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1995 Map of Kamuela

Name: 1995 Topographic Map of Kamuela
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1998
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1998

About this map

Waimea serves as the focal point of this mid-1990s survey, showing a landscape defined by ranching heritage and critical water management. The community of Kuhio Village and the Hawaii Prep Academy campus sit near the base of the Kohala Mountains, where the intricate engineering of the Upper Hamakua Ditch and Lower Hamakua Ditch systems move water through the high country. These waterworks, along with Waikoloa Reservoir No. 1 and Waikoloa Reservoir No. 2, illustrate the long-standing effort to harness the heavy rainfall of the Kohala Forest Reserve for the drier leeward slopes.

Numerous volcanic cinder cones, or pu’u, such as Hokuula, Puu Pelu, and Puu Ohu, dominate the topography, providing distinctive local landmarks for residents of Waiaka and Puopelu. The map reveals the layout of the Parker Ranch area, including the Parker Ranch Racetrack and the transition into the Kohala Natural Area Reserve. This document preserves the spatial arrangement of the island's cattle country before further modern development altered the foothills.