It's a short well marked hike. Worth it if you geek out on this kind of stuff. Be sure to walk the circumference, lots to see. Otherwise it's a hot, dry, dusty, potentially prickly walk. Don't wear slippers unless you're immune to thorns. They will get you. read more

This is a short hike (30 min round trip) to see some interesting petroglyphs. Not sure how old these really are but it's a cool cultural thing to do instead of drinking lava flows by the pool. There is also a nice beach there with some big tide pools to explore. I enjoyed my mini-adventure. read more

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Super easy short hike to explore the history of Hawaiian Petroglyphs! It's about 1.1-mile out-and-back trail near Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. It takes about 30 min to complete. It's a bit tricky to find the entrance to the parking but with patience, you will find it. Enjoy! read more

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We accidentally found this site when driving by to go to the beach at the resort. While driving by I spotted a sign for a Petroglyph trail. So pleased to see so many in one location. The trail is paved at the beginning and shortly takes you to an area that has some of the petroglyphs on display. After this point the trail becomes an uneven trail of dirt and lava rock making its way through twisted branches of brown colored trees that appeared dead but were not. Lava formations lined the trail with some steps up and down. It's an easy trail but I would recommend at least sports shoes instead of slippers (flip flops). It's about 1/2 a mile to the large flat area that is fenced off with a trail that loops around it. It's has at least 3,000 petroglyphs in the park which is amazing number. Fully worth the quick walk. read more

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The trail to get the petroglyphs is pretty easy- it's 0.7 miles each way and took us about 30 minutes round trip. At the end there is a large field of petroglyphs, but they were a little bit hard to see. A little underwhelming but a unique sight. About 50 yards from the trail is a nice beach. There is also a decent bathroom and several trash cans at the park. read more

Puako Petroglyph Archeological Park - Parks Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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Hawaii Flashback | January 2022 These historic relics date back to the year 1000 - 1800AD which is astonishing to even think about. Despite this huge range, it's amazing how well they have been preserved over time. These petroglyphs represent some of the earliest forms of written communication in which humans carved directly into rock. No one knows with certainty what they mean, so interpretation is left up to you. Just a short walk from the parking lot, several boulders with clearly defined petroglyphs are on full display. This is just a small teaser for what's to come. To see the rest, you will need to go on a short hike. I recommend wearing sturdy shoes as the path goes through the forest, where there are loose rocks and hanging branches, then across a sandy and grassy path. The trail is supposedly just 1.4 miles roundtrip, but just going one way felt longer than 0.7 miles, likely due to the varying terrain. It took us about 20 minutes to reach the main event where we found a ton of petroglyphs engraved into the rocky pavement. Compared to the ones at the entrance, these carvings were a little underwhelming in terms of appearance since they were fading. However, this was not surprising at all since they've been preserved for centuries. The rockery was completely covered from end to end in etchings, almost like it documented a story. You can walk around the perimeter and view everything in its entirety. We spent about 15 minutes here appreciating the history and then made our way back to the parking area. Just steps away from the parking lot is Holoholokai Beach Park, where fragments of white coral mixed with black lava rock. At the time we visited, no one else was on the beach, so it was a great place to relax and take in the views after admiring the petroglyphs. read more

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Unclear signage and anticlimactic final destination at the end of the path. Interesting though.

Walking to the petroglyphs is like walking to the witch's house in Hansel and Gretel. While it isn't difficult, it is dusty and you need to watch your steps for roots, downed tree limbs, rocks, etc. At the end, you will see an expanse of petroglyphs. It is about a 30-minute round trip. If you use GPS to get there, be sure NOT to go on Pauko Beach Road; it ends at a private access road. You need to go Mauna Lani drive to N Kaniku Dr to Holoholokai Beach Park Rd. There are signs on N. Kaniku, but they stop before reaching the parking lot for the beach. Access to the petroglyphs is at the beginning of the parking lot. Beach looks nice. read more

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The trail is pretty hard to navigate through and would totally recommend following the trail path on All Trails so you don't get lost. When you actually get to the petroglyphs though there is a lot of history that goes into that area. Definitely would recommend navigating your way through to this historical stop. read more

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This was a super cool experience. The trail on the way to the petroglyph "field" is a bit rough and reminds me of something straight out of a horror movie, but it was interesting and fun to walk through. When you reach the actual petroglyphs, it's an amazing site to see. You can view them easily without damaging them and it's pretty clear where you are and are not supposed to go. Please help protect the petroglyphs if you visit by not walking on them or making rubbings. Posted signs will remind you of this while you're there. There is also a plethora of picnic tables nearby, and a beach. There is a bathroom and a shower to rinse yourself with after hanging out in the ocean. We met a sea turtle at the nearby beach too. All in all, it was a great day. read more

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Here's what you need to know: you've got to go during sunrise before 8AM. That is the best time by far to enjoy it. if you put it in perspective as to how old these etchings/petroglyphs are, it blows your mind. It's so easy to access the petroglyphs, it's well labeled and next to a public beach access. It's well organized and is in nature In it's original place. What's there not to love. Just know that parking can get full so go early at sunrise we'll before beach goers care to park there and you will get the best spots to walk in and do a short hike around. Beautiful setting. read more

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Totally worthwhile! So it took us a while to figure out where this was. Google maps took us to a place where there was basically no parking. Definitely not it! We kept riding towards the beach. We ended up parking in the lot there. Eventually we came to what we realized was the trailhead. We just kept following it, and while at times it wasn't necessarily clear, we eventually found the petroglyphs. The hike wasn't long, it was a little bit hot but totally worthwhile. I recommend doing this in the morning. It won't take you more than a couple of hours. Suggestion: if you have Pokémon loaded on your phone, you will be able to figure out where the petroglyphs are and keep walking in that general direction. Hey. It worked!!! (OK now I have embarrassed myself) read more

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I'm eleven years old and me and my family couldn't even find the petroglyphs! At first it was OK but then we lost the trail. This was terrible and I wish I could give this a zero stars. read more

Hmmm really debated between 3 or 4 stars but settled on 3 for a few reasons: 1. It's somewhat out of the way (near the Fairmont Orchid area). 2. The petroglyphs have been moved to a central location (this might be a pro for some people but I prefer to view historical things in their original location if possible). 3. Takes about 10 minutes to look at everything so it isn't really worth the visit unless you're nearby 4. No detailed placards describing the different glyphs / meaning or history behind them Pros: 1. Apparently the petroglyphs used to be scattered about but they've since moved it to a central location for ease of viewing 2. Not a far walk from the parking lot I still prefer the one in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park because I was able to walk through old lava flows and the glyphs were in their original location, but I would recommend Puako Petroglyphs if you're close by. read more

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We couldn't find the entrance, at first. It's on the right side right when you enter the parking lot. Don't blink or you'll miss it! Lol. The Petroglyphs are very cool to see it's a quick activity but the heat made it almost unbearable. There is zero breeze coming in from the beach so be prepared for the heat! We didn't walk all the way in, we chose to just walk the 5 minutes to the first group of petroglyphs and then leave. There's no way we could do a mile walk in that heat! The beach next to the petroglyphs was beautiful and inhabited by tons of cats! It's not a good beach for swimming but it was lovely for exploring the tide pools. read more

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This was great for the start of a quick, morning adventure before the rest got up. The trail is very easy (don't wear flip flops as I saw others in). It goes in a dessert forest and is just an enjoyable "get away from it" without going far. I felt the ones in the parking lot were newly made since they were much deeper and better "preserved" than most. Maybe I'm wrong, but it also seems like people could just walk off with these precious things. But go along the trail and you'll come to a wooden fenced area with tons of pictures carved right in the rock. There are some easy to find that are outside the protected area which leads me to believe there are probably tons throughout this area. I touched ones that are not protected which made me feel really wild to think I was connecting with people from so long ago. After walking around the boundary fence several times, I headed on a path to the beach. There are easily accessible tide pools to explore (if you are wearing good foot protection) which was another great way to get lost "away from it". I headed back to my car and continued to the next cool site: Kalahuipua'a Historic Park with petroglyphs, lava tube caves, and historic fish ponds- all with educational signage. When I was there, I saw very, very few other people which added to the magic! read more

Cool little hike to see the petroglyphs. I actually preferred this one to the waikoloa ones since these were all in one area and didn't seem to have all the graffiti and obstruction that waikoloa had. The hike was nice and shaded in the beginning and super easy. I'd still recommend close-toed shoes but probably could have worn flip flops. Also nice that there was a little trash receptacle near the glyphs so as to keep the area nice and tidy. read more

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If you're in the area or passing through, I'd definitely recommend coming by to see the petroglyphs. You should come prepared with a water bottle, a hat, sunscreen, and closed toed shoes. Best to go early or late in the day because when the sun is directly overhead it's harder to see some of the petroglyphs -- shadows from the slanted sun help them pop out. (If you don't have time or physical ability to walk the 1.4 mi uneven trail, at least walk the easy, paved 3 min walk from the parking lot to see the section of sneak preview petroglyphs) Look for the sign at the trailhead to know where to find the petroglyphs. Not far into the trail, there is a small area with a sneak preview of the petroglyphs a short easy 3 min walk from the parking lot that is accessible to most. Past that, there is a 0.7 mile trail to get to the main petroglyph area, and when you double back to return it'll be 1.4 miles total. The terrain is uneven with a combination of lava rocks, tree stumps, and dirt/sand. So you need closed toed shoes for sure, to avoid tripping and falling. The beginning has some shade from trees but then the rest of the trail is in direct sun. I would allot about 45 min for this - more time if you want to take a leisurely pace, less time if you want to really hustle. read more

I wish I could give this a negative five stars. This was a terrible hike to say the least. I checked on AllTrails for the intensity of the hike to be sure it would fit the needs of my family. Though it could have been a simple walk, the trail is not clear whatsoever, and my family ended up trekking through the coastal forest full of thorns and overgrown trees. Another family was lost and it wasn't until 30 minutes later that we found the trail again. If you want to see the petroglyphs, take a look at the first 0.1 mi part of the trail while it's still paved where the petroglyphs actually are and ditch the rest of it. Save yourself from this awful experience. #IsurvivedPetroglyphPark read more

It was great to be able to visit the petroglyphs for the first time. We followed our GPS directions and parked in the lot by the beach. A friendly lady was in the parking lot feeding a large group of feral cats. (By the looks of their bellies, they are well cared for.) The path was very easy to find and we made our way through the rocks and trees, making sure not to stray off the path. Several petroglyphs outside of the main area were marked by large circles of rocks to protect them from footsteps. After a short walk we made it to the large viewing area. Banisters and a path separate you from the carvings to protect them. Everyone we saw there was respectful of the boundaries as they observed the figures on the ground. We headed back the way we came and ended the trip by catching a great sunset at the beach. I'm glad we came later in the afternoon, since the walk was nice and cool. If you can organize your trip around 30-45 minutes before sunset, it's worth it. read more

Puako Petroglyph Archeological Park - Kitties at the entrance to the path - Parks Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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A short mile and a half hike to see some ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs. Don't be turned off by the fake ones that you see at the beginning of the trail. Some are pretty amusing, so it's actually worth a quick look at these amusing "petroglyphs" that greet you at the beginning. Once you start on the hike, you'll feel like you've been walking forever and should have crossed Winnie the Pooh by now because you feel like you're in the Hundred Acre Woods or something, but don't lose hope. Just keep following the laid out path until you FINALLY get to the field of petroglyphs. It may be wise to wear long hiking pants because there are a lot of weeds that could leave you itchy or even scratched. Just be careful. When you get to the field, you are required to stand from a viewing site and can't walk into the field. You can see quite a few petroglyphs in the rocks, though. Is it worth the weedy hike? I don't know about that, but it was a neat little journey if you have some time to kill. read more

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This is a pretty cool site to visit if you're staying at the Fairmont Orchid. As others have mentioned, it isn't the great hiking trail. You'll see a few petroglyphs marking the entrance, and then no more until the end. The forest you'll walk through is barren; while the trail is clear, the overgrow, foreboding trees don't exactly invite you to keep going. Continue onward and you'll eventually come to the petroglyph field at the end. This is worth lingering at for a while and is a good payoff in my book. Make sure to walk all the way around it so you can check out all the symbols, some of which are very unique. I wouldn't go too far to visit, but you can't beat having this relatively nearby. The adjacent beach is also really cool with lots of lava rocks and pumice (hey, it is the Big Island). This is a worthwhile trek to 'check' petroglyphs off your Hawaii itnerary. read more

This is a really quick hike ( .7 Mile oneway) that provides an interesting look back at the Hawaiian culture. Like others have said, i am not sure how legit the petroglyphs at the entrance are. But the ones at the end were very cool. I find the area very interesting as there are so many things that we can learn from the past. Its nice that this area is preserved, not just taken out and developed for more hotels and tourist attractions. I think that if you are in the area, it is worth the time to go out and experience. read more

Puako Petroglyph Archeological Park - Parks Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

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1.4 mile round trip. 2 minutes in you can already see petroglyphs. When you hit the "forest" you will see very few until the end of the trail where you see a massive one. Path is not flat, slightly Rocky, have to be able to duck under trees and climb a few steps. Though the path is not very clearly defined, it is defined enough that even though I questioned if I was going the right way I still continued forward until I was finally affirmed by a trail sign. Would I go again? No. Is it worth doing if I was seeing it for the first time? Yes! The trail is not difficult and it's fun making stories, being creative with your family, and imagining what was going through the petroglyphers mind at the time. Parking is free. The trail is the opposite way of the beach. read more

It is short but really interesting trail. At the end of trail, you see hundreds of petroglyphs. They are mostly humans heading to mountains. It is mysterious and interesting. read more

Not too far from our hotel was the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the Pacific, in the 233-acre Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District. These petroglyphs were made thousands of years ago by native Hawaiians on a small plain of large, flat lava slabs. To get there, it's a 1.4 mile round trip hike from a beach park, through broken lava fields and a small forest of thorny trees. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and go early or late in the day. At midday, the sun on the open lava fields can feel like an oven. We made the mistake of bringing our kids in their flip flops, so dad (me) was giving lots of piggy back rides, which is much harder than it used to be (daughters are 70+ pounds now - how did they get so big?). On the bright side, I got a morning workout as a result. Good thing it was relatively early and cool. There is a collection of petroglyphs at the park entrance, but these are recent creations by artists, usually framed perfectly on smaller lava rocks, and copies of the actual petroglyphs in the park. There were plenty of people just snapping photos of these and jumping back in their cars. The real thing, at the end of the hike, is on much larger slabs, and looks like this: (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/puako-petroglyphs-kohala-coast?select=mbBX-iIav7kKtZmVijC35w#kgjepUoGRGnGs6thfZRNDA) Nothing like a little ancient culture to start the day. read more

Puako Petroglyph Archeological Park - Parks Near Me - Waimea, Hawaii

I recommend this adventure, just don't do it in flip flops or crocs like we did. (Really, the rocks are sharp and there are thorns.) The walk to the petroglyphs is .7 miles (1.4 miles roundtrip) and the terrain is rocky. You'll walk through a dead tree section that looks like the backdrop for a scary story, but it's worth it. When you get to the end of the trail, there are so many petroglyphs to see. Lots of shapes, people, and (I think) hunters. Where else can you see something thousands of years old up close and personal? We were high-fiving ourselves for making it to the end of the trail when a little boy (literally) came skipping down the path, full of energy. So, this adventure is good for adults and kids. The walk isn't that strenuous or long. read more

Very long hike, that is very doable but not comfortable on a hot day. Skip if you have young kids or seniors

Apparently, the petroglyphs have been moved from the beach area to a more accessible path. It was difficult to find at first since the petroglyphs are located near a resort area, but I finally found the entrance at the very front of the parking lot. It was a super short walk to the actual petroglyphs, and the entire experience probably only took about 15 minutes. Honestly, I'm not even 100% sure that these are original petroglyphs because there seemed to be a lot of them and none of them had any protection. These ancient pieces definitely deserve more care! Other than that, it was pretty cool to see these carvings up close and in person and appreciate the ancient work of native Hawaiians. read more

Easy to get to, plenty of free parking, bathrooms at the other end of the parking lot, this short hike is well worth the time. I didn't expect the petroglyph field to be so large. You can walk pretty much around the entire field to see the glyphs from various angles and viewpoints. You can also see the observatories on Mauna Kea off in the distance on a clear day. There are a number of picnic tables on the beach end of the parking lot, most shaded by trees. read more

Nice little spot on the grounds of the mauna lani resort. Small but adequate parking lot by the glyphs, as well as a bathroom right there. The petroglyph trail is 0.7 miles each way, and starts from a corner of the parking lot on the far end from the beach. The first little bit is asphalt and leads to some petroglyphs, and is totally accessible to people with mobility issues. The rest is uneven and rocky dirt, and not accessible, although certainly not a difficult walk. read more

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If you don't have a car, are staying at the Fairmont, and don't have access to other petroglyph hikes, this may be interesting to you. However, having seen other petroglyphs in the area, the Puako is a big disappointment. The walk is pleasant enough, if not boring - about 2-3 miles round trip underneath old mesquite trees which shade you from the blazing sun. But the petroglyphs are virtually non-existent till you get to the very end - a large field of dried lava rocks with some very unique symbols, which are cordoned off by a wooden fence. To reach the petroglyph field park at the parking lot for the beach and go INLAND and not towards the beach - which is everyone's first instinct while vacationing in Hawaii. There is a sign at the trailhead, and about less than half a mile you'll come to an open circular field with strategically placed petroglyphs which appear FALSE. They are too perfect and new and are uniformly placed in a circle. However, there is no sign stating this, nor is there any indication that this is not really the REAL petroglyphs. A few feet into the forest there is another circular field, strewn with gravel, and more petroglyphs placed strategically around a circle. Some appear new while others are more faded. Again, no signs. What are we looking at? Are there more petroglyphs? Is the meaning of life to wander aimlessly in the blazing 82+ degree afternoon sun of the Big Island, looking for symbols on rocks which may or may not be real? It's not until you walk through 1+ miles of rooty creaky and somewhat sinister-looking mesquites do you finally see the Puako Petroglyphs. The field is well preserved and harbors many petroglyphs which we have not seen elsewhere, but we are not allowed to get close to the rocks for fear of erosion, so we can only walk the perimeter. We met only two other German tourists on the route, who got fed up right before discovering the field and turned back. More markers on the trail would have been helpful, as the actual walk is boring, relentless and unending - like a Steven Seagal movie. You go through the motions, but your heart obviously isn't in it. The path, though fairly easy to navigate even for non-hikers, is strewn with mesquite branches and their thorns, so thick--soled shoes are a must. If you have never seen petroglyphs and have some time to kill, this might be fun, but otherwise, head the other direction. For the beach. read more

History and culture are one and the same, at least when you are interested in both of them intertwined with sightseeing on a day re-discovering the island. At least, that's how I saw things. I had time to kill, so I ventured to the Holoholokai beach park on a Saturday afternoon with a friend of mine. Thereafter, I saw signage to see the Puako petroglyphs nearby. And so, we went there with just an open mind and a sheer interest in what was there. It was cool to see photos on yelp as a preview to actually seeing the petroglyphs. This made it more easier to spot and identify them while out and about. The entire experience here at the Puako petroglyphs was anti-climatic but st the same time exciting to see history and the native Hawaiian cultures come alive. The hike was pretty short, with a 1.5 mile hike one way, I believe. Nothing too strenuous or back breaking. It's one of those must-do while you are here in Waikoloa, big island. Overall, I thought that the non hawaiian "petroglyphs" were disappointed and very disrespectful. It was concerning that there are stuff like that very new to the very old native Hawaiian art. I guess that's how it is. I spent about an hour here just observing and admiring what beautiful art they had left behind for us. The legacy of these people and these petroglyphs reminds us how far we've come as a civilization and as humanity itself. From the dawn of time to cars and advanced thinking in the 21st century, humanity has done a lot and many amazing things to help shape the natural course of events. These petroglyphs here are just one reminder of how early Hawaiians lived here on the big island of Hawaii. The overall experience here at the Puako Petroglyphs was pretty neat and quite an educational enlightening one as well. The location to the Puako petroglyphs is hard to find, but I guess the general location would be around the Waikoloa beach area. You will need to use gps for that, since I got loss trying to find it using actual directions while driving. Not too good. Without the gps, I wouldn't have bothered, but thank goodness I did not. Getting here it's pretty easy, there is a small parking area so you can park wherever you desire. I think this is a free place to visit, so I did not have to pay any admission fee for this, which is always a good and amazing for me. Basically, ballin' on a budget. Lol Just like a beach or anything that people think it is boring or just not interesting, the Puako petroglyphs is something many locals and visitors alike can benefit from. History and what makes us human stems from these petroglyphs and remind us how civilized we may have been back in the day to how we are now as humanity continues to grow and evolve. Since this place is pretty much out in the open air, there's no public wifi, so that's a bust. I would recommend coming to these petroglyphs, if you are in the area and interested or just maybe you are wanting to see something different on your vacation to the big Island. Or maybe you're just bored, like me either Saturday afternoon. Whichever the case, it'll do you some good to see this. Definitely recommended on your to do list while on the big Island of Hawaii. 5.0 stars overall. Luaus are great but this is some legit ancient Hawaiian stuff! Support local! A read more

Most of what you want to see is at the very front of the hike, so no need to venture through if you aren't into hiking. There are around 10 petroglyphs at the start and 10 at the end of a mile long hike. read more

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At first we couldn't find it but when we were about to leave we saw the sign. We reparked and we're able to bring a stroller through the clean comfy path. We then saw nicely laid out petroglyphs relocated from the beach. This was ideal for us since we couldn't do the rocky hike to the shoreline where I've heard it's original location. read more

This is a short hike to a petroglyph field. It's partially shaded but at peak sun, the unshaded portions are punishingly hot. There are petroglyphs that have broken up and placed near the beginning but the big payoff is at the end of the trail where you will find a large expanse of rock with many petroglyphs. Check out the beach off the parking lot at the end of your hike. It's pretty and fairly quiet and if you are lucky like we were, you'll spot a sea turtle. read more

I don't get the hype. 0.7 mile walk is fine but the walk/hike is nicer than the end spot. For this to be anything meaningful there needs to be a lot more signage with explanations and background on the carvings. Otherwise it's just rocks with some stick figure carved in it. Back story like those in a museum is key. The walk itself is really nice tho. Interesting terrain and environment. read more

Not worth it! You hike almost a mile and barely see any petroglyphs. If you really want to see some, go to the Waikoloa Preserve.

PUAKO PETROGLYPH PRESERVE: Somehow we had the hardest time finding this ... I guess we did get to the park entrance petroglyphs. These were pretty but gave up on the others. read more

If you take it for what it is, this is a pretty cool and easy excursion. Walk along and look at carvings in the rocks from 100's of years ago. I enjoyed the nice walk and a brief look into the past of how things were. read more