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1982 Map of Ka Lae

Name: 1982 Topographic Map of Ka Lae
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Ka Lae, the southernmost point of Hawaii, is documented here in a detailed survey updated through the early 1980s. The landscape is defined by its volcanic heritage and cultural depth, featuring numerous cinder cones such as Puu o Mahana and ancient religious sites like Heiau o Kalalea and Heiau o Molilele near the rocky coastline. The interior is marked by the Kamaoa Homesteads and a network of water tanks and corrals, suggesting a ranching economy sustained on the leeward slopes of the island.

Strategic and maritime installations are prominent at the tip of the island, including the Coast Guard Reservation and South Point AFS. Coastal features like Kaalualu Bay and Mahana Bay indent the shoreline, while the presence of an Astronomic Station and Light at the point underscores the importance of this location for navigation and scientific observation. The map provides a look at the intersection of traditional land use and modern infrastructure at this geographic extremity.