Mysterious petroglyphs recently reappeared on Hawaii’s Pōkaʻī Bay beach for the first time since 2016. The 26 carvings, believed to be 600 to over 1,000 years old, depict human-like stick figures and may represent religious or ceremonial stories. Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner Glen Kila said, “It’s telling the community that the ocean is rising,” suggesting the carvings are ancient warnings about climate change and environmental shifts.

The figures became visible after tides pulled back on July 23. Archaeologist Laura Gilda noted, “18 of the 26 petroglyphs appear to be anthropomorphic stick figures.” One large figure with hands pointing up and down is believed to symbolize the sun’s rise and fall. Kila linked it to Maui, the legendary demigod who “snared the sun” and “pulled the islands from the sea.”

Just days after their reappearance, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the strongest there since 1952. Tsunami warnings followed, and waves reached northern California and Washington.

While there’s no proven connection between the quake and the carvings, Kila said Native Hawaiians see their reemergence as a spiritual sign: “It’s a religious symbol,” much like the cross in Christianity.