1977 Map of Volcano

About this map

Volcano and Glenwood anchor the inhabited sections of this orthophotoquad, which captures the unique landscape of the Big Island in the late 1970s. This aerial perspective, prepared in cooperation with the State of Hawaii, reveals the stark contrast between the dense vegetation of the windward slopes and the dark, flowing patterns of volcanic activity. The imagery is dominated by the massive depressions of the summit region, including the well-defined Kilauea Iki Crater and portions of the larger Kilauea Crater. Further down the rift zone, the map traces the distinct outlines of Keake Crater, Makaopuhi Crater, and Napau Crater. The structured road grids of the local settlements show the encroachment of human development onto the edges of this active geological area, providing a rare overhead view of the community layout before subsequent decades of change.