228 
From the Volcano House, at an elevation of 4,000 feet, the 
road drops at the rate of 300 feet to the mile, through 9 miles 
of primeval forest, then through 8 miles of bits of cultivated 
ground and patches of forest and 5 miles of cane field to the vil- 
lage of "Nine Miles," the headquarters of the Olaa Plantation. 
Here a branch road of excellent quality leading into Puna 
makes a fair day's automobiling and takes one into the land of 
myth and Hawaiian folk lore, the country of lava, forests and 
warm springs and beautiful stretches of forest. 
The main road from 9 miles to Hilo is a practically level grade 
with forest and cane field about evenly divided. 
Hilo has several side roads to points of interest well worth 
visiting. The Keaukaha road down the coast, the Kaumana and 
Piihonua roads which climb mountainwards, the latter passing the 
famous Rainbow Falls. 
From Hilo towards Hamakua an entirely different country is 
encountered. The even slope of the mountain is cut by deep 
gulches between which stretch the endless cane fields. The maxi- 
mum grade of the permanent roadway is 6 per cent, and with the 
exception of 3 miles at Honolii has all been put on a permanent 
location. 
The road follows close to the coast line, which is a cliff from 
100 to 600 feet high with wide detours up the gulches to get the 
grade. The boldness of the road location adds much to the charm 
of the drive, for the gulches are filled with tropical vegetation and 
forest, and the boom of the surf at the foot of the cliffs is never 
out of hearing. Thirty-one miles to Laupahoehoe and six miles to 
Ookala bring one to the boundary of Hamakua. 
Hamakua roads are of earth as yet, but except in continuous 
wet weather are excellent for travel. The road varies from an 
elevation of 800 feet to 1,100 feet above sea level and is from one 
to two miles from the coast. The average slope of the mountain 
side is about 12 per cent., so that the roadway continually over- 
looks a large section of country. 
At Honokaa the road turns inland and begins the climb to Wai- 
mea, first through the cane fields then through homesteads of 
coffee and fields into a forest of ohia and fern and then out onto 
the plains of Waimea. Ten miles across the plains, through herds 
of cattle, bring the traveler once more to Waimea. From Hono- 
kaa a branch of the main road follows along the coast about 12 
miles to Kukuihaele village, and ends at the top of the Waipio 
Pali. From Waipio to Xiulii, in Kohala, is a stretch of country 
as yet unconquered by the road builder. 
ROADS OX OAHU. 
The island of Oahu has largely confined its permanent road 
work to the City of Honolulu and its suburbs. Still an effort is 
being made to make a "hard road" of the belt road. Honolulu 
