Long Description:"Vance" is located at the junction of Mauna Loa Access Road and the
"Hilo-Kona" Road. Around the 27 or 28 mile marker on Saddle Road,
turn South on the rough paved road that passes along the East side
of Pu'u Huluhulu. Follow this road across the saddle, through the
lava fields. Drive carefully, as the road is only one lane wide,
with blind corners, and may have unexpected cracks and potholes
despite recent repavement. The road is fine for any vehicle.
"Vance" is located at the first real fork in the road, and the
benchmark sits on top of the large lava outcrop at the southeast
corner of the intersection. It is shown by name on the USGS topo
map, although the topo map indicates the wrong location relative to
the roads! You will not miss the tall lava mound at the fork in the
road, though.
This is about where the northern slope of Mauna Loa blends into
the saddle. These roads cross numerous overlapping lava flows, each
of which has its own texture, color, and vegetation. The lava
fields look barren from a distance, but up close you will see
sparse forests, berry bushes and birds. You may also see feral
goats or mouflon/feral hybrid sheep near the road. There are lava
formations such as mounds, pits, lava tubes, etc in various places,
as well as many decades of historical debris scattered about.
"Vance" is also located at an interesting historical location.
The optimistically named "Hilo-Kona Road", heading straight West
from "Vance", actually WAS one of the early attempts to build a
road from Hilo to Kailua-Kona. It runs on almost a direct line
between the two towns, but never came close on either end. This
project was initiated as an offshoot of the Stainback Highway
project. Stainback Highway is the road higher up on Mauna Loa's
North face, which goes from the outskirts of Hilo to the summit of
Mauna Loa. The founder of the Kulani Honor Camp, Tom Vance (with
the help of later territorial governor Ingram Stainback), had grand
plans for the Eastern slopes of Mauna Loa and organized the prison
labor for these projects. First an access road was plowed down from
the present location of the communcation relays at 8300 feet
elevation on Stainback Highway, down to this spot which is about
equally 34 miles each way to Hilo and Kealakekua. Then then the
Hilo-Kona road was plowed West, straight as an arrow across the
lava. It was never completed because it ran out of money when the
project and its million dollar price tag became known to the
public.
The abandoned Hilo-Kona Road was dormant for a while, but
eventually became useful for a couple of different purposes. First,
in the 1960's a new road was built across the saddle, from the East
end of Hilo-Kona Road to Saddle Road, creating the Mauna Loa
(Access) Road. This new road allowed access to Mauna Loa
Observatory and the summit from Saddle Road. The Mauna Loa
Observatory staff had grown weary of their long commute up the
poorly maintained Stainback Highway, and the Kulani prison wanted
to be able to finally block Stainback at the prison boundaries for
good. Secondly, Hilo-Kona Road is used to provide an alternate
access to the Southeastern edge of the army's Pohakuloa Training
area, near Pu'u Koli and Koko'olau.
From "Vance" you can either continue up Mauna Loa Access Road to
Mauna Loa Observatory, and perhaps even the summit, or you can
instead follow the Hilo-Kona Road West to the boundary of Pohakuloa
Training area. Either route will allow you to appreciate the
volcanic landscape of Mauna Loa, and the sweeping views of the
saddle, Muana Kea, Hualalai and Maui.
For benchmark hunters, there are several more benchmarks located
to the West, along the Hilo-Kona road.