cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/5673072

These carvings are visible during low tide, as waves gently roll over rocks covered in algae. Experts date them to be at least 500 to 600 years old, although some of the oral traditions state that Native Hawaiians have been in the area for more than 1,000 years. Carved into a sandstone platform, the petroglyphs extend about 115 feet along the shoreline and include abstract shapes and anthropomorphic human figures, some of which are detailed—two of the large figures even have fingers, a rarity in Hawaiian petroglyphs. The tallest figure is more than eight feet tall.

This reemergence is connected to patterns of seasonal weather. From May to November, Pacific storms churn the waters, scouring sand from beaches and occasionally bringing archaeological features that were obscured by sediment into view. Over time, the sand will eventually return, burying the carvings until they reappear during a shift in coastal dynamics once again.

Specialists monitor the petroglyph site, which lies within the grounds of a U.S. Army recreation area. The shoreline itself is open to the public, but complete access to the adjacent property requires military identification. This has created ongoing controversy about how to preserve this part of Hawaii’s cultural heritage and make it more widely available.

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