W.D. Alexander was appointed the first surveyor general of the Hawaiian kingdom in 1870 during the reign of King Kamehameha V. At the time this map was created, he was serving the administration of King Kalakua.

Alexander's father was also a missionary and a surveyor, and he taught the profession from Lahainaluna Seminary on the island of Maui.

This map of Oahu, known as "The Gathering Place" offers a tremendous amount of detail about the island's road system and major population centers.