1956 Map of Kamuela

About this map

Waimea (Kamuela PO) serves as the central hub on the Big Island in the mid-1950s, bridging the gap between the lush windward slopes and the dryer leeward lands. The map documents an intricate network of agricultural and ranching infrastructure, featuring the Parker Ranch Racetrack and various homestead allotments like Waimea Homesteads and Puukapu Homesteads. To the north, the steep, gulch-cut terrain of the Kohala Mountains is managed through the Kohala Forest Reserve. An impressive system of water management is visible through the Upper Hamakua Ditch and Lower Hamakua Ditch, which channel water across the rugged topography to support local settlements and ranch lands. Small communities like Kuhio Village and Puopelu are clearly marked alongside established transportation routes like Mamalahoa Highway, providing a snapshot of mid-century Hawaiian interior life and land use.