P.F. “Ski” Kwiatkowski
A Study of Petroglyphs
Given his piercing blue eyes and Polish last name, it would be easy to assume that P.F. “Ski” Kwiatkowski is something other than a master of Hawaiian culture and lore. Any initial false impression is quickly dispelled after even a brief conversation. Despite his unassuming demeanor, Ski possesses a wealth of information so vast and varied that to listen to him speak elicits nothing but total respect and awe. A self-taught, highly knowledgeable authority in things Hawaiian, Ski is a cultural historian and artisan whose talents are numerous.
Half Hawaiian, Ski was raised speaking the language, learning song, legend, mythology, and cultural practices, all things that were simply the way of his family. Born and raised on Oahu, he spent more that a decade working for the Police Department as a young man, but knew from the beginning it was not his true passion. Thankfully so, with his wife in hand and little else, he moved to the Island of Hawaii, where he resides today over 35 years later. During this time, he has grown into a respected kupuna (elder) and an expert of sorts on a wide range of topics.
Building on the knowledge absorbed as a child and with information obtained from the State Archives, Bishop Museum, University of Hawaii and from exchanges with experts in the field across the world, Ski educated himself on petroglyph designs and significance. “Petroglyphs are a means of communication. They portray religious, social, and cultural events. They recorded history and significant events like solar eclipses and visits from outsiders. They kept family genealogy.”
His research led him to explore a variety of other topics, including gourd and kappa cloth making, mat weaving, and kakau, the Hawaiian art of tattooing, about which he has also published a book. The common thread throughout this array is the shared designs and images found in these arts.
“The same design has the same name and the same meaning,” Ski says, despite what canvas it is found on. This commonality helped him to decipher the vast array of information found in petroglyph fields across Hawaii. Yet what is perhaps more important than the literal “translation” of these images is understanding their cultural importance. “Petroglyphs are only found where there is mana or the power of the universe.” When children were born, for example, their piko (umbilical cord) would be placed on petroglyphs signifying boy or girl in this manner, the mana of the place could be transferred to the child.
While petroglyphs are found throughout Polynesia, Ski has found an anomaly in Hawaiian petroglyphs. “There is writing, an alphabetic script that has phonetic value.” When deciphered, it reveals the meaning of the petroglyphs. What is equally fascinating is the idea that “what should be uniquely Hawaiian is found in other parts of the Pacific” and vice versa. “This is proof positive that Hawaiians navigated across the ocean.”
Having documented the meaning of at least 70,000 petroglyphs, Ski is a true expert in this field. With development occurring on the Big Island at an ever-increasing rate, the value of Ski’s knowledge is priceless, and he is often consulted to make recommendations for developers. “I help the developer see that preserving our cultural heritage does not need to be a burden,” he states. “If they see the petroglyphs as an asset, they can utilize this cultural aspect to enhance their developments.” Ski’s efforts to preserve the petroglyphs have so far been successful. But with the growing pace of building and the continued desire to sell a piece of paradise to anyone interested, it will take the dedication of more than just one individual to preserve a history thousands of years in the making. It would be a shame if we did not all step up.
Ski Kwiatkowski’s research paper on petroglyphs are culminated in the book “Na Ki’i Pohaku: A Hawaiian Petroglyph Primer”.
Story by: Marina Cole
Photos by: Olivier Koning
Originally published October 2008
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