Last updated: March 28, 2025
Place
Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
NPS Photo
Quick Facts
Location:
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Amenities
3 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Scenic View/Photo Spot
Puʻuloa is a sacred site in Hawaiʻi, used ritually for over 500 years and home to the state's largest petroglyph field, with over 23,000 images. These include poho (cupules) where newborns' umbilical cords were placed for long life, as well as geometric designs, anthropomorphisms, canoe sails, and feathered cape motifs. The petroglyphs can be accessed via a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) hike starting at the Puʻuloa Petroglyphs trailhead. Pu‘uloa was formed during the eruption of Kāne Nui O Hamo about 550 years ago.
Puʻuloa Sacred Landscapes
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- Duration:
- 5 minutes, 30 seconds
Puʻuloa is the home to the largest concentration of petroglyphs in Hawaiʻi. Join us to learn more about the deep ancestral connections embedded in this place where petroglyphs serve as markers of genealogy and family customs.
Photo Gallery
Pu'uloa Petroglyphs
12 Images
The sacred Pu'uloa is home to the largest field of petroglyphs in the state of Hawai'i