These simple impressions embody the essence of Pu'uloa

Pu'uloa is a place where families with genealogical ties to the land bring the piko, or umbilical cord, of their child, hoping that the mana of Pu'uloa will bless the child with a long and prosperous life and root them to their ancestral lands. Its name, meaning large hill, carries the hidden meaning of a hill of long life. Kūpuna brought children there and created a puka where each piko would rest, sealed under a stone. Each puka was made to hold a single child's piko, and among more than 23,000 petroglyphs at Pu'uloa, 16,000 are piko-related carvings, showing the importance of both Pu'uloa and 'ohana. The design of each piko puka is unique, with some carved deep, some shallow, and others more elaborate, with multiple holes arranged in a circle, encircled, or in a line. Regardless of style, these petroglyphs unite generations of Hawaiian families past, present, and future.

Royal Hawaiian Estates, Hawaii · United States