1994 Map of Waikoloa Ponds

About this map

Lava Flow of 1855 and other nineteenth-century eruptions dominate this landscape on the windward slopes of the Big Island. The map reveals the dramatic intersection of volcanic history and hydrology, where the Wailuku River and Waipahoehoe Gulch carve through prehistoric and historic basalt fields. To the south, the Upper Waiakea Forest Reserve and the specialized Upper Waiakea Bog Sanctuary indicate a transition into high-elevation wetlands, a sharp contrast to the stark lava fields. This area serves as a critical water catchment, noted by the Hilo Forest Reserve Hilo Closed Watershed and scattered Gaging Stations. Evidence of early transportation and land division is found in the path of the Saddle Road and designated areas like Piihonua and Kaumana, which mark the upper reaches of Hilo's traditional land districts.