It was late in the afternoon and I was coming back from Waimea to Kailua-Kona. The sun was very low over the Kaniku Lava Flow, and I stopped on the side of the road in a lay by and climbed to the top of this hillock to see the surrounding area. The grassland stretched for miles all around. Much of the Pacific Ocean is lost in the blazing sun. To the north you can see the Kohala Mountains capped with a layer of cloud. Further round is the peak of Mauna Kea, partially obscured by more cloud. The Mauna Kea Observatory Complex is built on the top if this volcano. Between here and the peak of Mauna Loa (hidden in cloud) is a relatively flat valley along which the lava saddle road runs (most hire car permits do not allow you to drive down this road).

Kaniku Lava Flow - Hawaii Island visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Kaniku Lava Flow' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Hawaii.

Panorama showing the landscape over the Kaniku Lava Flow, a prehistoric lava flow crossed by the Mamalahoa Highway (H190) a little north of Pu'uanahulu on Hawaii Island. Between here is a lava flow that skirted Pu'uanahulu in 1859, reminder that Mauna Loa is still very much active. The road continues north from here to Waimea.

Travel and Getting There:
Take the H190 north from Kailua-Kona) past Pu'uanahulu