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1956 Map of Mauna Kea

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Mauna Kea
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Puu Wekiu and the high cinder cones of Mauna Kea Forest Reserve dominate this mid-century topographic survey. The landscape is defined by the unique volcanic geology of the summit, including the high-altitude Lake Waiau and the culturally significant Keanakakoi (Ancient Quarry). These features reflect a legacy of traditional resource gathering at extreme elevations, long before the proliferation of modern observatories.

Lower elevations transition from cinder-strewn slopes to forested reaches, where isolated structures like the Hale Pohaku Ranger Station and Kahinahina Forest Cabin served forestry and research efforts in the 1950s. A network of footpaths and tracks, including the Mauna Kea Trail and Humuula Trail, connects the various pu‘u peaks such as Puu Hau Kea and Puu Makanaka, tracing the same routes used for generations across the Hamakua District and North Hilo District.