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1962 Map of Ka Lae

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Ka Lae
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Ka Lae, the southernmost point of the Hawaiian Islands, anchors this coastal survey of the Kau District. The landscape is defined by its volcanic heritage and ancient cultural sites, including the Heiau o Kalalea near the point and Heiau o Molilele further inland. Evidence of the mid-20th-century geopolitical era is visible in the Pacific Missile Range Facility and a Coast Guard Reservation, which includes a Light and an Astronomic Station.

Along the rugged coastline, distinct geologic features like Puu o Mahana and the Mahana Bay indentation sit near small coastal settlements such as Papakolea and Hoonoua. Inland, the Kamaoa Homesteads are reached by a network of jeep trails and traditional trails, reflecting the rural ranching and residential patterns of the early 1960s. The presence of numerous named kīpuka, such as Kipuka Kaahue and Kipuka Kuniau, illustrates how lava flows from different eras have shaped the local terrain and land use.