This road goes around Hilo International Airport and then inland as the Hawaii Belt Rd through the volcano area and continues around the south and southwest coasts as Mamalahoa Hwy to Kailua Kona. It is 126 miles from Hilo by this southern route.

From Kailua-Kona, the Mamalohoa Hwy is a winding up-country route to Waimea. The Queen Kaahumanu Hwy is a straight, well-maintained road that follows a coastal route to Kawaihae and then turns inland to Waimea.

It's basically a very scenic drive from Hilo toward Kailua-Kona only not going over the top half of the state where it would be a short drive, but going east, then heading south down the east coast, west along the south coast, and then back up north along the west coast. The drive is long, and there are many stops along the way, but it's truely one of the most beautiful drives in the world.