Published in 1964 from 1963 mapping, the US Geological Survey’s “Hilo” presents one of Hawai‘i Island’s most storied coastal cities with the clarity and precision of mid-century American topographic cartography. At 1:24,000 scale, the map draws the viewer into the meeting point of town, bay, rainforest, and volcanic terrain. Hilo appears not merely as a settlement, but as a landscape shaped by water and elevation: streets and developed areas are set against the curving shore of Hilo Bay, while contours and green land classifications reveal the island’s lush, rising interior. The USGS color language is immediately legible, with red emphasizing urban fabric and transportation, and green marking forested or agricultural ground.

The US Geological Survey, established in 1879, became the authoritative American institution for mapping landforms, waterways, mineral resources, and later the standardized topographic quadrangles that defined a generation’s understanding of place. In Hawai‘i, that mission carried particular significance: the islands’ volcanic foundations, steep gradients, heavy rainfall, and fast-changing shorelines demanded exacting survey work. This Hilo sheet belongs to that tradition of scientific observation rendered as elegant cartography. Its measured contours, road classifications, drainage patterns, and land-use colors reflect both the practical needs of engineers and planners and the broader geographic curiosity of an era when Hawai‘i, newly admitted as a state in 1959, was being documented within the national mapping framework.

Hilo itself occupies a remarkable position on the windward side of Hawai‘i Island, facing a broad bay and backed by rainforest, waterfalls, and the immense volcanic massifs beyond. The map evokes the city’s intimate relationship with water: coastal margins, streams, and low-lying urban areas form a fine-grained pattern around Hilo Bay. Nearby landmarks such as Liliʻuokalani Park and Coconut Island speak to the city’s civic and cultural life, while the surrounding green expanses suggest the botanical abundance for which the region is famous. Inland, the terrain begins its ascent toward the great uplands associated with Mauna Kea, a reminder that Hilo’s maritime setting is inseparable from the island’s volcanic architecture.

As a historical document, the map captures Hilo during a formative moment in the early 1960s. The city had endured devastating tsunamis in 1946 and 1960, events that reshaped local planning, waterfront development, and public consciousness. A topographic map from this period therefore offers more than streets and contours: it preserves evidence of an urban landscape negotiating risk, recovery, and modernization. Roads, parks, military designations, recreational spaces, and built-up districts all hint at the civic priorities of the time. The balance between red urban mapping and green surrounding land reveals a community expanding within a dramatic natural setting, yet still sharply defined by coast, slope, vegetation, and hydrology.

The broader region evoked by the Hilo quadrangle includes some of East Hawai‘i’s most evocative natural and cultural associations. The Hamakua Coast stretches northward with its ravines, plantations, and ocean cliffs; Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls belong to the waterfall-rich landscape fed by persistent trade-wind rains; and Waimea and Mauna Kea mark the island’s contrasting upland world of ranchlands, observatories, and volcanic summits. The map’s disciplined USGS design allows these larger geographic relationships to be understood through practical symbols: contour lines, drainage networks, colored land cover, roads, and place names. It is a poised fusion of science and scenery, presenting Hilo as both a precise surveyed locality and a gateway to Hawai‘i Island’s elemental grandeur.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Hilo
• Hilo Bay
• Waimea
• Liliuokalani Park
• Coconut Island
• East Hawaii Cultural Center
• Hamakua Coast
• Akaka Falls
• Mauna Kea
• Rainbow Falls
• Various roads
• Military sites
• Parks and recreational areas
• Forested areas

Historical context & cartographic details

• Map title: Hilo
• Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Hilo, Hawaii, and the surrounding area.
• Dated 1963, with a 1964 imprint.
• Published by the US Geological Survey, a U.S. government scientific agency established in 1879 and known for detailed topographic and hydrographic mapping.
• Shows coastal regions, roads, parks, natural features, and the wider area around Hilo.
• Uses color coding typical of USGS topographic maps, including red for urban areas and green for forested or agricultural land.
• Depicts elevation changes and landforms, including mountainous and coastal terrain characteristic of Hawaii.
• Provides a historical snapshot of Hilo and its surroundings in the early 1960s, reflecting urban development, land use, and geological features of the period.
• Clearly distinguishes urban and natural landscapes, emphasizing the geographical character of Hilo.

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 16x20in (40x50cm) 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.