Reading the Ancient Stories
Understanding the Language Carved in Stone
Written by a Cultural Expert
Leilani AkoThese Aren't Random Scratches—They're a Language
These aren't random scratches. They're a language. A record of life, beliefs, and dreams. While we can't decode every message, patterns emerge. Common images that repeat across the field.
Understanding these patterns helps you read the stone stories. Like learning vocabulary in a foreign language, each symbol adds to your comprehension. The more you know, the more you see.
Each symbol category tells us different aspects of ancient Hawaiian life. From daily activities to spiritual beliefs, from family records to navigation aids—the petroglyphs preserve knowledge that would otherwise be lost to time.
Human Figures: Stories of Daily Life
You'll see families holding hands. Dancers in motion. Warriors with spears. Many show the simple stick-figure style that marks the oldest carvings on the island.
The human figures tell us the most about daily life. Family groups show parents and children, often connected by lines representing held hands. These might mark births, marriages, or other family celebrations. The figures vary in size, possibly indicating age or importance.
👥 Family Groups
Connected figures holding hands, often showing parents with children. Size variations might indicate age or social status within the family unit.
💃 Dancing Figures
Bodies in motion with raised arms and positioned feet suggesting hula movements. These might commemorate performances or honor gods through sacred dance.
⚔️ Warriors & Workers
Figures carrying spears, paddles, or tools. These details help us understand the roles people played in ancient Hawaiian society.
📿 Stick Figures
Simple head, body, arms, legs construction. These minimal forms might be the oldest carvings, becoming more detailed as techniques improved over time.
The Sacred Honu: Wisdom and Protection
Sea turtles appear everywhere. In Hawaiian culture, honu represent wisdom and long life. They move between land and sea, connecting both worlds. For many families, the honu serves as an aumakua, a guardian spirit that guides and protects.
Turtle carvings range from simple outlines to detailed renderings. Some show the distinctive shell pattern. Others focus on the characteristic flippers and head shape. The variety suggests different carvers, different time periods, or different purposes.
Turtle Meanings: Large turtle carvings might mark important events. Smaller ones could be personal totems. Groups of turtles might represent family aumakua. The context matters as much as the image itself.
🗿 Common Symbols
- Human figures (families, dancers)
- Sea turtles (honu) - wisdom
- Canoes and sails - voyaging
- Fish and ocean life
- Puka dots - birth rituals
- Geometric patterns
👀 Viewing Tips
- Visit during golden hour
- Bring binoculars
- Use elevated platforms
- Look for patterns
- Take your time
📅 Age Indicators
Oldest (1000-1200 CE) Simple stick figures
Middle (1200-1600 CE) More detailed forms
Newest (1600-1800 CE) Complex compositions
🧭 Continue Learning
🌺 Hawaiian Wisdom
"Nānā ka maka; ho'olohe ka pepeiao; pa'a ka waha."
Observe with the eyes; listen with the ears; shut the mouth. The petroglyphs teach us through careful observation and respectful silence.
Canoes and Ocean Scenes: Masters of the Sea
The ocean shaped every aspect of Hawaiian life. Canoes provided transportation between islands. Fishing supplied protein. Ocean travel connected communities. These themes appear repeatedly in the petroglyphs.
Canoe carvings show impressive detail. Outrigger configurations. Sail positions. Paddler arrangements. These weren't just pictures. They were technical drawings that preserved knowledge about boat construction and navigation.
Voyage Records
Some canoe images might map specific voyages or mark launching ceremonies and successful fishing trips.
Technical Knowledge
Detailed renderings preserved construction techniques and sailing knowledge for future generations.
Master Navigators
The largest canoe carvings might commemorate major journeys or honor master navigators and their achievements.
The Piko Ritual: Most Sacred of All
The most moving images are the simple dots and circles called puka. When a child was born, families would carve a small cup into the stone. They'd place the dried piko (umbilical cord) inside, often covering it with a small stone. This ritual connected the child to the land's spiritual energy, ensuring a long and prosperous life.
Think about that. Each puka represents a life. A hope. A prayer for the future. The entire lava field becomes a living family tree. You're walking among generations, their presence rooted in stone.
The piko ritual deserves special attention because it transforms the petroglyph field from historical site to sacred cemetery. These aren't just birth records. They're burial sites. The dried umbilical cords created permanent connections between children and the land.
Some puka show variations. A simple dot might mark any birth. A dot in a circle could indicate a firstborn. A dot with multiple circles might represent the child of a chief. These coding systems helped families track genealogies across generations.
