The Bishop Museum is pleased to share a number of the maps of Henry E.P. Kekahuna. These maps are provided as an educational resource.

A complete list of the material can be found by clicking the Maps page .

You can also search for specific place names (Kailua, Holualoa, etc) or site types (hale, heiau, etc) by using our Search page.

Click on the map's thumbnail to see the full sized image. NOTE: The maps are scanned at high resolution so some scrolling may be required to view the complete image.

Contact Bishop Museum’s Library & Archives for information on reproductions and use of these and other Bishop Museum images.You can download an Order Form here.

Henry Enoka Palenapa Kekahuna, 1881-1969

Henry E.P. Kekahuna was a valued contributor to Bishop Museum’s records of traditional Hawaiian culture over the many years he assisted anthropologist Kenneth P. Emory. He made detailed records of numerous archaeological sites on Hawai‘i Island for the Museum and the National Park Service, and helped gather local lore from older Hawaiians.

Born on the island of Maui, Kekahuna was raised during a time when old traditions were still practiced, and he learned from kupuna who shared their many stories with him. Though he lost his right leg in an accident as a young man, this impediment did not keep him from exploring and mapping, first on Kaua‘i and later on Hawai‘i Island. His partner in many of these expeditions was Theodore Kelsey, another well-known scholar of Hawaiian culture. The two co-authored a series of articles on Hawaiian structures and traditional sites for local newspapers in the early 1950s.

Kekahuna complained about the reckless destruction of Hawaiian historic sites. His detailed maps are invaluable documents that preserved knowledge of sites that were quickly disappearing. He had a great interest in plants, and this passion is demonstrated in those of his illustrations that include minute details on the kinds of vegetation found next to structures in the area. 

Henry E.P. Kekahuna’s memories were recorded on audio tape by Dr. Emory in the Museum’s Hawaiian Hall in December 1956. This interview, articles written by Kekahuna, and his original site maps are housed at Bishop Museum‘s Library and Archives.