Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological District

The petroglyphs are kiʻi pōhaku — stone images — and the protection rules are real. Stay on the boardwalk, even though most of the carvings are off it. Do not touch the carvings. Do not make rubbings — they accelerate weathering of the lava surface. Do not stack stones nearby. The piko cupules — small drilled depressions — were where Hawaiian families deposited the umbilical cords of newborns; treat them as you would any active piece of cultural practice. Photograph from the boardwalk only. The Mauna Lani Resort and Hawaiian cultural organizations co-manage the site.