Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs

The gentle Pu'u Loa Trail leads less than a mile to the largest concentration of ancient petroglyphs in the state. At the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs, early Hawaiians chiseled more than 20,000 drawings into pahoehoe lava. Given the setting, it's easy to see why this spot might have been considered sacred.

There are abstract designs, animal and human figures, as well as thousands of dimpled depressions (or cupules) that were receptacles for umbilical cords. Placing a baby's umbilical stump inside a cupule and covering it with stones was meant to bestow health and longevity to the child. The parking area and trailhead are signed between the 16- and 17-mile markers. At the site, stay on the boardwalk at all times - not all the petroglyphs are obvious, and you are likely to trample (and damage) some if you walk over the rocks.