M-212 begins at an intersection with Second Street and the Tromble Trail north of the Aloha State Park entrance gate.

[3][4] The community was originally a stop on the Detroit and Mackinac Railway, named after a trip to Hawaii by the local sawmill owner.

The railroad right-of-way is now the North Eastern State Trail, which M-212 crosses along Center Street in Aloha.

[3][4] According to the Lansing State Journal, "most people could walk the darn thing in about 20 minutes.

"[6] The Michigan State Highway Department assigned the M-212 designation to its current alignment from what was then US 23 on December 29, 1937.