Facility Overview

The Ocean View Park and Ride Lot is a vital community transit and commuter parking hub situated at 92-1329 Prince Kuhio Boulevard in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates on the southern edge of the Big Island of Hawaii. Designed as an open-air surface parking facility, the lot serves local residents commuting toward Kona, South Kohala resorts, or Hilo, as well as travelers navigating the rural Kaʻū district along Highway 11 (Mamalahoa Highway). Because it is an unobstructed outdoor surface lot, there are no vertical clearance restrictions or low overhead decks, making it fully accommodating for oversized vehicles, high-roof cargo and camper vans, lifted 4x4 pickup trucks, and full-size SUVs commonly driven across the rugged terrain of the island.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Conveniently located near the primary entrance of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, this parking lot sits just moments from essential local amenities, commercial stops, and natural attractions:

• Ocean View Town Center & Kahuku Gift Shop: Located within a 2- to 5-minute walk (less than 0.3 miles), offering local grocers, convenience marts, hardware, and casual island eateries.
• Pohue Bay & Manuka State Wayside: Positioned within a 10- to 15-minute drive, offering scenic nature walks, endemic flora, and picnic pavilions.
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (Kahuku Unit): Situated approximately 10 miles east along Highway 11, providing weekend hikers with access to historic pasturelands and panoramic volcanic rift trails.
• South Point (Ka Lae): Located roughly 20 miles south, the southernmost point in the United States and Green Sand Beach (PapakŌlea) access point.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Vehicle entry and exit are straightforward via Prince Kuhio Boulevard, situated immediately off Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11). The intersection is easily navigated with clear sightlines, allowing smooth merging onto the highway even during early morning and late afternoon commute hours. The facility serves as a principal connection point for the County of Hawaiʻi's Hele-On Bus transit system, hosting scheduled stops for regional routes connecting Kaʻū to Kailua-Kona and the South Kohala resort corridor. This transit connectivity allows daily workers and travelers to leave their vehicles behind and access zero-fare or low-cost island-wide public bus transit.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-Air Surface Parking: Level asphalt and gravel paving accommodating a range of passenger cars, trucks, and high-clearance utility vehicles.
• Unrestricted Headroom: Completely open overhead clearance, ideal for vehicles with roof racks, surfboards, rooftop tents, or commercial ladders.
• Hele-On Bus Stop: Direct sheltered or curbside waiting zone for commuter bus lines traveling north and east.
• Free Public Access: Municipal commuter parking available at no charge to the general public.
• Designated Accessible Spaces: ADA-compliant parking stalls situated near transit boarding zones for seamless commuter access.

Ideal For

• Daily Resort and City Commuters: Workers heading to West Hawaii hospitality, retail, and construction jobs who carpool or take the Hele-On bus.
• Carpoolers and Ridesharers: Friends and colleagues meeting up to share rides across the long-distance rural highways of the Big Island.
• Outdoor Adventurers: Hikers and nature lovers staging excursions to the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park or nearby southern trails.
• Local Shoppers: Residents running errands at neighborhood markets, community posts, and dining spots clustered along Prince Kuhio Boulevard.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Because the lot is located in a rural volcanic district, drivers should remember that lighting is subdued in accordance with Big Island dark-sky ordinances. It is recommended to lock your vehicle, roll up all windows, and avoid leaving any valuables visible inside the cabin. While parking is free and unmetered, spaces are claimed on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early on weekday mornings ensures the best spots closest to the Hele-On bus boarding area. Drivers returning late at night should take caution when turning off Route 11 due to minimal street lighting and occasional fog or crossing wildlife.