1981 Map of Makahalau

About this map

Mauna Kea Forest Reserve anchors the southeastern slopes of this 1981 survey, where the high-elevation terrain of Hawaii Island is defined by volcanic cones and steep drainage networks. The landscape is a complex of named peaks known as puu, including Puu Makahalau, Puu Huluhulu, and Puu Kliaina, which rise above the surrounding districts of South Kohala and Hamakua. The map reveals a land utilized for ranching and water management, evidenced by numerous corrals, water tanks, and windmills scattered across regions like Upper Paauhau and Kamoku. Deeply incised seasonal watercourses, such as Kuupahaa Gulch and Kemole Gulch, provide the primary structural lines of the terrain. A small Cem and the named area of Makahalau represent the sparse human footprint in this high-altitude environment, while the proximity of Nakoahoomaha and Palihoukapapa marks the cultural and physical boundary as the land ascends toward the summit of Mauna Kea.