Hele-on to Kona then back to Hilo

Today, Marc did a trip on the public bus from Hilo to Kona and back. The two towns are 90 miles apart. Bus has 2 options, along the coast, or saddle road between the 2 largest mountains.
The bus is free to all, air conditioned and very comfortable. Not very frequent. None are marked with route numbers. Everyone just asks the driver where they are going.
Start at Hilo at 9:30 am
Pit stop at Honokaa on Hamakua coast.
Arrived at Kona terminus, back road near Target, at 12:30
Tried to find a return bus that would cross back to Hilo in the daylight.
Long story short is there is a route if you do a transfer at Kona airport. I tried and failed. I’ll tell you the long story over a beer if you remember to ask me about it.

3 buses later, I’m back at the Target terminus to catch the bus back to Hilo leaving at 5:00pm.
Cross the saddle road in the dark, arriving back at the start in Hilo at 8:00pm
10.5 hours later.Read more