The cartographic history of Hawaii began with the arrival of Captain James Cook, the famous explorer and chartmaker, in 1778. Between then and the mid-19th century, visitors to HawaiI produced a rich assortment of charts and maps depicting the shores, harbors, towns, and volcanoes of the various islands. This volume traces the story of the mapping of HawaiI during the pivotal years in which the indigenous society was radically transformed by the peoples and ideas imported from the West. Foreigners introduced the concept of mapmaking to HawaiI, and they made maps of the islands to satisfy the needs of maritime commerce, missionary endeavors, and scientific investigations. Nearly seventy maps, complemented by more than twenty views, portraits, and illustrations, are reproduced here. Included are many charts and harbor plans produced by such famous figures of naval history as James Cook, William Bligh, George Vancouver, Otto von Kotzebue, Urey Lisiansky, Jean Francois de la Pérouse, Louis Duperrey, and Charles Wilkes. These richly reproduced charts document the early geography of Honolulu, Lahaina, Hilo, and Kailua—the most...

The Early Mapping of Hawaii is an overview of the history of the mapping of Hawaii from the time of European discovery in 1778 through the mid-19th century. Mapmaking was not an art indigenous to Hawaii; foreigners were responsible for the introduction of mapmaking in the islands. For well over seventy years, mapping in Hawaii was largely carried out by Europeans or Americans, and the early maps of Hawaii were mostly made to serve the needs of those foreigners....