This was one of the hikes my hubby and I had to do. It took a while to find it since we walked the wrong way for a good 45 minutes. I was getting frustrated until we saw the sign. It’s a good mile hike till you reach the wooden boardwalk. I suggest a good pair of sneakers or hiking boots. Don’t forget your hydro flask! Once we were at the site and walked on the elevated boardwalk we noticed it. I was able to view the variety of petroglyphs displayed and created by the Hawaiians from hundreds of years ago. I was amazed how they cut and carved into the dried lava. It’s amazing how they settled there with their families. In 1914, An anthropologist Martha beckwick interpreted the petroglyphs: A dot was«the hole for a child» A dot in a circle«the hole for the first born» A dot with two circles«the first born of an ali‘i [a ruling chief]» A plain circle was a «calabash» A jagged line was a «mo‘o [a lizard]» A circle with a long line was a «puloulou [ a tapa covered ball on a stick carried by an ali‘i as a symbol of taboo]» A cross with a dot at each end was«a cross before a chief at night in travelling.» To access the petroglyphs drive to the chain of craters road in the national volcano park. There will be a parking pull out area with an emergency box. Make sure you look for the sign that says Pu’uloa petroglyphs. You will enjoy it as much as we did!!!
Kristine C.
Place rating: 5 Honolulu, HI
The name Pu’uloa(large hill) carries a kaona(hidden meaning)– hill of long life. A place considered sacred to the people of Hawaii. This is a nice windy walk over rocky and windy old lava on the lower part of 38 miles south of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Worthy of seeing after a nice 20 minute hike. This is all open air and no trees for many miles off Chain of Craters Rd. I recommend to bring plenty of water just incase it does get hot. When reaching the petroglyphs, you must stay on the boardwalk so that these can be preserved and for other generations to see. Ancient Hawaiian culture lacked a written language at the time. The petroglyphs are a glimpse into their early lives, struggles, and successes. You will see that some petroglyphs are of human forms, animals and canoes and by generations of families. A specific area is where they place the«piko»(umbilical cord) of their child in hopes that the spiritual guiding energy of Pu’uloa would bless their child with a long and prosperous life and to root them into their ancestral lands.(Pu’uloa Information Guide at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). Overall this is worth it to see.
