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1915 Map of Honomu

Name: 1915 Topographic Map of Honomu
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

The steep Hamakua Coast of the Big Island is defined here by a series of parallel streams and gulches that carve through the volcanic slopes of North Hilo District and South Hilo District. Surveyed before the First World War, the landscape is organized around a network of flumes and sugar-related infrastructure, which were vital for transporting cane to the coastal mills. Coastal settlements like Honomu and Pepeekeo serve as industrial and social hubs, supported by specialized maritime infrastructure such as Pepeekeo Landing and Papaikou Landing.

Education and local life are anchored by institutions like Hakalau School and Pohakupuka School, while the shoreline features distinctive geological landmarks including the Onomea Arch. The dense network of watercourses, from the Maulua Stream to the Honolii Stream, illustrates the constant flow of water from the upper mountain reaches down to the Pacific Ocean, shaping both the topography and the agricultural economy of the era.