1916 Map of Waipio

About this map

Deep volcanic drainages define the landscape of the Kohala District and Hamakua District on the northern coast of Hawaii. During this era of burgeoning agriculture, water management was paramount, as evidenced by the engineering of the Kohala Ditch, Upper Hamakua Ditch, and Lower Hamakua Ditch, which redirected vital resources from the windward valleys to the drier leeward slopes. The settlement at Waipio and the industrial hub at Kukuihaele anchor the coastline, where the Pacific Sugar Mill processed cane for export via the Kukuihaele Landing. Inland, the map reveals the transition to ranching and homesteading, showing the Waimea Homesteads and Dairy Camp near the base of the Kohala Mountain and its surrounding forest reserves. Tracing the Waimea-Kona Road and various coastal trails highlights the connectivity between isolated sugar camps and the central upland plains.