Drawing the Hawaiian Islands: Hawai'i

Not a very impressive sketch by anyone's standards, and later done than I promised myself, but it's a small exercise that will help in a lot of ways.

Choosing a map for drawing reference can be tricky. Not all maps of the islands are created equally, and I'm ever mindful--most mindful--of what resources would meet the approval of the kānaka maoli. I think that's more important to me than if a map is approved by a government organization.

So, instead of using a map from a .gov site, I chose to use Pukui's Place Names of Hawai'i. Can't go wrong with Pukui.

I never realized how difficult it is to draw geography! Really, the result must be as precise as possible, otherwise, it looks hokey and just wrong wrong wrong because it IS wrong wrong wrong.

That wouldn't matter so much, except I know how it feels to look at a map and see your particular city/region/area is not represented. It's a lot like looking at a class photo that you're not in, but you know you were there that day. "Where am I???"

So...to any kama'āina who may perchance look at this drawing and see that your area of the coast is not here...I deeply, deeply apologize: E kala mai!

Next...Maui.