Published in 1928 under the title “Kailua,” this U.S. Geological Survey map presents the west coast of Hawai‘i Island at a revealing moment before the modern transformation of Kailua-Kona. Drawn at the practical and finely observant scale of 1:62,500, it captures the relationship between sea, settlement, lava slopes, and upland terrain with the disciplined clarity for which the USGS became renowned. Kailua Bay anchors the composition, its sheltered curve set against the vast Pacific Ocean, while the land rises inland toward the volcanic mass of Hualālai. The map is especially evocative as a pre-tourism portrait of Kona, showing a coastal landscape still defined more by terrain, trails, agricultural lands, and scattered communities than by resorts, highways, and contemporary infrastructure.

The U.S. Geological Survey, part of the Department of the Interior, brought to Hawai‘i the same rigorous topographic methods it had developed across the continental United States. In the early twentieth century, USGS mapping was not merely descriptive; it was foundational, supporting land management, engineering, navigation, resource study, and scientific understanding. Here, contour lines articulate the hilly and volcanic topography with quiet precision, tracing the gradients that shape settlement and movement along the Kona coast. A subtle yellow tint enriches the reading of the land, distinguishing topographic character and lending the map a period elegance. The result is both technical and atmospheric: a landscape measured by government science, yet still resonant with the drama of lava-built shores and mountainous interiors.

Kailua-Kona occupies a place of deep cultural and historical significance in Hawai‘i, and this map situates it within the larger geography that made the district so important. The coastline south toward Kealakekua Bay and Hōnaunau evokes an older world of royal centers, sacred places, fishing grounds, and canoe landings. The area now associated with Pu‘uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park was long a place of refuge and ritual, while Kealakekua Bay remains inseparable from both Native Hawaiian history and the encounter with Captain James Cook. By presenting these lands before the later overlay of mass tourism, the map offers a rare geographic context for understanding Kona as a cultural landscape, not simply a destination.

The topographic character of the sheet is particularly compelling. Inland from Kailua Bay, the terrain climbs steadily into the slopes of Hualālai, one of the great volcanoes of Hawai‘i Island, whose presence governs drainage, soil, settlement, and climate. The map’s contouring reveals the unevenness of the volcanic surface: ridges, gullies, lava flows, and unnamed valleys descending toward the sea. These physical forms help explain the pattern of the Kona Coffee Belt, where elevation, rainfall, and volcanic soils created one of the world’s distinctive coffee-growing regions. Agricultural lands appear as part of a broader ecological stairway, from coastal dryness to cooler uplands, making the map a subtle guide to the environmental foundations of Kona’s economy and identity.

Viewed today, “Kailua” is also striking for what came later. The coastal zone north of Kailua-Kona now includes places associated with Kona International Airport, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Makalawena Beach, and expanding residential corridors such as Kaiminani Drive—names that speak to the region’s twentieth- and twenty-first-century growth. In 1928, however, the map records a quieter geography, before the large-scale resort development, airport access, and population density that reshaped West Hawai‘i. Its coastal outlines, elevations, and sparse place names preserve the underlying structure beneath modern Kona: the bays, lava plains, volcanic slopes, and ancient land divisions that continue to define the island. As a historical document, it is both a scientific survey and a window into a Kona on the edge of profound change.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Kailua-Kona
• Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
• Kailua Bay
• Kona International Airport
• Hualālai volcano
• Kealakekua Bay
• Lahaina
• Kaiminani Drive
• Makalawena Beach
• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
• Kona Coffee Belt
• Pacific Ocean
• Various unnamed valleys and agricultural lands

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:62,500 topographical map shows Kailua-Kona in Hawaii and the surrounding area.
• Published in 1928.
• Created by the US Geological Survey, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior known for surveying and mapping the United States’ landscapes.
• The map utilizes contour lines to depict elevation changes, with a yellow tint indicating different topographic features.
• Its cartographic style reflects USGS methodology and standards in the early 20th century.
• The map is highly detailed, showing hilly terrain, elevation changes, and coastal outlines.
• It provides a snapshot of the Kailua-Kona landscape before significant urban development and tourism infrastructure transformed the region.
• Later changes in the area include the growth of resorts and increased population density.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x16in (40x40cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.