KAILUA-KONA — Allowing extra time to arrive at your destination during the Ironman World Championship triathlon is a given, but knowing ahead which roads are open is a necessity because some roads will be closing earlier and some later than last year.
Access to the majority of downtown Kailua-Kona and the Kona and Kohala coasts will remain closed to drivers for much of the weekend. Roads begin closing as early as 6 a.m. Thursday; some closures remain in effect until Sunday afternoon. Here is a breakdown of the closures during the triathlon:
At the pier:
• Kailua Pier and Kaahumanu Place access is restricted to vehicles bearing an Ironman pier pass from 6 a.m. Thursday until 2 p.m. Sunday.
On Alii Drive:
• The section of road between Likana Lane and Kailua Pier will be closed from 9 a.m. Thursday until 2 p.m. Sunday. The section from Likana Lane to Hualalai Road will be closed from 9 a.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. Sunday. Alii Drive will be closed between Hualalai Road and Laaloa Avenue from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
On Hualalai Road:
• The section of road between Alii Drive and Kuakini Highway will be closed from 6:30 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Access to parking areas will be restricted.
On Kuakini Highway:
• On Saturday, the section between Palani Road and Makala Boulevard will be closed from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; traffic won’t be allowed on the stretch between Palani and Hualalai roads from 6:30 a.m. to noon with southbound lanes in the area closing at 10 a.m. and remaining closed until 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The section of road between Palani Road heading south toward Kahakai Estates will only be open to local traffic from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
On Palani Road:
• The section of road between Kailua Pier and King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel will be closed from 6 a.m. Thursday to 2 p.m. Sunday. The area between the hotel and Kuakini Highway will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday. The makai-bound lanes of Palani Road between Kuakini and Queen Kaahumanu highways will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. Sunday. Mauka-bound lanes on Palani Road between the two highways will be closed from 6:30 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.
On Makala Boulevard:
• The stretch of road between Kuakini and Queen Kaahumanu highways is closed from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
All four lanes of Queen Kaahumanu Highway will be closed in the following areas:
• Henry Street to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority will be closed from 6:30 a.m. Saturday to 12:30 a.m. Sunday. An alternate route to traverse from Palani Road to Hina Lani Drive is Ane Keohokalole Highway.
• From NELHA to Kawaihae Road, the highway will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Those traveling to the airport on Saturday should use Kaiminani Drive and those traveling to resorts should use Waikoloa Road.
• Akoni Pule Highway, between its junction with Kawaihae Road and Hawi, will be closed between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Access to Hawi is via Kohala Mountain Road from Waimea.