The Road To Ahu Lani Sanctuary Big Island, Hawaii

Getting to Ahu Lani from Hilo or Kona Airports
Drive time from Hilo Airport to Ahu Lani Sanctuary is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Drive time from Kona Airport is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Hilo on the East side of the Big Island and Kona on the West side are connected by Highway 19, the "Belt Highway." Drive North from Hilo on Highway 19 until you reach the turn-off area indicated on the map below, between mile markers 39 and 41. Likewise, drive North from Kona Airport, through Waimea, to the same area.

Though there are a few different ways to get off the highway and start up the mountain, the easiest is to follow the green "Kalopa State Park" sign.

Getting to the Big Island
You can get to the Big Island by flying into either Hilo Airport or Kona Airport. Kona Airport has some non-stop flights from the U.S. Mainland and Japan, while almost all flights to Hilo come through Honolulu. One source for discount tickets is http://Travel-Hawaii.com. If you happen to come into Hilo on a Saturday morning, there's a fantastic open market in downtown Hilo where you can purchase an amazing array of fresh fruits, vegetables, and tropical flowers.

Interisland air travel is handled by either Hawaiian Airlines or Aloha Airlines. Interisland tickets cost between $68 and $80 each way (depending on advance purchase requirements). Often, you can purchase your interisland segments in combination with your ticket from the U.S. mainland.

Rental Cars
All major car rental firms are represented at both Kona and Hilo airports. Regular two-wheel drive rental cars can usually make it up the road to Ahu Lani, though if you can get access to a four-wheel drive, that is always a better bet on the Big Island. There is plenty of parking at Ahu Lani Sanctuary.