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Hawaii County Route 185

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Hawaii County Route 185 is an approximately 1.8-mile highway located on Kamehameha III Road near Kailua-Kona.  Said county route begins at Hawaii Route 11 and terminates at the waters of Keauhou Bay.  Kamehameha III Road was named due to be being located near the birthplace of the former 1825-1854 Kingdom of Hawaii ruler.  The highway was likely added the Hawaii County Route system during the late 1970s.   


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 County Route 185

Hawaii County Route 185 is aligned over Kamehameha III Road from Hawaii Route 11 south to Keauhou Bay.  Said Bay is where the birthplace of Kamehameha III can be found.  Kamehameha III was the second son of Kamehameha I and was the reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii from June 6, 1825, to December 15, 1854. 

Kamehameha III Road has been present since at least since the 1950s.  The corridor can be seen serving Keauhou Bay on the 1959 Gousha Highway map of Hawaii. 


Kamehameha III Road was likely added to the Hawaii County Route System in or around 1976 after Hawaii Route 11 south of Kailua-Kona was realigned onto an extension of Queen Kaahumanu Highway.  



Part 2; a drive on Hawaii County Route 185

Hawaii County Route 185 southbound begins at the intersection of Hawaii Route 11 and Kamehameha III Road south of Kailua-Kona.  Traffic is notified that Keauhou Bay is 2 miles away.  



Hawaii County Route 185 isn't marked with reassurance shields but rather Mile Markers with the route number.  The highway descends quickly from Hawaii Route 11 to an overlook of the Ohia Cave Historic Preserve.  The cave network was used by those seeking refuge from ancient Hawaiian wars along the coast.  











Hawaii County Route 185 continues south to Hawaii County Route 187 at Alii Drive.  




Hawaii County Route 185 continues south of Alii Drive and terminates at Keauhou Bay.  








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