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1966 Map of Papaaloa

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Papaaloa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

The Hamakua Coast of Hawaii Island is defined by steep gulches and high coastal bluffs, as seen in this mid-1960s survey. The settlement of Laupahoehoe sits prominently on the shoreline, where the Tidal Wave Memorial serves as a somber reminder of the 1946 tsunami. Moving inland, the land rises sharply toward the Hilo Forest Reserve, cut by numerous parallel drainage systems including Laupahoehoe Stream and Maulua Stream.

Historically, this area was partitioned into numerous homestead tracts, such as Papaaloa Homesteads and Kamaee Homesteads, reflecting the plantation-era division of land for agricultural development. The Mamalahoa Highway serves as the primary artery connecting the coastal villages of Papaaloa, Ninole, and Hakalau. Along this corridor, essential local infrastructure like the Laupahoehoe Sch and several Cem sites provide valuable data for genealogists tracking families across the North and South Hilo Districts.