Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs: Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (What to Know)

Article Overview: The Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs

About the Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs

The Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs archeological site is a vast collection of over 23,000 petroglyphs located in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. This site gives visitors an incredible opportunity to observe up close (without touching) an unbelievable array of petroglyphs dating back hundreds of years.

A .7mile path partially consisting of boardwalk takes visitors from the parking area to the site of the petroglyphs.

Best Time to Visit the Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs

The best time to visit the Pu`u Loa Petroglyphs is really any time of day when your schedule allows as lighting is not as much of a factor as some of the areas in the park.

Things to Know Before You Go

DO NOT TOUCH the petroglyphs. They are precious and sensitive archeological and cultural artifacts considered sacred by many local Hawaiians.

Entrance Fees: $30 per vehicle OR if you plan to visit more National Parks within the next 12 months we suggest you go ahead and purchase the America the Beautiful Pass (which can be purchased at any national park). This gets you into all National Parks, Forests, Monuments, and more including 2,000 sites for free after a one time $79 fee.

Cell Service is spotty in the park

There are several restaurants in/around Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. For a list of our favorites check out our “Where to Eat in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park” page.

The Best Time to Visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is November through March when most of the United States is cold for a warm, tropical getaway. Due to it’s proximity to the equator, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is warm year-round.

November-March is known as the rainy season but don’t let that deter you from visiting as rain typically goes as fast as it comes in Hawaii.

About Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Situated on the big island of Hawaii in the heart of the remote south pacific, Hawai’i Volcanoes boasts an awe-inspiring array of massive mountains, exotic wildlife, and fiery volcanoes. Journey with More Than Just Parks as we discover an ever-growing land shaped by fire. This is Hawai’i Volcanoes.

Hawai’i Volcanoes is one of only a handful of tropical national parks in the US. It is one of two Hawaii National Parks. It is also a UNESCO world heritage site.

The proper spelling of Hawaii for the purposes of the park’s title is actually Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

*For the purposes of this post I’ll be using the spellings interchangeably so folks searching for this info will be able to find it as the former is the more searched term.

hawaii volcanoes more than just parks — Kilauea Crater | Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Getting to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Getting to the park is straight forward once you land on the big island of Hawaii. Visitors should rent a car from the airport and drive to the park.

The drive takes about 2 hours from the Kona Airport (which is usually the cheapest flight option). Alternatively you could do the 40 minute drive from the Hilo Airport.

The Hawai’i Volcanoes Video

HAWAI’I VOLCANOES 8K is the culmination of several weeks spent filming in the rugged volcanic landscapes of the national park.

Situated on the island of Hawaii in the heart of the remote south pacific, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park boasts an awe-inspiring array of massive mountains, rare wildlife, and fiery volcanoes. Journey with More Than Just Parks as we discover an ever-growing land shaped by fire.

This is Hawai’i Volcanoes. Filmed primarily in 8K.