Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
selves into the sea as a means of proving their valor. The 80-foot height from which the
lele kawa
—cliff jumping—took place, however, wasn't the tricky part; it was clearing the
15-foot rock ledge that protrudes from the base of the cliff and breaks the feet and legs of
those who underestimate the distance. This spot is so revered as a historic cliff jump that
Red Bull included Kaunolu on the world tour of the cliff diving circuit and a few dare-
devil visitors still continue to make the leap today. Since medical help is so far removed,
however, leave the cliff diving to the professionals.
The good thing about the
Luahiwa Petroglyphs
is they are only 10 minutes from Lana'i
City and accessible with two-wheel drive. The bad part is they have been permanently
scarred by modern graffiti (such as people scratching their names into the rocks—I'm talk-
ing about you, “Keoki”), and they no longer resemble the rock art they originally must
have been. The petroglyphs at Kaunolu and Kaiolohia are in better shape but require a two-
hour round-trip drive from Lana'i City. There are also a greater number of petroglyphs at
Luahiwa—nearly 1,000 drawings—and bouncing from one rock to the other will reveal a
different tale emblazoned on the out of place boulder formations. While 95 percent of the
drawings are believed to be from pre-Western times, some etchings, such as those featur-
ing horses, suggest that the petroglyphs offered a multigenerational canvas for recording
Lana'i's varied history.
To reach the Luahiwa Petroglyphs, head south on Manele Road from Lana'i City as
if you're driving down toward Hulopo'e Beach Park. After 1.5 miles turn left at a small
building on the left side of the road. If you notice a locked gate, then proceed to the dirt
road which immediately parallels it on your left-hand side. Head down this road for 0.7
miles until you reach a Y-junction, at which point you will go left again. After 0.3 miles
you will make an extreme right-hand turn (almost doubling back the way you came) up
onto a higher road. If you're unsure if this is the correct turn, look for a rock just after the
intersection which has the name “Luahiwa Petroglyphs” emblazed on it facing the opposite
direction. Proceed for 0.4 miles on the upper road until you reach another rock which says
“Luahiwa,” and park in the small dirt pullout. The petroglyphs are on the large boulders at
the base of the hill, and a thirty-second scramble through the bush will bring you face-to-
face with the ancient rock carvings.
