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Walk Through Timeworn Petroglyph Fields

Big IslandEssential Big Island

Centuries ago, Native Hawaiians carved images of humans, canoes, turtles and other forms into lava rock. And though the true meanings behind these ki‘i pōhaku , or PETROGLYPHS, are unknown, it is widely believed that these ANCIENT CARVINGS are records of births and other significant events that occurred in the lives of the people who lived on the Hawaiian Islands long before Western contact.

KALOKO-HONOKŌHAU NATIONAL PARK, located about 3 miles north of Historic Kailua Village, is the home of many mysterious petroglyphs. They are scattered throughout the 1,160-acre historic park, which also is the site of Hawaiian fishponds, kahua (house-site platforms), a hōlua (stone slide) and heiau (temple).

Other great viewing places to see hundreds of well-preserved etchings INCLUDE PUAKŌ PETROGLYPH ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVE, found just a short walk from The Fairmont Orchid Hawai‘i, and ‘ ANAEHO‘OMALU PETROGLYPH FIELD, located on the grounds of the Waikoloa Resort. Many of the fields in this area can be found on ALA KAHAKAI TRAIL, a 175-mile corridor full of historic sites and settlement ruins. SCOUT OUT AN 18TH-CENTURY WAR TEMPLE PHO TO: JEFF S ANNER | L OCA TION: PU‘UK OHOL A¯ HEIA U ES S EN T IA L

ISLAND’S TOP SPOTS FOR GOLF, THERE ARE PLENTY OF FUN ACTIVITIES FOR LANDLUBBERS.

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