Ancient Hawaiians called their stone art ki'i pohaku, or images in stone. The ki'i pohaku are petroglyphs, a word derived from the Greek words "petros" for rock, and "glyphein" to carve. This rock art provides a unique look into the past, but questions can only be answered by speculation, for there is almost no historic evidence of the petroglyph's origin in Hawaii.
A good place to find examples of Hawaiian petroglyphs is the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve, located just north of the Mauna Lani Resort. About 1,200 petroglyphs have been documented in the area where public access is allowed. More petroglyphs are scattered throughout the resort, and the resort offers guided tours, along with brochures and maps.
The Outrigger Waikoloa Beach Hotel maintains a marked trail leading to petroglyphs adjacent to the resort. And the King's Shops shopping mall offers a complimentary guided tour of the trail. Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs, located off the Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is another site where ancient stone art can be found.
The Big Island has the greatest number of petroglyphs in the state. Areas of concentration are almost always found on smooth lava cliff faces or along trails known to the ancient Hawaiians. Please do not step on or attempt to take rubbings from the ki'i pohaku. To do so will slowly wear them down. Photographs are fine, and turn out best in the slanting shadows of the early morning or late afternoon.
