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Hawaii Route 250

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Hawaii Route 250 is a 19.3-mile highway located on the Big Island.  The corridor begins at Hawaii Route 19 in Waimea and terminates at Hawaii Route 270 in Hawi.  The corridor of Hawaii Route 250 crosses Kohala Mountain via the so-called Kohala Mountain Road and descends into Hawi via Hawi Road.  Kohala Mountain Road was the original overland highway to Hawi and was originally assigned as Hawaii Route 25 when the Hawaii Route System was expanded to the Big Island in 1955.  




Part 1; the history of Hawaii Route 250

The majority of Hawaii Route 250 traverses Kohala Mountain Road between Waimea and Hawi.  Kohala Mountain is an extinct shield volcano which makes up the northwest portion of the Big Island.  The mountain is thought to have breached the Pacific Ocean approximately 500,000 years ago and was last active approximately 120,000 years ago.  Much of the northeast portion of the mountain collapsed via a massive landslide approximately 250,000-300,000 years ago.  Currently Kohala Mountain rises to 5,480 feet above sea level.  

The 1912 United States Geological Survey Map of Kohala displays Hawi and Waimea connected by the "Waimea-Kona Road."  This road essentially is an overlay for the modern corridor of Kohala Mountain Road. 



Kohala Mountain Road can be seen prominently displayed as the only road to Hawi on the 1930 Hilo Chamber of Commerce map of the Big Island.  


In 1955 the Hawaii Route System was expanded to the Big Island.  The existing highway between Waimea-Hawi via Kawaihae Road, Kohala Mountain Road and Hawi Road was assigned as Hawaii Route 25.  Hawaii Route 25 appears on the 1959 Gousha Highway map of Hawaii.  


In 1975 Hawaii Route 19 was moved to the then new Queen Kaahumanu Highway.  The new alignment also consumed parts of Hawaii Routes 26 and 25 along Kawaihae Road.  Hawaii Route 25 was renumbered to Hawaii Route 250 and truncated to begin at Kohala Mountain Road in Waimea.  For this reason, Hawaii Route 250 begins at Mile Marker 2.6 rather than 0. 

Hawaii Route 250 can be seen on the 1975 United States Geological Survey map of the Big Island.




Part 2; a drive on Hawaii Route 250

Northbound Hawaii Route 250 begins on the western outskirts of Waimea as Kawaihae Road meets Kohala Mountain Road.  Northbound Hawaii Route 250 begins at Mile Marker 2.6. 




Northbound Hawaii Route 250 quickly ascends Kohala Mountain above Waimea.  A sweeping vista of Kailua-Kona can be seen facing south and the looming Mauna Kea can be seen to the west.  




















Northbound Hawaii Route 250 has a signed vista which faces over the northwest corner of the Big Island.















Hawaii Route 250 crests at an elevation of 3,564 feet above sea level near Kahua Ranch. 




Hawaii Route 250 passes by Kahau Ranch Road.  










Hawaii Route 250 crosses to the northern side of Kohala Mountain and drops below 3,000 feet above sea level.














Hawaii Route 250 approaches the end of Kohala Road at the intersection of Hawi Road and Kynnersley Road.  The highway turns left on Hawi Road towards Hawi. 











Northbound Hawaii Route 250 descends Hawi Road and terminates at Hawaii Route 270 in Hawi.  The terminus of Hawaii Route 250 is located at Mile Marker 21.8.  The Hawi townsite is located near the birthplace of Kamehameha I along the windward side of Kohala Mountain.  The modern community was founded as a company town of the Kohala Sugar Company.  Kohala Sugar began operations on the Big Island in 1863 and was active in Hawi until 1973.  










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