Kauai The Garden Island

A stunning pictorial map of Kauai’s geography, from Waimea Canyon to the peak of Mt. Waialeale.

This uncommon and striking pictorial map of Kauai was illustrated by John Dawson and published by Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan in 1976. Part of a promotional series featuring work by Dawson and Darrel Millsap, the poster utilizes a bold, blocky typography that mirrors the drama of the island’s rugged terrain.

Dawson’s illustration highlights the island’s lush peaks, dominated by Mt. Waialeale. While labeled here as the ‘Wettest Place on Earth,’ modern data suggests that title likely belongs to Mawsynram, India—yet the map perfectly captures the localized awe of Kauai’s microclimates. In the lower left, sailing ships signify the arrival of Captain Cook, framing the island’s history through a 1970s lens of Western ‘discovery’ and subsequent modernization.