The start of Saddle Rd seven miles south of Waimea.
The road looks more like any place other than Hawaii.
Saddle Road got it name by passing between two 13000 foot plus volcanoes as it goes through the interior of the Big Island of Hawaii. The volcanoes are Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Most of your trip it will seem like your some place else not Hawaii. There are two state route numbers assigned to this road. The highway is paved however there are many single lane bridges and there are no services on this road. The Island of Hawaii is the biggest of all the Hawaiian Islands. Its so big you can fit the land masses of that the other island on the Big Island of Hawaii and still have room to spare. We will start our journey on Saddle Road 7 miles south of Waimea on Hawaii state route 190. Your in Hawaii high country here and not a hint of the tropical paradise Hawaii. Join us through our pictures on Saddle Road. Saddle Road is being upgraded and a new aligment that will go north of the airport and the state park. When completed it will make the big island seem smaller. Important note: Do not drive on this road at night. This road is prone to foggy conditions at night and sometimes during the day. Use your best judgement.
We pass through a army training area
Here is an airport in the middle of the island. It didn't appear very busy
Mauna Kea State Park just past the airport . I could see few visitors.
We drove through many miles of lava flow
Several Hunter check stations are along Saddle Road. This one is at the juction of Mauna Kea Road.
We now descend downward to Hilo. We are now on route 2000 and soon enter a tropical rain forest.
MAUNA KEA PEAKING OUT OF ITS CLOUDY SHROUD
Saddle Road becomes Puainako St in Hilo. We intersect Hawaii SR 11 at Prince Kuhio Plaza theonly indoor shopping mall on the big island. The road ends one block from Hawaii State Route 11 behind a Home Depot. Once this road was signed as 200 but it took a different route ending just north of downtown Hilo on Hawaii SR 19.
SADDLE ROAD 
