Hawaii 200 Saddle Road 2014

[MarkF]

HI 200 has been much improved over the past few years.  It is now an easy shortcut to go from Kona to Hilo.  The speed limit most of the way is 45-55 mph, and it takes around an hour to get from HI190 (25 miles out of Kona) to HI 19 in Hilo.  Unfortunately both Mauna Kea (13600 ft) and Mauna Loa (13500 ft) were obscurred by clouds the day I drove it. 


Near the western end at HI190, a steady climb.


Around 12 minutes in, Mauna Loa rising on the right.


Another mile or so in, Mauna Kea rising on the right. (sorry about the dash reflections, didn't have the mat out)


At milepost 39, getting near Bradshaw Army Airfield.


Around MP 38, still had another 500 or so foot elevation to rise.  Temps in the low 50s that day.


Milepost 37 around Bradshaw Army Airfield.  Good to have Call Boxes here, no cellphone reception.


Around MP34. Would have been a nice view on Mauna Loa on a clear day.


At milepost 33.  The two peaks at the right are near the intersection with the access road to Mauna Kea State Recreation Area.


Around milepost 28.  Iit was raining most of the way on the Hilo side.


Descending towards Hilo, around milepost 22.


The road narrows at milepost 16, and much greener, with a lot of ferns.  This was about as narrow as the road got, I think it was 35 mph through here.

There is odd striping for while where the narrowing begins, like shark teeth on both sides.  My photo didn't turn out, here is a view of it on Google Maps:
http://goo.gl/maps/fGPYP


Around milepost 7, the main alignment routes you on HI2000 Puainako St into Hilo.

[hm insulators]

They've really improved that road since I was on it back in 1981.

[oscar]

I suggest this thread be moved to Pacific Southwest, and folded into the current thread there on this highway which includes other photos.

Unfortunately both Mauna Kea (13600 ft) and Mauna Loa (13500 ft) were obscurred by clouds the day I drove it.

Often happens in the afternoon.  That helps make Mauna Kea popular with astronomers worldwide, with a cloud layer beneath the summit most evenings obscuring light pollution from Hilo and Kailua-Kona.

Milepost 37 around Bradshaw Army Airfield.  Good to have Call Boxes here, no cellphone reception.

The section through the Army base is the only one with callboxes (all of them Caltrans-style -- Hawaii DOT apes Caltrans in many ways, including their continued usage of Botts Dots).

There are no-photography restrictions on the highway within the Army base.  I got chided by military police (fortunately, content with yelling at me from across the highway) for stopping to photograph that callbox.  Military airfields, like the one just ahead of the callbox, seem to make MPs especially nervous about people taking pictures.  (Not as bad, though, as MD 32 passing the NSA complex on Fort Meade, which is wall-to-wall "no stopping" and "no photography" signs.)

The road narrows at milepost 16, and much greener, with a lot of ferns.  This was about as narrow as the road got, I think it was 35 mph through here.

There is odd striping for while where the narrowing begins, like shark teeth on both sides.  My photo didn't turn out, here is a view of it on Google Maps:
http://goo.gl/maps/fGPYP

Here's a ground-level shot, confirming the drop to a 35mph speed limit.  "Shark teeth" is an excellent description of the pavement markings.

[agentsteel53]

(Not as bad, though, as MD 32 passing the NSA complex on Fort Meade, which is wall-to-wall "no stopping" and "no photography" signs.)

the implication that one cannot photograph the parking lot or the building outside, or really whatever is visible from the highway, implies a design flaw on the part of the NSA.  plant some trees or something.

[Alps]

I suggest this thread be moved to Pacific Southwest, and folded into the current thread there on this highway which includes other photos.

I like the idea of having one thread there with a couple of photos and discussion, and a thread here with a lot more photos. This is the photos area after all, and for mobile users or those with slow connections, fewer photos is better.

[MarkF]

I suggest this thread be moved to Pacific Southwest, and folded into the current thread there on this highway which includes other photos.

I was thinking of putting it there, but wasn't sure if there were restrictions on posting a lot of photos outside the Photo section.  I'm new to AARoads (although a mtr participant since 1997).