New Day Cafe: Hawaiian Petroglyphs

Welcome to the New Day Cafe! This is an open thread.

This is pretty cool: For the first time in a decade, 400 year old Hawaiian petroglyphs are visible off O’ahu.

Ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs emerged on Oʻahu’s shores this month for the first time since 2016. The more than 400-year-old sacred carvings contain human figures, one of which may represent the demigod Maui, and hold religious significance for Native Hawaiians.

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— Hyperallergic (@hyperallergic.com) August 8, 2025 at 9:32 AM

“On the Western shores of Oʻahu, natural wave activity revealed an approximately 115-foot-long stretch containing 26 petroglyphs this month for the first time since they were discovered in 2016.

The early Hawaiian carvings resembling stick figures extend into the property of the Pililaau Army Recreation Center in Waianae. Because the petroglyphs were discovered on army property, a spokesperson for the United States Army Garrison of Hawaii told Hyperallergic that its team of archaeologists is responsible for stewarding the artifacts, though the site is thought to carry sacred and religious significance for Native Hawaiians.

The petroglyphs were carved into beach stone, according to a report shared with Hyperallergic, though the specific dates of their creation are unknown. Attempts have been made to carbon date the carvings, but they have been unsuccessful, the military said. In a press release from when the petroglyphs were first spotted, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources estimated that the panels are more than 400 years old.”