Help us protect these ki'i pōhaku 

• Making rubbings or molds of the ki'i pōhaku are strictly prohibited ​as it causes irreversible damage to the ki'i.
• Be mindful of where you step as ki'i pōhaku ​are often difficult to discern.

nā ki‘i pōhaku​ | petroglyphs

Ki'i pōhaku, literally translated as "stone image" are significant and deliberate marking that were carefully pecked into stone by the ancient Hawaiians. Ki'i pōhaku are found throughout different parts of these islands and each image can inform us about how a place was used in the past.

The ki'i pōhaku (petroglyph) pecked into the smooth pāhoehoe lava found at Kalaemanō depicts several image types, including poho (cup like hollows), lā (crab claw sails), and elaborate anthropomorphic (human-like) images. These ki'i pōhaku reflect some of the traditional uses  of Kalaemanō, which include travel, fishing, and open ocean voyaging.

The best way to view these ki'i pōhaku is to turn your body towards the sun as this will help to cast a shadow into the hollowed out areas, making the image appear more visible to the naked eye.

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