1977 Map of Kealakekua

About this map

Kealakekua and its surrounding coastal settlements are captured here during the late 1970s via high-altitude aerial photography. This orthophotoquad provides a clear visual of the transition from the volcanic shoreline to the upland agricultural and residential belts. The map reveals the development patterns of Kahaluu and Keauhou along the Kona Coast, showing how roads and structures began to hug the rugged terrain. Further inland, the settlements of Holualoa and Honalo sit within a landscape marked by diverse vegetation and property boundaries, reflecting the area's coffee-growing heritage and residential expansion. This specific perspective from 1977 offers researchers a rare look at the exact footprint of buildings and the dense canopy of the Kona forest before modern development intensified.