of Craters Road which will take you all the way to the ocean. This road is very scenic and many times you can see the steam rising from the ocean where lava is flowing in. This road can get very curvy and windy. If you are uncomfortable riding in high winds, skipping this portion of the park might be in your best interest.
There are facilities (bathrooms, food) inside the park or you can stop outside the park in Volcano Village where there are restaurants and gas stations.
You could easily spend a whole day exploring the park, so we recommend selecting a few highlights you want to see and limit your visit to about 2 hours so that you will have plenty of time to ride back.
Return to Big Island Motorcycle Co.
Once you are done exploring the park, head back out to the highway continuing in the same direction, toward Hilo, about 29 miles away. We don’t recommend making plans for any major stops in Hilo or along the way back as you will likely be pretty tired at this point and it’s a long ride back. Just enjoy the ride. You may want to get back with some daylight left as the roads here get very dark at night and besides, you wouldn’t want to miss any scenery,
Depending on how much time you spend seeing the sights, you can choose one of two options for getting back to Big Island Motorcycle Co. once you get to Hilo. Get gas in Hilo before starting your return trip.
1.5 hours using Saddle Road across the center between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa
If you are considering this option you may want to check the weather over Saddle Road. Saddle Road gets very high in elevation. There are no street lights and there could be rain and colder temperatures. Check the weather for US Army Garrison Camp Pohakuloa near the summit using this link. If you have the gear (we provide jackets and gloves for rider and passenger with every rental) and you decide to use Saddle Road for your return, head west on Waianuenue Avenue, which turns into State Hwy 200, aka Saddle Road. Saddle Road ends at Mamalohoa Hwy after about 45 miles. Turn right towards Waimea. In about 3 miles turn left on Waikoloa Road. Descend down this road 12 miles until you get to the traffic light at Hwy 19. Take a left at the light and then a right at the next light to reach Big Island Motorcycle Co. in the Kings' Shops.
2.25 hours driving around the north edge of the island on Hwy 19
If you have time for this option, it is a very scenic route. Continue past Hilo, past Honokaa, and into Waimea. Once in Waimea, turn right on Lindsey Road, which is at the stoplight near the big shopping center on your left. The road curves to the left and becomes Kawaihae Road. Continue west about 10 miles and turn left onto Highway 19. After about 8 miles, turn right on Waikoloa Beach Drive and make your way back to Big Island Motorcycle Co.
Kona Coffee
Minimum 3 Hours
This ride will take you through various climate zones including barren lava fields, lush jungle, and Kona’s famous coffee country. Just a few minutes from Kona, yet a world away.
From Big Island Motorcycle Co. go east on Waikoloa Beach Drive. Turn left (north) on Hwy 19, aka Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway. Go 1 mile and take a right onto Waikoloa Road. Continue East about 12 miles until you reach Hwy 190 (Hawaii Belt Road). Take a right, going South on Hwy 190. Continue heading south, about 24 miles. After passing Hina Lana St., go left at the light onto Mamalohoa Hwy (Hwy 180)
Coffee Country
You will pass several coffee farms along this route. Many of the farms allow tours. Plan to spend some time checking out coffee country. This highway will take your through the town of Holualoa. You'll find the coffee farm of Mauka Meadows (gorgeous) before you get to the center of the town. They charge a small admission fee for age 16 and up. It's highly rated and is praised for beautiful gardens.
Holualoa
Consider making a stop in Holualoa to check out art galleries, have a bite to eat (try Holuakoa Cafe), or take in some of the sights of this historic town. Holualoa also hosts the opening weekend of the Kona Coffee Culture Festival each fall.
From the center of town drive south a little less than 5 miles. Turn left at Bishop Road and visit Buddha’s Cup. It's a fun ride up to the farm and the offer good, personalized tours. If you stop here, head south on Hwy 180 when you leave.
Return to Big Island Motorcycle Co.
After traveling about 12 miles on Mamalohoa Hwy you will come to an intersection where the road “ends" at Hwy 11. Take a hard right at the stop sign. This puts you on Hwy 11 traveling North. Stay on this highway for 30 miles. Take a left at Waikoloa Beach Drive to return to Big Island Motorcycle Co.
If time permits, you may want to consider taking your ride to the Makai side - closer to the water. After getting on Hwy 11, go about 4 miles to the traffic light, Kamehameha III Rd and turn left. Ride downhill a little less than 2 miles and turn right on Ali'i Drive, the 2nd traffic light. Turn left at the next light to stay on Ali'i Drive. Follow Ali'i Drive along the water through Kailua-Kona. You'll see many of the famous Kona beaches and hangouts. Speed limits are slower than using the highway and there are a few stop signs but the ocean view makes it all worthwhile. Ali'i ends at the King Kamehameha Courtyard. Turn right and you will be on Palani. Go uphill on Palani to the 3rd traffic light and turn left to get back on Hwy 11.