Hi all — thanks for the comments and discussion. A few people correctly pointed out that calling these maps "hand-painted" was misleading, and that’s correct. The previous version of the map, which I replaced a few days ago, was entirely hand-painted. These new maps are mixed-media...probably about 80% Adobe Fresco (a tablet drawing app), but both also incorporate physical watercolor and Copic marker layers that I scanned into the final artwork. Most of my maps are still primarily hand-painted, with just place names in Photoshop. My Cuba map is probably a better example of that approach. The goal of this update wasn't about art...I wanted maps that better tell the full story of the Hawaiian Islands. The history and geography of all those atolls and maps are fascinating, and I do geek out/recommend a Google Earth/Wikipedia rabbit hole of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands for anyone interested in remote islands.
Finally, someone who likes to geek out about the Hawaiian islands the same way I do.
I am in no way qualified to critique cartography, but I would like to give some constructive criticism as someone who used to live there. A few of the labels imply the island is in a different spot.
For instance Mokuhoʻoniki is to the east of Molokai, but it appears to be to its north in your map.
I am glad you included some of the bathymetric info in the map, as it reveals a lot about how the islands formed and what they might have looked like in the past. (Check out “Maui Nui”). The downside is that some of the seamounts imply many small above sea level islands exist. For instance, it looks like there are a tiny smattering of islands to the southwest of the Big Island around Kuhulu Rock. But those seamounts are unrelated to the Hawaiian hotspot and are deeply submerged. The reason I noted Mokuhoʻoniki is because that appears to be where the Tuscaloosa Seamount is located.
That seamount is fascinating in and of itself, is it is actually a massive fragment of the Koʻolau mountain that slid into the sea millions of years ago.
I’d be thrilled to talk more about your map, and provide any more interesting details. The last thing I’d like to add is that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have Hawaiian names as well. You may be interested in providing those names. For instance, the Gardner Pinnacles is known as Pūhāhonu.
Thank you so much for the feedback...yes, I want to work on a more precise pass and fix some of the issues and Hawaiian names. Is there a way we can get in touch by email? Or send me a note here and I'll write you back: https://www.notesfromtheroad.com/about/contact.html
I didnt intend this to be for sale, but later this summer, if I don't have a print for sale, I'll send you the hi-res to print yourself. Thanks for being interested!
I appreciate that you made that, when I lived in Hawaii for half a year I was surprised to learn that seafaring people and other travellers were going to places I couldn’t see on the base Google map. You had to zoom in and know where to.
You may be intrigued by a channel between Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe named “Kealaikahiki”, which translates to “The road to Tahiti”. Following the direction of the channel will lead to Tahiti. I find this fascinating because voyages between the Hawaiian islands and the rest of Polynesia appeared to have stopped, or became very rare, after the initial settlement. How incredible is it that the name of a place retains such a connection to the rest of the world?
What a fantastic site. I got in for the Hawai'i maps and stayed and browsed the entire site, reading thru various blog posts. Loved the Iceland journey to see the Puffins. <3
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[ 7.4 ms ] story [ 47.8 ms ] threadAnd the font used seems very familiar so I assume the text was added during the digital manipulation phase?
I am in no way qualified to critique cartography, but I would like to give some constructive criticism as someone who used to live there. A few of the labels imply the island is in a different spot.
For instance Mokuhoʻoniki is to the east of Molokai, but it appears to be to its north in your map.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/21%C2%B008'00.7%2522N+156%...
I am glad you included some of the bathymetric info in the map, as it reveals a lot about how the islands formed and what they might have looked like in the past. (Check out “Maui Nui”). The downside is that some of the seamounts imply many small above sea level islands exist. For instance, it looks like there are a tiny smattering of islands to the southwest of the Big Island around Kuhulu Rock. But those seamounts are unrelated to the Hawaiian hotspot and are deeply submerged. The reason I noted Mokuhoʻoniki is because that appears to be where the Tuscaloosa Seamount is located.
That seamount is fascinating in and of itself, is it is actually a massive fragment of the Koʻolau mountain that slid into the sea millions of years ago.
I’d be thrilled to talk more about your map, and provide any more interesting details. The last thing I’d like to add is that the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have Hawaiian names as well. You may be interested in providing those names. For instance, the Gardner Pinnacles is known as Pūhāhonu.
And in many cases, bring your passport.
Interesting Waterworld out there
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channels_of_the_Hawaiian_Islan...
This is not even a map but an outline of islands and without any scale...
"A map without scale and legend is not a valid map" - i know that from 4th grade...
Most disappointing post of 2026 so far.
At least there is no AI slop. 2/5
Beautifully made, and it shows.
Would love to see your map-making workflow.
And I like the birdlist too <3