Hiking the Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail (Lānaʻi Petroglyphs) on Lānaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Distance (Roundtrip): 0.5 miles / 0.8 km
The Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail, more commonly known as the Lānaʻi Petroglyph Trail, is a fairly short and easy day hike on Lānaʻi’s North Shore that leads to some of the most beautifully preserved petroglyphs in all of Hawaiʻi, similar only to the Puʻu Loa Petroglyphs in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
That said, visiting the Lānaʻi Petroglyphs requires a certain level of respect, as there is truly nothing and no one protecting this important cultural site. This is why I ask that you please refrain from marking up, graffitiing, leaving trash, or even touching the +600-year-old petroglyphs. I wish this could go without saying, but some people simply don’t understand this.
In any case, the short 0.25-mile (0.4 km) Pōāiwa Trail to the Lānaʻi Petroglyphs has a number of obvious and not-so-obvious sections, which is why I highly recommend following the route shown below to stay on the easiest path.
Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail is located at the very end of Kaiolohia Beach Road, which is also the parking area for Shipwreck Beach.
Be aware that the pavement ends at the bottom of Keomuku Road, and the last 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the drive is recommended only for 4WD vehicles because the road is very sandy.
Google Maps Directions: Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trailhead
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Hiking the Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail
The Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail begins just past the parking area and the rock marking Shipwreck Beach.
This is where the hike to the Lānaʻi Petroglyphs begins.
That being said, the entirety of the Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail follows a series of trail markers, as seen beginning here at the trailhead, next to the sign.
At this first marker, the Lānaʻi Petroglyph Trail may appear to split, but the correct and easier route is to the left.
After the initial split, the Pōāiwa Trail will climb the one and only hill on the entire hike, gaining roughly 80 ft. (24 m) from the trailhead to the top.
At the top of the hill, the Pōāiwa Petroglyphs Trail notably makes a hard right turn toward the petroglyphs, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away.
This is also where the WWII-era Lānaʻi Shipwreck becomes visible in the distance, which I recommend checking it out either before or after the hike up to Pōāiwa.
Even though the Pōāiwa Petroglyph Trail is short, a hooded sun shirt can really come in handy down here, as there is next to no shade on the entire trail—especially if you decide to walk the shoreline to the shipwreck!
Pōāiwa Petroglyphs
At the end of the trail, the Pōāiwa Petroglyphs can be found on nearly all sides of this boulder outcropping, beneath the surrounding Kīawe trees.
Again, please show respect when visiting the Lānaʻi Petroglyphs and avoid doing anything that could damage or deface this historic site.
'The Bird Man of Lānaʻi'
At least one petroglyph in particular at Pōāiwa is often referred to as 'The Bird Man of Lānaʻi' because of its distinct depiction of a bird-like human figure. This figure, often interpreted as a 'bird man,' is thought to represent a human figure with avian features, though many speculate about its true meaning.
On a different note, the amazing thing about Pōāiwa is how close you can get to the petroglyphs, but again, please do not touch!
I have no words.
Pōāiwa is estimated to date back to the 15th century, and yet, some people still choose to do the wrong thing.
Please don’t be this person!
Native Plants on the Lānaʻi Petroglyph Trail
The Pōāiwa Petroglyphs Trail isn’t known for an abundance of native Hawaiian plants, as the entirety of this low-elevation landscape is dominated by non-native/invasive Kīawe trees.
However, there are still a few that you can find on the hike, including Naupaka, ʻIlima, ʻUhaloa, and the Hoary Abutilon.
If you would like to learn more about these and many other native Hawaiian plants from across the islands, I encourage you to check out my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Native Hawaiian Plant Guide
