Hawaii Gets Big Google Street View Update
Hawaii Gets Big Google Street View Update
Google today added over 200 popular Hawaii visitor attractions, historical sites, resorts, parks, schools, and golf courses to its Google Street View collection. And the expansion takes Google's 360-degree imagery of the Aloha State beyond the open road. The announcement was made at a special media event at Hanauma Bay this morning (more photos here).
Just about a year ago, I wrote about how the Google team was in Hawaii, turning heads at it deployed the Google Trike, a specially outfitted threewheel pedicab, to collect island imagery in places a car or van couldn't go.
At the time, the focus was on Hawaii's college campuses, as the Google Trike had turned up at Kapiolani Community College. University of Hawaii CIO David Lassner told me that Google would be collecting imagery at all of its Oahu campuses, and hopefully a few on the neighbor islands.
But schools were just the tip of the iceberg. As expected, you can now take a walking tour of the KCC campus. But Google's announcement covered a whole lot more.
While Google did expand its already extensive Google Street View coverage on all the main Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai, Molokai and the Big Island), the company today highlighted the many local partners -- public and private -- that allowed them to visit and create virtual tours.
So starting today, you can now zoom all the way in on Google Maps and use Google Street View to explore the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, 'Iolani Palace, Hanauma Bay and Kualoa Ranch, among other locations. (Imagery for the zoo and Wet N' Wild water park actually went live a few weeks ago.) National parks like the U.S.S. Arizona and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island are also included, as are popular attractions like the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui.
But the special collections don't just target Hawaii visitors. In addition to the aforementioned college campuses (on Oahu and the Big Island), you can get an immersive, up close look at dozens of neighborhood and beach parks. Four parks in my neighborhood of Mililani alone are represented, and you can check out Ka'ena Point, Waimanalo Beach Park, Liliuokalani Botanical Garden in Hilo, or Lydgate Park on Kauai.
For map nerds and Google fans in Hawaii, this is a huge update... and one that makes Apple's ongoing shift to its own mapping solution a little less exciting.
Here are photos from today's event:
And here is the list of new Google Maps locations in Hawaii below. It's a long list, and I can't wait to start exploring them. Any favorites?
Popular Destinations
Aloha Stadium
Diamond Head Crater Park
Dole Plantation
Foster Botanical Garden
Harold L Lyon Arboretum
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
Honolulu Zoo
Iolani Palace
Kapiolani Park
Kualoa Ranch
National Tropical Botanical Garden
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
Old Lahaina Luau
Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens
Polynesian Cultural Center
Sea Life Park Hawaii
USS Arizona Memorial Park
Volcanoes National Park
Waikiki Aquarium
Wet N Wild Hawaii
Resorts & Golf Courses
Aston At Papakea Resort
Aston Islander on the Beach
Aston Maui Banyan
Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas
Four Seasons Resort at Hualalai
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Honua Kai Resort
Kaanapali Beach Walk
Kapalua Golf Club Bay Course
Kapalua Golf Club Plantation Course
Kauai Beach Resort
Kiahuna Golf Club
Maui Country Club
Maui Lani Golf Course
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Mauna Kea & Hapuna Golf Course
Naniloa Volcanoes Resort
Sheraton Kauai Resort
Waiehu Golf Course
Wailea Emerald Golf Course
Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Village
Other Destinations
Kauai Coffee Museum And Visitor Center
Keanapou Fishpond
King Kamehameha Statue (Big Island)
Kukuiula Village Shopping Center
West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery
Universities
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Hawaii Community College Monono Campus
Honolulu Community College
Kapiolani Community College
Leeward Community College
University Of Hawaii At Hilo
University Of Hawaii At Manoa
Windward Community College
Local Parks & Recreation Areas
Aiea District Park
Aikahi Community Park
Aina Haina Community Park
Ainahau Triangle
Aina Koa Park
Ala Moana Regional Park
Ala Puumalu Community Park
Ala Wai Community Park
Alewa Neighborhood Park
Asing Community Park
Beretania Community Park
Booth District Park
Carl Smith Beach Park
Cartwright Neighborhood Park
Central Oahu Regional Park
Crane Playground
Decorte Neighborhood Park
Dole Park
Enchanted Lake Park
Ewa Beach Community Park
Ewa Beach Park
Hahalone Neighborhood Park
Halawa District Park
Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park
Haleiwa Beach Park
Harold H. Higashihara Park
Heeia Neighborhood Park
Hoaeae Community Park
Hokuahiahi Park
Honokaa Park
Honolulu City Fern Park
Honolulu City Lanakila Park
Honolulu City Maunalani Park
Honolulu Stadium State Park
Hoolulu Park
Kaena Point State Park
Kahala Community Park
Kahaluu Regional Park
Kahi Kani Park
Kahuku District Park
Kaiaka Bay Beach Park
Kailua Beach Park
Kailua District Park
Kaimuki Community Park
Kalaheo Park
Kalakaua Recreation Center
Kalama Beach Park
Kalama Valley Park
Kalihi Waena Neighborhood Park
Kalopa Native Forest State Park
Kamaio Neighborhood Park
Kamananui Neighborhood Park
Kamehameha Park
KamiloIki Community Park
KamiloIki Neighborhood Park
Kaneohe Beach Park
Kaneohe Community Park
Kaneohe District Park
Kaomaaiku Neighborhood Park
Kapaolono Community Park
Kapiolani Regional Park
Kapolei Regional Park
Kapunahala Neighborhood Park
Kauai Multi-use Path
Kawaikui Beach Park
Kealohi Neighborhood Park
Keehi Lagoon Park
Kilauea District Park
Kipapa Park
Koko Head Park
Kuahelani Neighborhood Park
Kualoa Regional Park
Kuhio Beach & Sans Souci Park
Kuliouou Park
Kupuohi Neighborhood Park
Laenani Neighborhood Park
Laie Beach Park
Laie Point State Wayside
Lava Tree State Park
Lehua Community Park
Liliuokalani Botanical Garden
Lydgate State Park
Maili Community Park
Makaha Community Park
Makakilo Community Park
Makakilo Neighborhood Park
Makapuu Beach Park
Makaunulau Community Park
Makena State Park
Makiki District Park and Library
Malaekahana State Recreation Area
Manana Kai Neighborhood Park
Manana Playground
Manoa Valley District Park
Maukalani Neighborhood Park
Maunawili Park
Melemanu Neighborhood Park
Mililani District Park
Mililani Mauka District Park
Mililani Waena Park
Mililani Neighborhood Park
Moanalua Community Park
Mohouli Park
Mother Waldron Neighborhood Park
Nani Mau Gardens
Neal S. Blaisdell Park
Nehu Park
Niu Valley Park
Noholoa Neighborhood Park
Nuuanu Valley Park
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
Palailai Neighborhood Park
Palolo Valley District Park
Pearl City District Park
Petrie Playground
Pililaau Community Park
Placheco Playground
Pohakupu Mini Park
Punaluu County Beach Park
Puohala Neighborhood Park
Puuloa Neighborhood Park
Puunui Community Park
Puu Ualakaa State Wayside
Rainbow Falls State Park
Salt Lake District Park
Samuel M Spencer Beach Park
Sand Island State Recreation Area
South Of Punaluu County Beach Park
Sunset Beach Neighborhood Park
Sunset Beach Support Park
Vidinha Stadium
Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area
Wahiawa District Park
WaiaholeBeach Park
Waialae Beach Park
Waialae Iki Park
Waianae District Park
Waiaula District Park
Waiau Neighborhood Park
Wailea Ulua Mokapu Beach Parks
Wailoa Center and Park
Wailuku River State Park
Wailupe Beach Park
Wailupe Playground
Waimalu Neighborhood Park
Waimanalo Beach Park
Waimanalo District Park
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Waimea State Recreation Pier
Waipahu District Park
Waipahu Uka Neighborhood Park
Waipio Neighborhood Park
Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park
West Hawaii Civic Center
West Loch Shoreline Park
Whitemore Community Park
Whittington Park
Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area
Waimea State Recreation Pier
Update: Here is the official announcement on the Google blog. Also, I noted that the Google Street View team missed most of Mililani Town during their last update. I'm happy to say my neighborhood is now fully mapped!