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Hawai'i Volcanoes National ParkLava flows on the road burning the asphalt.
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Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
Day Hike - Puu Loa
Visitors look at petroglyphs from the boardwalk

NPS

The boardwalk viewing platform protects the petroglyphs from damage. (Click on photo for a larger version)

Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs

This coastal trail traverses older lava flows to one of Hawai'i's most extensive petroglyph fields.

Of interest: Petroglyphs, pahoehoe lava.

  • Difficulty: Easy to moderate
  • Distance and hiking time: 2 miles roundtrip, 1.5 hours
  • Distance from Visitor Center to trailhead: 20 miles.
  • Trail begins at the Pu'u Loa parking area on Chain of Craters Road (mile marker 16 on Chain of Craters Road).
  • Petroglyphs are fragile. Stay on the boardwalk - walking on the lava surface will fragment petroglyphs and destroy them.
  • Bring water, wear sunglasses and a hat.
 

For more information about this special area, visit our History and Culture webpage for the article: Pu`uloa Petroglyphs by Mara Durst

 

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Green Sea Turtle resting on a beach.  

Did You Know?
The endangered Honu (Green Sea Turtle) are frequently seen in shallow waters and basking in the sun on beaches. They return to the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to lay their nests, over 700 miles away.

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Last Updated: October 07, 2008 at 20:10 EST