Mauna Loa erupting

[MyManao]

don’t you think there might be more to the decision than “easier to grade”?

The original saddle road..

From.. http://www.saddleroad.com/archived/index.html

In 1943, the original Saddle Road was built as a gravel roadway first constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the US Army Corps of Engineers for access to the island’s interior in the event of a Japanese invasion during World War II. Then in 1949 the Saddle Road was completed as a paved road.

In other words the motive wasn't best alignment, but quickest, because it was a part of our response to Pearl Harbor...