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.
Also Thursday, Alii Drive will be closed from 7:30-8 a.m. between King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel and Hualalai Road for the annual Underpants Run.
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.