The topography of Hawai‘i is as beautiful under the water as it is on land. This wall map, based on sonar surveys conducted over several decades, depicts the seamounts, banks, canyons, and very deep waters that surround the islands.
The opposing geologic forces of creation and destruction are occurring here. Kamaʻehuakanaloa Seamount near the Big Island is an undersea volcano that will emerge above the waves thousands of years from now. Meanwhile, the Hawaiian Islands comprised of accumulated lava flows are are slowly sinking under their great weight. In the past, huge chunks of the islands have catastrophically broken off sliding tens of miles into the abyss.
I hope that you learn as much about Hawai‘i's seafloor as I did while making this map.
Tom Patterson
September 9, 2025
Free map downloads
Terms of use
The Seafloor of Hawai‘i map is in the public domain. You may use it any way that you want. You are not required to cite the map.
Contact me
I will periodically update the map. Please let me know about major features to include or any problems that you find.
Thanks!
Tom Patterson Bio
The Seafloor of Hawai‘i
To see my other maps, click here
Web browser map (6,970 x 5,111, JPEG image)
Printable wall map (12,197 x 8,944, JPEG image)
Map with no labels or legend (8,400 x 5,942, JPEG image)
More information
For an article about the making of this map, visit: Mountains Unseen: Developing a Relief Map of the Hawaiian Seafloor
Version 1.5, February 1, 2025 Change log