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The Northwest Coast of the Big Island

Rare map of a portion of the northwestern coastline of the Big Island based upon the work of Louis-Isidore Duperrey.

The map extends from Hahina to just south of the Village De Kohai-Hai, showing the Maison du Roi and Morai du Roi.  Centered on the bay that includes Pu'ukohola Heiau, Pua Ka 'Ilima 'O Kawaihae and Kawaihae Harbor.  

The map is based upon the surveys taken by Louis-Isidore Duperrey, who participated in the Louis de Freycinet's second circumnavigation. In 1817, Freycinet set sail on his second major voyage on the Uranie, in which Louis Isidore Duperrey, Jacques Arago, Adrien Taunay the Younger, and others, went to Rio de Janeiro to take a series of pendulum measurements. As well, was a larger scheme for obtaining observations, not only in geography and ethnology, but in astronomy, terrestrial magnetism, and meteorology, and for the collection of specimens in natural history. The voyage lasted for 3 years, visiting Australia, the Mariana Islands, Hawaiian Islands, and other Pacific islands, South America, and other places, and, notwithstanding the loss of the Uranie on the Falkland Islands during the return voyage, returned to France with fine collections in all departments of natural history, and with voluminous notes and drawings of the countries visited.

The results of this voyage were published under Freycinet's supervision in monumental work of 17 volumes, with the title of Voyage autour du monde fait par ordre du Roi sur les corvettes de S. M. l'Uranie et la Physicienne, pendant les années 1817, 1818, 1819 et 1820, consisting of 13 quarto volumes and 4 folio volumes of plates and maps.

The map was first issued in the atlas to accompany Freycient's voyage and was also issued as a separate sheet, with a price.  The title of the separate map includes the parenthetical statement as follows:  Plan De La Rade De Kayakakoua (ou Kairua du No. 1151 et Tyetatooa du No. 573) sur l'ile Owhyhi Leve et dresse P ar Mr. L.I. Duperrey, Officer de Marine, Embarque sur la Corvette du Roi l'Uranie. Auot 1819