Last updated: June 15, 2021
Thing to Do
Hike to Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
Walk in the footsteps of the kūpuna (elders) to Pu`uloa (hill of long life), a sacred and awe-inspiring gallery of ki`i pōhaku (images carved in stone). These simple etchings document the life and culture of the native Hawaiian people. It brought with hopes of receiving the blessings of a long and prosperous life.
This coastal trail traverses a 500-550 year old lava field to one of Hawai`i's most extensive petroglyph fields. A site that has approximately 23,000 petroglyphs, many viewable at a boardwalk constructed for this purpose
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance and hiking time: 1.4 miles (2.25km) round trip. Approximately 1.0 - 1.5 hours.
- Trail begins: Pu'uloa parking area on Chain of Craters Road.
- Safety: Hiking on flow fields can be hazardous due to deep earth cracks, uneven and unstable terrain, and razor-sharp lava.
The petroglyphs are very fragile. Stay on the boardwalk. Walking on the lava surface will fragment the delicate petroglyphs and destroy them.
Details
Duration
60-90 Minutes
Activity
Hiking
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
No
Park entrance fees apply. There are no additional activity fees.
Location
Puʻuloa Trailhead on Chain of Craters Road
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Day
Accessibility Information
Trail is over uneven, solidified lava fields
Learn more about the meaning and history of Puʻuloa.
Park staff may use ahu (stacked rocks) to mark some trails and keep visitors safe. Please do not create new ones. The stacking of rocks can be culturally offensive, disorienting to hikers, and potentially against the law.