Puʻuloa Petroglyphs: One of the Most Impressive Petroglyph Sites We’ve Seen

was one of the more surprising stops for me. We’ve seen petroglyphs in other parts of the country, but these stood out as some of the most pronounced we’ve come across.

The walk is about 0.7 miles out, and it is not the easiest trail. You are moving across uneven lava rock with flatter sections weaving through it. It is not a hard hike, but it is not a smooth one either. You need to watch your footing.

On our visit, it ended up being just me and the boys. Because the ladies stayed in the car, we wanted to move quickly, so we actually ran parts of it. Even so, it was absolutely worth doing.

Along the way, you can spot petroglyphs here and there, but the main payoff is at the end where the boardwalk loop takes you around a broad concentration of carvings. The layout makes it easy to take it in without trampling the area, and the carvings are visible enough that you do not feel like you are straining to imagine what you are seeing.

What also stood out is how different this area feels from the greener parts of the island. It feels less tropical and more like high desert with lava rock all around.

Final Take

If you are already making the drive down Chain of Craters Road, this is a worthwhile stop.

Pair this with our main park guide, Nāhuku Lava Tube, and Hōlei Sea Arch. For the big-picture trip, head back to our Big Island guide.