Puako Petroglyphs, May 13

Male trunkfish

We’ve snorkeled at a lot of areas here on the Big Island.  Two days ago we went on the very rough road to Kekaha-Kai State Park.  After two miles of road over broken lava — which is much better now than when we started on it last year and turned back — you come to a nice snorkeling beach.  In the morning it was quite calm, but it got rough in the afternoon, and since the entry and exit to the water is shallow and over slippery stones, it wasn’t easy.  Enid cut her knee in the afternoon while coming in.

Puako petroglyphs

Yesterday we stayed at the condo, swam in the pool, and read, so today was time for another adventure.  We drove to the Mauna Lani resort area and went in to the Puako Petroglyphs.  There are some on display right near the trailhead at the parking area.  After a walk of a little over a kilometre there are easily visible several hundred petroglyphs.  Almost all of them are carvings of human figures — stick men.

Holoholokai Beach

We came back from the petroglyphs and went to the rocky beach area.  It was fairly calm, so we went snorkeling about 200 metres north from the picnic tables where it was not too difficult to get in.  The water was very clear, and there were a lot of fish over the excellent coral.  For some reason my waterproof camera case leaked today and flooded.  The camera itself is fine since it is also waterproof, but I got almost no pictures today.

In the afternoon I went snorkeling again, but it was very rough.  I had quite a bit of difficulty getting in through the breaking surf, but once past the rocks it was ok.  However, the camera lens fogged up.  I guess it wasn’t quite dry from the morning, so I got no pictures.  That is unfortunate as I saw a new fish which I haven’t seen before.  It was some type  of red rockfish, but I can’t identify it in my references without a picture.