Pali Road was constructed in 1897 and opened to public traffic in 1898. The road is 8800 feet long and has an average grade of eight percent. The original survey was made by John H. Wilson under the supervision of William E. Rowell, Superintendent of Public Works, and W.W. Bruner, Highway Engineer, both of the Republic of Hawaii. Completion of the project was due to the vision and ability of John H. Wilson and Louis M. Whitehouse, who did the work under contract for the Republic of Hawaii.