Skip to main content

Hawaii Route 197

By

Hawaii Route 197 currently is a 1.2 mile partially complete state highway located on the Big Island near Kona International Airport.  The corridor as presently constructed originates at Hawaii Route 19 and follows Kealakehe Parkway east to a dead-end at Keanalehu Drive.  The corridor of Hawaii Route 197 has a proposed extension which would terminate 1.9 miles to the east at Hawaii Route 190 and connect with the great Mamalahoa Highway.  


This page is part of the Gribblenation Hawaii Roads series.  A compellation of all Hawaii-related media from both Gribblenation and RoadwayWiz can be found by clicking here. 




Part 1; the history of Hawaii Route 197

The planned corridor of Hawaii Route 197 (Kealakehe Parkway) is 3.1 miles in scale and would connect Hawaii Route 19 (Queen Kaahumanu Highway) near Kona International Airport east to Hawaii Route 190 (Mamalahoa Highway).  The intent of the corridor is to replace the functionally obsolete Palani Drive (Hawaii Route 190) as the primary connector to Mamalahoa Highway.  

The adoption of Hawaii Route 197 into the state highway system is not fully clear, but likely came during the 1980s.  The highway appears complete from Hawaii Route 19 east to Keanalehu Drive (approximately 1.2-miles) on the 1998 United States Geological Survey map (courtesy historicaerials.com).


The remaining unconstructed portion of Hawaii Route 197 from Keanalehu Drive east to Hawaii Route 190/Mamalahoa Highway on the current Hawaii Department of Transportation log for the Big Island.  The corridor is planned to tie into Mamalahoa Highway south the junction of Hawaii Route 190 and Hawaii County Route 180.  The status of the unconstructed portion of Hawaii Route 197 is unclear as it remained unaltered on the 2012 state of Hawaii Federal-Aid System logs.  




Part 2; a drive on Hawaii Route 197

Hawaii Route 197 eastbound begins at the intersection of Hawaii Route 19 at Kealakehe Parkway.  There are no reassurance shields altering traffic to the presence of Hawaii Route 197. 


Hawaii Route 197 ascends eastbound to a dead-end at Keanalehu Drive.  The corridor has no Hawaii Route 197 signage or mile markers.  Overhead the peak of Hualalai can be seen looking in the distance.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Former California State Route 180 in Centerville

By
Centerville is one of the oldest communities in what is now Fresno County having been founded as Scottsburg in 1854.  The Centerville community has historically been tied to the history of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road and the Squaw Valley Road.  The Squaw Valley Road would later be known as Dunlap Road and became a component of California State Route 180 in August 1934.  By the 1940s the corridor was renamed Kings Canyon Road in reference to Kings Canyon National Park.  For the majority of the life of California State Route 180 in Centerville, it has not strayed far from Kings Canyon Road.  This changed in 2020 when California State Route 180 was relocated onto the Kings Canyon Expressway.  This blog serves as an overview of the history of California State Route 180 and general evolution of highways in Centerville.  California State Route 180 can be seen passing through Centerville and Minkler below on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Fresno Count...
Post a Comment
Read more

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve - Thurmond

By
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is best known for whitewater rafting and other forms of adventure tourism.  Yet, found in the hollows and isolated valleys are quiet farms and former coal mining towns.  Well off the beaten path and isolated from much of its surroundings, Thurmond provides a unique view into Central West Virginia's industrial past. Thurmond began as a railroad town in the late 1800s.  Sparked by the arrival of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad and the local coal industry, Thurmond quickly grew into a sizeable transportation and coal center.  When it incorporated as a town in 1903, Thurmond was a full-fledged community - home to two banks, two hotels, and many other services and stores. A CSX freight train passes the old coaling tower in Thurmond.  It was here that many steam locomotives would refill and refuel. Thurmond was home to a C&O railyard which serviced the numerous steam engines passing through the narrow valley.  Thu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Buc-ee's - The Overzealous Beaver

By
If you've followed this website long enough, you know that we're not that impressed with Buc-ee's.  I shrugged when I visited the St. Augustine, Florida location in April 2022 .  It may have rustled a feather or two, but I did say I wasn't opposed to going to one again.  In fact, a few months later I did in Denton, Texas.  An old high school friend mentioned that they liked Buc-ee's for filling up their RV because of the space and the numerous gas pumps.  So, when I helped my brother move from Baton Rouge to Denver, and the U-Haul needed to be filled up, I must admit Buc-ee's was the perfect spot.  I have not been to a Buc-ee's since then. Recently, Buc-ee's has brought lawsuits against three smaller convenience store brands that have caught national attention.  Two in Ohio and one in Georgia. Teddy's Market's logo is the key to a legal battle between Buc-ee's and the small Georgia chain.  Teddy's is fighting back, calling Buc-ee's a...
Post a Comment
Read more