Titled “Paia,” this US Geological Survey topographical map presents the north shore of Maui as recorded in 1954, with a later 1971 imprint, offering a layered glimpse of Hawaii during a pivotal era of transition. At a detailed 1:24,000 scale, the map centers on Paia, a coastal town whose identity was shaped by plantation agriculture, maritime winds, and the rhythms of rural Maui life. The Pacific shoreline forms a dramatic northern edge, while roads, trails, cultivated lands, ponds, and settlement patterns reveal a landscape still deeply tied to sugar cane and local community networks. Before the full force of late twentieth-century tourism reshaped the island, this map captured a more agricultural, working Maui.

The mapmaker, the United States Geological Survey, brought to this Hawaiian sheet the precision and authority that made its quadrangles indispensable to scientists, planners, engineers, and travelers. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s premier agency for systematic mapping, using standardized symbols, contour intervals, hydrographic detail, and cultural markings to create an exacting portrait of the land. Here, that federal cartographic discipline is applied to a distinctly Pacific landscape, where volcanic slopes, coastal plains, cane fields, and shoreline settlements meet. The result is both utilitarian and quietly elegant: a mid-century scientific document that reads as a finely grained record of terrain, infrastructure, and human occupation.

Paia itself appears not as an isolated village but as part of a wider constellation of north Maui places, including Kuau, Spreckelsville, Haiku, and the approaches toward Kahului Airport. These names evoke the island’s plantation economy, its expanding transportation systems, and the enduring importance of small communities along the coast and uplands. Spreckelsville, historically tied to sugar magnate Claus Spreckels and Maui’s irrigation-driven agricultural development, anchors the map in the story of industrialized cane cultivation. Haiku suggests a greener, wetter district beyond the immediate shore, while Kuau marks the coastal margin near waters known today for wind, surf, and ocean culture.

The topographical character of the map is especially compelling. Contour lines articulate the rise from the Pacific coast toward Maui’s interior, allowing the viewer to sense the island’s volcanic structure beneath its roads and fields. Ponds and water bodies punctuate the cultivated landscape, while drainage lines and shoreline forms show how rainfall, terrain, and sea have shaped habitation. The cartographic language is crisp and purposeful: roads are differentiated by type, trails and minor routes thread through agricultural lands, and symbols distinguish built features from natural forms. It is a portrait of place rendered through elevation, access, water, and land use.

Historically, this map is valuable for what it preserves of mid-twentieth-century Maui before resort development, suburban expansion, and changing agricultural economics altered the north shore. Sugar cane fields and agricultural areas dominate much of the mapped environment, reminding us that Paia and its neighboring communities were once embedded in a plantation landscape supported by mills, irrigation, labor camps, rail and road links, and port connections. Kahului Airport’s presence signals the growing importance of air travel, even as the surrounding geography still reflects an older rural order. In this balance between cane country, coastline, and emerging modern infrastructure, “Paia” captures a remarkable moment in Maui’s evolving history.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Paia
• Spreckelsville
• Kahului Airport
• Haiku
• Kuau
• Various lakes and ponds indicated
• Coastline along the Pacific Ocean
• Multiple roads and trails, including major highways
• Sugar cane fields
• Agricultural areas
• Notable nearby landmarks, including possible historical sites, local communities, and features

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Paia, Hawaii, and the surrounding area.
• The map is dated 1954 and carries a 1971 imprint.
• The mapmaker is the US Geological Survey (USGS), a scientific agency of the U.S. federal government known for geospatial data and mapping services.
• The map features clear topographical representation using contour lines, shading, and symbols to denote terrain and physical features.
• It displays natural features such as coastal areas, hills, and water bodies, emphasizing the geographic contours of the region.
• The map reflects mid-20th-century Hawaii before major tourism development and later changes in land use.

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.