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Maps by State: Cartographic Resources for Hawaii

This resource guide provides an overview of maps, atlases, and other cartographic resources for the state of Hawaii which are available in the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress.

Introduction

Hawaii, the westernmost state in the United States and the only one to consist completely of islands, possesses a unique geography. The Hawaiian archipelago contains 8 major islands, more than 100 smaller islands, numerous reefs, and 4 active volcanoes. As of the 2020 Census, the state was home to 1,455,271 people.

This guide introduces researchers to resources relating to Hawaii in the Geography and Map Division. It is far from exhaustive, but is meant to provide an overview and a jumping-off point for further research. In addition to highlighting specific materials from the collection, this guide will provide information on searching for maps of Hawaii in the Geography and Map Division collections. For further information on these materials, please contact us via Ask a Librarian.

Post route map of the Hawaiian Islands showing post offices and mail routes in operation on the 1st of March, 1901
United States. Post Office Department. Post route map of the Hawaiian Islands. 1901. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

Overview of the Guide

This research guide is organized into sections describing maps, atlases, rare materials and special collections, digital collections, reference resources, and external resources. Selected materials in each category are highlighted. Wherever possible, entries include a link to the item's bibliographic record in the Library of Congress online catalog. For items which have been scanned, a link to the image in the online map collections is included as well.

Maps in each section of the guide are listed in call number order, representing how they are filed in the Geography and Map Division stacks. Each entry attempts to identify the item's title, place of publication, name(s) of its creator(s), publication date, scale, and filing location within the Geography and Map Division. Reference materials include gazetteers, historical dictionaries, publications on the historical geography of the region, etc. External websites and databases supply additional cartographic information.

Resources described in this guide relate to Hawaii both pre- and post-statehood. Hawaii became a state on August 21, 1959, and materials published since that date typically cover the state within its modern boundaries. Historical materials encompass all or part of the region of the United States Territory of Hawaii (1898-1959); the Republic of Hawai'i (1894-1898); the Kingdom of Hawai'i (until 1894); and earlier European explorations in the Hawaiian islands.