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1954 Map of Kauai

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Kauai
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Kauai Island and its neighbors are detailed in this mid-century survey, compiled from early-1940s quadrangles and intelligence data through 1951. The map documents the primary settlements of Lihue, Hanalei, and Waimea, while also capturing the more remote Niihau Island with its settlement at Puuwai and the waters of Halulu Lake. A significant indicator of the era's changing economy is the Kilauea Sugar Plantation Railroad, noted here as dismantled, reflecting the decline of narrow-gauge rail transport in the sugar industry.

Military and maritime infrastructure is prominent, including the Barking Sands Military Reservation and critical navigation aids like the Kilauea Point Light. The island's interior is dominated by vast conservation areas such as the Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve, while the drainage of the Waimea River and Hanapepe River marks the rugged southern coast. Coastal features, including Wainiha Bay and Anahola Settlement, show the distribution of communities along the island's periphery.