I am sure there were many ways this was done, but the method I was familiar with was pretty basic. For context, the timeline was over 25 years ago in the rainforest of upper Puna.
Side branches were cut and placed in 3 pli garbage bags with the stems facing up. These bags were the strongest you could find and were doubled. The top foot or so of the garbage bags was rolled so it could be tied to other garbage bags. Garbage bags were placed over the upper back and shoulders for the hike out. Because it was typically raining or the plants were moist, the bags were never completely filled. It was also necessary to rotate or spin the bags while hiking out to keep the buds from being compacted. This step was necessary or else they would never dry right. It also helped because the Uluhe (Hawaiian fern), Hapu'u (tree fern) and other miscellaneous vegetation would catch the outer bag and sometimes cause small tears. This simple step kept the bags from ripping too much. The bags were also rotated to different shoulders to minimize back strain while hiking
Drying was simple. Large fan leaves were trimmed and Branches were hung on a string in a sealed room. A dehumidifier was turned on low setting and branches were dried until they would barely snap. At this stage, the buds were cut off the branches and trimed. There typically wasn't much to trim as the plants were sativa or mostly sativa. The plants most successful in the rainforest environment did not have alot of small leaves and were not indica thick, as those tended to get mold either directly or from grasshoppers eating and pooping on them.
Trimmed buds were vaccuum sealed and stored for several months before opening and smoking. The finished product was typically tobacco consistency.
Side branches were cut and placed in 3 pli garbage bags with the stems facing up. These bags were the strongest you could find and were doubled. The top foot or so of the garbage bags was rolled so it could be tied to other garbage bags. Garbage bags were placed over the upper back and shoulders for the hike out. Because it was typically raining or the plants were moist, the bags were never completely filled. It was also necessary to rotate or spin the bags while hiking out to keep the buds from being compacted. This step was necessary or else they would never dry right. It also helped because the Uluhe (Hawaiian fern), Hapu'u (tree fern) and other miscellaneous vegetation would catch the outer bag and sometimes cause small tears. This simple step kept the bags from ripping too much. The bags were also rotated to different shoulders to minimize back strain while hiking
Drying was simple. Large fan leaves were trimmed and Branches were hung on a string in a sealed room. A dehumidifier was turned on low setting and branches were dried until they would barely snap. At this stage, the buds were cut off the branches and trimed. There typically wasn't much to trim as the plants were sativa or mostly sativa. The plants most successful in the rainforest environment did not have alot of small leaves and were not indica thick, as those tended to get mold either directly or from grasshoppers eating and pooping on them.
Trimmed buds were vaccuum sealed and stored for several months before opening and smoking. The finished product was typically tobacco consistency.
My brother get choke stories about that time, he was a Ganja Farmer!! Good memories, aloha a hui hou 
Stayed there plenty times, when we would paddle on the west side. 
