The Olowalu Petroglyphs at the Olowalu Cultural Preserve in Olowalu, Hawaii (Maui) is an easy 0.3-mile out-and-back walk that leads to ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs in the rocky cliffs of a cinder cone known as Kilea.
Walk Description
This is not really a hike and technically, visitors can park below the petroglyph rock walls, but we found it more fun to park near the entrance to the property and walk the service road as it runs along the cliffs. At the beginning of the hike, in the low-lying cliffs adjacent to the road, you'll find clearly-recent carvings in the rock, but if you look close enough you can actually find a couple of ancient petroglyphs here.
Petroglyhs in the Cliffs
Further down the road sits a larger cliff face that stands about 50-feet tall where two red signs sit off-trail on the slopes of this hill. High above the trail, carved into the rocks, are several petroglyphs of people. This is by far the most prominent of the petroglyphs to view here, but definitely not the last.
If you walk a bit further, you'll find even more petroglyphs in the rocky cliffs high above, but also on the large boulders that sit below these cliffs. It's interesting to think that this ancient cinder cone's cliff side once dropped massive boulders or exposed this cliff face, that people ended up exploring and leaving their own "mark" behind on.
Small Stream / Human-Made Waterfall
After visiting the rocky cliffs, walkers can take a peek at the neighboring Olowalu Stream that cascades down the hillside. Near the bridge is a concrete slab that stretches across the stream, forming a very short but wide human-made waterfall that creates a beautiful pool below - not much taller than 2-feet. Downstream is series of rocks that forms a very small rapid-like cascade as well - not much taller than 1-foot.
Parking
This part is the trickiest as it took us two visits to figure out that this property is indeed available to the public. Visitors will drive down Luawai Street until they reach a large bend in the road near the parking coordinates provided. Take a left-hand turn onto a dirt road that splits into two directions - keep left and you'll find a small service hut on the left-hand side of the road. According to the Maui property map, the property line for the Olowalu Cultural Preserve sits on the western side of this building, thus once you've reached this small building, you're on the Olowalu Cultural Preserve's land. Visitors will find a small parking turnout located next to this small building, which is where this walk begins. You can also drive down the road to find other parking turnouts. Note that turning around further down the road is a bit annoying, so parking and walking makes for less traffic here.
Pets
There were no signs that discouraged dogs, so please be respectful - keep them on-leash and clean up after them.
Respect the Cultural Site - Stay Back, Do Not Touch
This ancient Hawaiian cultural site is open to the public by the Olowalu Cultural Preserve as way to teach the public about ancient people who once lived here. Please stay away from the petroglyphs, do not add your own "carvings" to the rock, and appreciate the ancient rock carvings from the trail / service road. According to the signage, tempering or destroying cultural sites will result in a $10,000 fine by the State of Hawaii.
Respecting the Land
Hawaiian land is considered sacred to native Hawaiians and many locals, so please stay on-trail, take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints. Respect the locals - don't stay for long and have a backup hike planned in case the parking lot is full.
Walk Description
This is not really a hike and technically, visitors can park below the petroglyph rock walls, but we found it more fun to park near the entrance to the property and walk the service road as it runs along the cliffs. At the beginning of the hike, in the low-lying cliffs adjacent to the road, you'll find clearly-recent carvings in the rock, but if you look close enough you can actually find a couple of ancient petroglyphs here.
Petroglyhs in the Cliffs
Further down the road sits a larger cliff face that stands about 50-feet tall where two red signs sit off-trail on the slopes of this hill. High above the trail, carved into the rocks, are several petroglyphs of people. This is by far the most prominent of the petroglyphs to view here, but definitely not the last.
If you walk a bit further, you'll find even more petroglyphs in the rocky cliffs high above, but also on the large boulders that sit below these cliffs. It's interesting to think that this ancient cinder cone's cliff side once dropped massive boulders or exposed this cliff face, that people ended up exploring and leaving their own "mark" behind on.
Small Stream / Human-Made Waterfall
After visiting the rocky cliffs, walkers can take a peek at the neighboring Olowalu Stream that cascades down the hillside. Near the bridge is a concrete slab that stretches across the stream, forming a very short but wide human-made waterfall that creates a beautiful pool below - not much taller than 2-feet. Downstream is series of rocks that forms a very small rapid-like cascade as well - not much taller than 1-foot.
Parking
This part is the trickiest as it took us two visits to figure out that this property is indeed available to the public. Visitors will drive down Luawai Street until they reach a large bend in the road near the parking coordinates provided. Take a left-hand turn onto a dirt road that splits into two directions - keep left and you'll find a small service hut on the left-hand side of the road. According to the Maui property map, the property line for the Olowalu Cultural Preserve sits on the western side of this building, thus once you've reached this small building, you're on the Olowalu Cultural Preserve's land. Visitors will find a small parking turnout located next to this small building, which is where this walk begins. You can also drive down the road to find other parking turnouts. Note that turning around further down the road is a bit annoying, so parking and walking makes for less traffic here.
Pets
There were no signs that discouraged dogs, so please be respectful - keep them on-leash and clean up after them.
Respect the Cultural Site - Stay Back, Do Not Touch
This ancient Hawaiian cultural site is open to the public by the Olowalu Cultural Preserve as way to teach the public about ancient people who once lived here. Please stay away from the petroglyphs, do not add your own "carvings" to the rock, and appreciate the ancient rock carvings from the trail / service road. According to the signage, tempering or destroying cultural sites will result in a $10,000 fine by the State of Hawaii.
Respecting the Land
Hawaiian land is considered sacred to native Hawaiians and many locals, so please stay on-trail, take nothing but photos, and leave nothing but footprints. Respect the locals - don't stay for long and have a backup hike planned in case the parking lot is full.
