1954 Map of Paia

About this map

The sugarcane industry's complex social and physical infrastructure dominates this coastal region of Maui. A network of labor settlements, many designated by name or number such as Spanish Village and Village 8, surrounds the central Sugar Mill and Puunene operations. This industrial landscape is supported by a sophisticated water management system, including the Lowrie Ditch and Hamakuapoko Ditch, which redirect water across the volcanic slopes to the plantations. Social institutions of the mid-century are well-represented by the Maui Childrens Home, Baldwin Memorial Home, and Maunaolu College. Coastal features like the Kanaha Pond Waterfowl Refuge and Hookipa Park provide a natural contrast to the grid of the Kahului Airport and the numerous railroad lines that once transported cane from the fields to the processing centers. The map also captures the early footprints of coastal communities at Lower Paia and Kuau before modern development.