Waikoloa Petroglyph Field

The Big Island of Hawaiʻi features the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the Pacific, and most of these petroglyphs can be found in areas located at the boundaries of former ahupuaʻa (ancient Hawaiʻian land boundaries) near the ocean.  The petroglyphs are typically pecked into the surfaces of old pahoehoe lava flows, as this liquid-like low-viscosity form of lava is known for producing smooth, flat rock surfaces on which petroglyphs will stand out very prominently.

One of the largest petroglyph fields on the Big Island is the Waikoloa Petroglyph Field (also called the Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve or the ʻAnaehoʻomalu Petroglyph Field).  Before modern development, this location was known as a place where a prehistoric coastal road called the King’s Trail (but also now formally named the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail) crossed the border between the ahupuaʻa of Kohala and Kona.  Today, however, the area is known as a major resort destination, and the petroglyph field sits in between different parts of a golf course.

The site contains thousands of petroglyphs.  Most of these are small holes called puka.  According to recorded accounts, these puka were created when a child was born; as part of a ritualistic tradition, the hole was pecked into the rock, a small part of the child’s umbilical cord was placed within the hole, and then the hole was covered with a rock.

However, the Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve also features many other forms of petroglyphs as well, including circles and other geometrical shapes, multiple depictions of people drawn in an array of different styles, and a rather notably large picture of a seagoing canoe.  Additionally, quite a few petroglyphs created after the arrival of American missionaries feature names and other words spelled out in Roman letters (although what is being spelled out is not always clear) and dates; these specific petroglyphs show that native Hawaiʻians were still using the site into the mid-nineteenth century.

While the Waikoloa Petroglyph Field may be one of the most culturally important locations within the Waikoloa area, most people are too distracted by the nearby beach resorts, the golf courses, and the shopping centers to take notice.  Hence, the petroglyph fields are often very quiet and uncrowded, yet visiting the secluded site is potentially one of the most richly rewarding things to do in Waikoloa.