The Malama Trail

The Malama Trail: A Narrative Walk Through Time

The true purpose of a visit to Holoholokai Beach Park begins at the trailhead for the Malama Trail. This isn't just a hike. It's a pilgrimage. The trail itself is named Malama, which means "to care for, to preserve, to protect." A fitting name for the path that leads to such a precious cultural treasure.

The Trailhead and the Replicas

Your walk begins on the east side of the parking lot. A paved path winds gently toward a forest of kiawe trees. Almost immediately, you'll notice large lava boulders on either side of the path, covered in petroglyphs. At first glance, you might think you've already found the main site. But these are actually modern replicas. They were placed here by the Mauna Lani Resort as an act of educational stewardship.

These reproductions serve a vital purpose. They invite you to touch them. To run your fingers over the carved lines. To make paper rubbings if you wish. They allow everyone, especially our keiki, to have a tactile experience and understand the three-dimensional nature of the carvings. All without causing any harm to the fragile, centuries-old originals that lie ahead. It's a brilliant way to satisfy curiosity while instilling a lesson in preservation.

Into the Kiawe Forest

Just past the replicas, the pavement ends. The true character of the Malama Trail reveals itself. The path becomes a rugged, uneven track of packed earth and sharp lava rock. It plunges you into the dry, thorny kiawe forest. The air changes here. The roar of the ocean fades. It's replaced by a deep, warm silence broken only by the crunch of your footsteps and the rustle of the wind.

As you walk the roughly three-quarter-mile trail, keep your eyes open. The path is marked by ahus, or small man-made mounds of rock, that guide your way. If you look carefully to the right side of the trail, you might spot a small lava tube cave. Next to this cave is a particularly impressive and clear petroglyph of a honu. A lone sea turtle seemingly swimming across the ancient stone. A hint of the treasures to come.

The walk itself isn't strenuous. Very little elevation gain. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes each way at a leisurely pace.

Arrival at the Sanctuary

After walking through the dappled light of the forest, the trail emerges into the full, bright heat of the Kohala sun. And there it is. The path leads you to a circular wooden boardwalk that encloses the main petroglyph field. A vast, sun-drenched canvas of reddish-brown pāhoehoe lava.

The feeling upon arrival is one of pure awe. You are standing at the edge of a silent, sprawling library where every stone is a page and every carving is a word. Before you lie more than a thousand stories. Etched into the rock by people who lived here centuries ago. A direct and powerful connection to Hawaiʻi's deep past.

The boardwalk is there to protect this sacred ground. It allows you to view this incredible gallery without causing harm. Take a moment here, before you even begin to decipher the images. Simply absorb the scale and the silence of this extraordinary place.