Petroglyphs: The Figure Carvings At Waikoloa

An ancient survivor amidst golf courses, condominiums, resorts, and shopping centers, the Waikoloa petroglyph site runs alongside the King’s Highway, itself based on an ancient trail. Ancient carvings in a setting like this are not likely to survive unscathed, and large quantities of them have been destroyed by construction activities. At least a few thousand persist, however.

Note that the stick figures are believed to be older than the triangle-bodied figures. Two of these carvings (the second and the last below) can be dated to after 1778, the time of the first known contact with Europeans, led by Captain James Cook. Other carvings, shown elsewhere in the writing gallery, were made as recently as the late 19th century.

Much of the information on this and my other Hawaii pages is from the highly recommend Spirit of Place: Petroglyphs of Hawaii, by Georgia Lee and Edward Stasack. It seems to be the most authoritative account of what we know about the carvings, and the difficulties of knowing what we know. The extensive data it lays out reflects an impressive amount of research, and the authors also appreciate the aesthetic impact of the petroglyphs. The book is out of print and copies are expensive, but you might try the library.

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