02-08-2014, 07:24 AM
I can't really recall, James. I just know that when I was sent to report on the September 1977 eruption above Kalapana, the new road had not yet opened. I think the road within the park must have been financed by the feds since that was within the national park but it wasn't the primo highway that opened in 1979. And I think Hwy 130 entry into the park near Waha'ula was county road, essentially paving over traditional trails there.
In the old days, wagons were used to carry Hawaiian tree ferns that were harvested for their soft fibrous material (pulu) that was exported for use in mattresses and pillows. Mary Pukui said the Hawaiians also used pulu for funerary practice, putting pulu in place of organs removed from the dead. So there were substantial but unpaved "country roads" in much of the areas since overrun by the current on-going eruption.
In the old days, wagons were used to carry Hawaiian tree ferns that were harvested for their soft fibrous material (pulu) that was exported for use in mattresses and pillows. Mary Pukui said the Hawaiians also used pulu for funerary practice, putting pulu in place of organs removed from the dead. So there were substantial but unpaved "country roads" in much of the areas since overrun by the current on-going eruption.