ABSTRACT
While the primary story of the mapping of Hawaii begins with the discussion of the manuscript charts from James Cook’s last voyage and subsequent engraved map in the official account, a secondary story that warrants attention concerns the presentation of Hawai’i on world and regional maps. The depiction of Hawai’i on world maps reflects in a small way the relationship of Hawai’i to the rest of the world. This chapter examines several aspects of the depiction of Hawai’i on world maps. It introduces two of the earliest cartographic representations of Hawai’i and explores the way in which Cook’s death at Kealakekua Bay was often integrated into the cartographic image of Hawai’i. The chapter presents world and regional maps to illustrate the source of a long running controversy—the allegation that the Spanish discovered Hawai’i before Cook’s arrival. Several thematic maps from the mid-19th century are provided to illustrate the first attempt at defining the oceanographic environment of Hawai’i.
