I drew this map of ahupuaʻa in West Maui to demonstrate the possibility of a decolonial cartographic epistemology that elevates indigenous knowledge. It provides an introduction to the thematic philosophy of my book, An Atlas of West Maui.

Estimations of population density can vary wildly depending on the spatial unit used. Most use census boundaries, which are often arbitrarily drawn and redrawn. In my graduate capstone, I used land cover data to implement the concept of an “effective area” as a more accurate spatial representation of lived urban space.

These maps are part of a series of maps I made for the UH Ecological Determinants Lab and the Housing First program of the City & County of Honolulu. The program aims to house chronically homeless individuals and families directly from streets and shelters without the preconditions normally required by other programs.

Working with the UH Ecological Determinants Lab for two years, I mapped and analyzed the proximity of client addresses to services and facilities, as well as collected and analyzed data on environment and neighborhood characteristics. I also built a web app to help program coordinators to match clients with housing locations that help them succeed.

I also like making maps for fun and as gifts.

In 2020, I made a map poster as a gift for a friend who was going to be living outside Hawaii for the first time. She was flying out before her birthday, so as a send-off gift, I made elevation maps of Hawaii and designed the shadows based on how exactly the sun would rise and set over the islands on the day of her birthday.

The other two maps were maps I made the day before Valentines Day 2023, to help singles find the best areas on Oahu to find a date.