{"product_id":"old-map-of-hilo-hawaii-by-usgs-1963-hilo-bay-mauna-kea-rainbow-falls","title":"Old Map of Hilo, Hawaii by USGS, 1963 – Hilo Bay, Mauna Kea \u0026 Rainbow Falls","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHilo 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHilo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHilo Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWaimea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLiliuokalani Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoconut Island\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEast Hawaii Cultural Center\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHamakua Coast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAkaka Falls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMauna Kea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRainbow Falls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious roads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMilitary sites\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks and recreational areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForested areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMap title: \u003cem\u003eHilo\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Hilo, Hawaii, and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDated 1963, with a 1964 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey, a U.S. government scientific agency established in 1879 and known for detailed topographic and hydrographic mapping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows coastal regions, roads, parks, natural features, and the wider area around Hilo.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses color coding typical of USGS topographic maps, including red for urban areas and green for forested or agricultural land.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepicts elevation changes and landforms, including mountainous and coastal terrain characteristic of Hawaii.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a historical snapshot of Hilo and its surroundings in the early 1960s, reflecting urban development, land use, and geological features of the period.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClearly distinguishes urban and natural landscapes, emphasizing the geographical character of Hilo.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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 \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/de\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58800902111616,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_9cc2b330-5897-4f26-8524-c9fd723ff268.jpg?v=1787935960","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.ca\/de\/products\/old-map-of-hilo-hawaii-by-usgs-1963-hilo-bay-mauna-kea-rainbow-falls","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}