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Kona Coffee Belt: Māmalahoa Highway, North and South Kona, Hawaii
Photo: Thomas Tunsch · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Hawaii Hawaiʻi Island

Kona Coffee Belt: Māmalahoa Highway

HI 180, Kuakini Highway, HI 11 · Kailua-Kona → Honalo

Twisty10.9 mi25 min1,000 ft climbHigh point ≈ 1,500 ftOne way
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The drive

The Māmalahoa Highway above Kailua-Kona is the old upland road through Kona coffee country. The drive starts on Highway 180 just south of the Palani Road junction and runs 10.9 miles south, with ocean views opening below through the trees. Along the way it passes Hōlualoa, an art village on the slopes of Hualālai, and the coffee towns of Kainaliu and Honalo.

Kona is known for 100% Kona coffee grown at elevation in cloudy volcanic soil, and the Hōlualoa area alone has hundreds of coffee farms, many with tours and tastings. The road is a quiet two-lane with frequent bends. It is rated twisty, though most of it is moderate, with a few tighter stretches.

The drive finishes at Honalo, where Highway 180 meets Highway 11, and the last couple of miles run on Highway 11 itself.

Along the way

  1. Kailua-Kona (Palani Road)
  2. Mamalahoa Highway
  3. Holualoa
  4. Honalo (Highway 11)
Elevation
1,000 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 1,500 ft
Kailua-KonaHonalo
Curves
Mostly moderate, with two twisty stretches
Kailua-KonaHonalo
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The upper road is a narrow two-lane with blind bends, and slow local and farm traffic is common.
  • Coffee farm tours and tastings keep their own hours, and November events such as the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival draw extra visitors to Hōlualoa and Kailua-Kona.
  • The last stretch is on Highway 11, a busier road than the upland lane.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Hawaii DOT: Hawaiʻi Island lane closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does the Kona coffee belt drive take?

The Māmalahoa Highway drive from Kailua-Kona to Honalo is 10.9 miles and takes about 25 minutes without stops.

Where is the Kona coffee belt?

It is the upland strip on the slopes of Hualālai above Kailua-Kona, along Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 180) through Hōlualoa to Kainaliu and Honalo.

Is the Māmalahoa Highway above Kona twisty?

Moderately. It has frequent bends and two tighter stretches, but the speeds are low and the climb is gentle, about 1,000 feet in all.

When is the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival?

It is held every November across the Kona district, mainly in Kailua-Kona and Hōlualoa, with farm tours and tastings.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Kona Coffee Belt: Māmalahoa Highway, from Kailua-Kona to Honalo