ALOHA!
You can see petroglyphs carved into lava if you’ll be visiting the Big Island!
The Puu Loa petroglyphs are a part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and are said to be the largest field of petroglyphs in Hawaii.
There’s a trail that you can take so that you can have a look at some of them.
You’ll be walking across lava fields to see them!
According to the National Park Service:
This coastal trail traverses a 500-550 year old lava field to one of Hawaii’s most extensive petroglyph fields.
A site that has approximately 23,000 petroglyphs, many viewable at a boardwalk constructed for this purpose.
The petroglyphs have been carved into the thin, fragile crust of lava flow.
Read more about these petroglyphs in Hawaii.
This trail is listed at 1.4 miles round trip and is rated as moderate.
Read the reviews of the trail.
More for beyond your hike to see the Puu Loa Petroglyphs
If you’re interested in the Puu Loa Petroglyphs, then you may also be interested in these things in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
- Devastation Trail
- Thurston lava tube
- Volcano House
- Crater Rim Drive
- Kilauea Iki Crater Trail (former lava lake hike!)
- Sulphur Banks
- Chain of Craters Road
- Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
More below about what it’s like to see the pu’u loa petroglyphs!
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So…
What’s the Puu Loa petroglyphs trail like?
You’ll drive on Chain of Craters Road, one of the main roads in the national park, and the petroglyphs are more towards the end of the drive.
When coming from the Kilauea Visitor Center on Crater Rim Drive near the national park entry, it’ll be about a 40 minute drive if you were to drive straight through. (But chances are you will want to stop along the way!)
You’ll see a sign for the Puu Loa petroglyphs.
There’s a parking area right off the side of the road on both sides.
And then you’ll be able to locate the start of the trail. As you’re facing the ocean (which is the direction you’re driving as you go to the end of the road), the trail will be off to the left side.
And then, you’ll take the trail to see the largest petroglyph field in Hawaii, as well as see petroglyphs on the Big Island up close and personal! (From the trail – you are asked to stay on the trail to help to preserve history.)
Along the way there will also be informational signs so you can learn a little bit about Hawaiians used to live off the land. Reading the signs will also give a little context to the meaning of some of the petroglyphs you see.
And then once you’re finished up seeing the petroglyphs, you can head back!
And then continue on the drive to the end of Chain of Craters Road that will take you to the Holei Sea Arch! (Around 5 minutes of drive time.)
And that’s a bit of what it might be like to see some Big Island petroglyphs at the national park!
See more stops to make as you’re driving through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park! This goes in the order as you can see them as you’re driving from the Kilauea Visitor Center to the Puu Loa petroglyphs.
Sulphur Banks Trail
Drive time from Sulphur Banks Trail to the petroglyphs is around 40 minutes.
Devastation Trail
Drive time from Devastation Trail to the petroglyphs is around 30 minutes.
Kilauea Iki Trail
Hike into a former lava lake!
Drive time from the Kilauea iki Trail to the petroglyphs is around 35 minutes.
Alanui Kahiko
See the “Old Chain of Craters Road” where lava flowed through and covered what used to be part of the main road that went through the national park!
Drive time from Alanui Kahiko to the petroglyphs is just a few minutes.
And then… should you make it a day trip to the national park from Kona?!
And here are a list of stops to make when you’re driving through Hawaii Volcanoes National park!
If you’re chasing petroglyphs, there are also petroglyphs on Lanai!
HAPPY SEEING PETROGLYPHS ON THE BIG ISLAND IN HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK!
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