Hawaii County Route 148

Hawaii County Route 148 is a 4.8-mile highway comprising Wright Road and Amaunau Road near the community of Volcano. The corridor was added to the State Highway System as Hawaii Route 148 during 1961. The highway was intended to continue north of Volcano to Hawaii Route 200 at the Saddle Road but as ultimately never constructed and turned over Hawaii County in 1967. The highway today now serves as the only road access to the Puu Makaala Natural Area Reserve (which was designated in 1981).

The history of Hawaii County Route 148

Wright Road from Old Volcano Road north to Laukapu was part of the original Volcano community plot. Volcano Village was founded in 1894 following the improvement of Mamalahoa Highway (alternatively Old Volcano Trail) between Hilo and the Kilauea caldera. Early Volcano Village served as a stage station for travelers departing the Hilo Railroad station in Glenwood (starting in 1901). During 1916 the community would see a rise in prominence following Hawaii Volcanos National Park being declared. The Volcano Road of Mamalahoa Highway was improved to automotive standards with the installation of a concrete surface circa 1927-1928

The early Wright Road corridor can be seen in this original configuration on the 1924 United States Geological Survey map (courtesy historicaerials.com).

Hawaii Route 148 was added to the State Highway System by way of a 1961 Highway Department of Transportation document (courtesy Oscar Voss's hawaiihighways.com). The corridor was to be 4.8 miles originating at Hawaii Route 11 (then at what is now Old Volcano Road) in the Volcano area comprising Wright Road and Amaunau Road. The document specifies the highway was intended to continue another 14 miles north to the Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200).

Hawaii Route 148 can be seen on the 1964 United States Geological Survey map of Volcano (courtesy historicaerials.com).

Ultimately the road north of Volcano was never expanded to the Saddle Road. Hawaii Route 148 appeared in a 1967 Hawaii Department of Transportation document as being slated to be transferred to Hawaii County.

Upon being relinquished from the State Highway System Wright Road and Amaunau Road were designated as Hawaii County Route 148. During 1981 the Puu Makaala Natural Area Reserve as designated by the State of Hawaii. The reserve set aside the rainforest north of Volcano and is only accessible from the end of Amaunau Road.

The beginning of Hawaii County Route 148 can be seen below as it is currently signed from the modern alignment of Hawaii Route 11 in Volcano.

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