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1983 Map of Waialeale

Name: 1983 Topographic Map of Waialeale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Waialeale and the towering peak of Kawakini dominate this central Kauai landscape, marking one of the wettest spots on earth during the early 1980s. The terrain is defined by a radial drainage system where the Wainiha River, Hanalei River, and the forks of the Wailua River descend from the high interior plateaus. The hydrological complexity of the island is visible through numerous gaging stations and infrastructure like the Upper Powerhouse and Lower Powerhouse, connected by an intricate system of ditches and flumes near the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve.

The presence of the Alakai Swamp and the sheer cliffs of the Makaleha Mountains illustrate the primary wilderness character of the island's heart. Scattered throughout the deep canyons are numerous named cascades, including Hinalele Falls, Manawaiopuna Falls, and Uhau Iole Falls. This survey also documents the intersection of several historic land divisions, including the Hanalei, Waimea, and Kawaihau districts, which meet at these central summits.