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1956 Map of Upper Piihonua

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Upper Piihonua
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Volcanic activity and high-elevation watersheds define this mid-century landscape on the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The terrain is a chronological record of eruptions, clearly delineating the Lava Flow of 1855, Lava Flow of 1881, and the more recent Lava Flow of 1942. These historical events cut across the Hilo Forest Reserve and the Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve, creating a complex patchwork of vegetation and raw volcanic stone.

Transportation through this demanding environment is anchored by the Saddle Road, which snakes between the volcanic fields. The hydrology of the region is centered on the Wailuku River and various drainages like Waipahoehoe Gulch. The presence of the Humuula Game Management Area and North Hilo District Forest Reserve reflects the 1950s approach to land management and conservation in the Hawaiian interior, while localized features like Waikoloa Ponds and a Water Tank indicate the vital importance of water resources in the rain-shadowed highlands.