Understanding Malama: More Than Following Rules
Visiting Puako means accepting a trust. In Hawaii, we call this malama. It means to care for, to protect, to preserve. The land cares for us when we care for it. This is our kuleana—both responsibility and privilege.
The concept of malama extends beyond simple rule-following. It's about developing the right relationship with the land. Understanding that you're not just a visitor but a temporary guardian. Recognizing that your actions affect future generations.
Hawaiian culture teaches that everything is connected. The land, the sea, the sky, the people. What happens to one affects all. This interconnectedness creates responsibility. If you damage the petroglyphs, you damage the culture, the history, the mana of the place.
The Challenges These Ancient Images Face
The petroglyphs survived nearly a thousand years of weather, earthquakes, and natural erosion. But they're struggling to survive human impact. Modern visitors pose the greatest threat to these ancient treasures.
I've watched carvings fade during my lifetime. Images that were clear twenty years ago are now barely visible. The damage accelerates with each violation. Once the rock surface is compromised, natural erosion takes over.
✋ Human Touch Damage
Oils from human skin darken the lava rock permanently. What starts as innocent touching becomes permanent staining that obscures ancient images.
👣 Off-Trail Footprints
Stepping on carved areas can crack fragile lava rock, destroying images instantly. Some damage doesn't show immediately but leads to deterioration over time.
🪨 Moving Rocks
Relocating stones destroys historical context. Petroglyphs work as groups, telling stories through combinations of images that took generations to create.
🎨 "Enhancement" Attempts
Using water, chalk, or charcoal to highlight grooves causes permanent chemical damage. These substances penetrate porous rock and never fully disappear.
⚠️ The Accelerating Crisis
Weather provides enough challenges without adding human problems. Rain water pools in carvings, supporting plant growth that can crack rock. Wind carries sand and debris that gradually wears away shallow grooves. Natural erosion is inevitable, but human damage is completely preventable.
🌺 Malama Principles
- Care for the land as it cares for you
- Think seven generations ahead
- You are a temporary guardian
- Everything is connected
- Your actions have consequences
⚖️ Essential Rules
- Don't touch petroglyphs
- Stay on designated trails
- Don't move any rocks
- Take only pictures
- Leave only footprints
- No enhancement attempts
⚖️ Legal Protection
Federal Laws Archaeological sites protected
State Regulations Additional safeguards
Fines Possible Thousands of dollars
🤝 Your Role
- Set good example
- Educate others
- Support conservation
- Speak up politely
- Share responsibly
🌊 Hawaiian Wisdom
"E mālama i ka ʻāina, a mālama ka ʻāina iā ʻoe."
Care for the land, and the land will care for you. This reciprocal relationship is the foundation of malama.
Your Sacred Responsibility: Becoming a Cultural Steward
Every visitor to Puako has the opportunity to become part of the preservation story. Your choices, your behavior, and your advocacy all matter. Here's how you can make a positive difference.
During Your Visit
Follow all site rules completely. Your compliance protects the site and sets an example for other visitors.
- • Take time to really observe
- • Ask questions and read materials
- • Respect other visitors
- • Share space graciously
After Your Visit
Share what you learned with others. Well-informed visitors cause less damage and have better experiences.
- • Support conservation organizations
- • Continue learning about culture
- • Choose responsible tourism
- • Advocate for protection
Long-term Engagement
Consider returning to deepen understanding. Repeat visits reveal new details and create powerful advocates.
- • Bring family and friends
- • Stay informed about threats
- • Support research programs
- • Participate in citizen science
The responsibility is real. Every person who visits Puako becomes a guardian of its stories. Your behavior affects the site's preservation. Your sharing affects other people's understanding. Your advocacy affects political decisions that determine the site's future. But the opportunity is equally real—few experiences connect us so directly to the deep past while asking us to become active participants in preservation.
Climate Change and Future Challenges
Climate change poses new threats to the Puako petroglyphs. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased storm intensity all affect preservation. Understanding these challenges helps us prepare for the future.
Rising Temperatures
Higher temperatures affect visitor patterns and make trail walking more dangerous during peak heat hours.
Sea Level Rise
Higher water levels increase erosion and storm wave reach, potentially threatening coastal petroglyph areas.
Conservation strategies must adapt to these changing conditions. Traditional preservation methods may not work in new environments. Innovative approaches and international cooperation will be essential for long-term success.
