1924 Map of Kalae

About this map

The southern tip of the Big Island, surveyed shortly after the turn of the century by Bishop Moorhead, is dominated by the massive paths of the Lava Flow of 1887 and Lava Flow of 1868. These volcanic events define the terrain of the Kahuku and Pakinui areas, creating a stark landscape where the earth's recent movements meet the Pacific Ocean. This coastal edge is marked by cultural and geological sites, including Ka Heiau o Molilele and Ka Heiau o Kalalea, indicating the spiritual and historical significance of the point. Around the Kamaoa Homesteads and along the Waiohinu Road, the land transitions into a pattern of early 20th-century settlement. Unique geological features like the water-filled Lua o Palahemo and the cinder cone at Puu o Mahana highlight the volatile nature of this Hawaiian coastline during the territorial era.