AP reporter Jennifer Sinco Kelleher and freelance photographer Mengshin Lin collaborated to capture a rare and visually stunning story — centuries-old Hawaiian petroglyphs newly revealed by shifting sands and tides.
Drawing on her local roots in Waianae, Kelleher timed her visit to the beach using advice from her mother, who recommended a specific low tide. Armed with a smartphone and tripod, she waded through the surf to record ground-level footage. She added cultural and historical depth by interviewing both a Native Hawaiian lineal descendant and a U.S. Army archaeologist.
Lin contributed drone video and still photos that showed the full scope of the rediscovery: 2D stick figure carvings, some as tall as eight feet, stretching across an area roughly one-third the size of a football field. Kelleher also invited the cultural practitioner back to the site for an on-camera interview and filmed additional B-roll of him engaging with the petroglyphs.
The resulting all-formats package brought reverence, clarity and authenticity to a rarely seen Native Hawaiian site — earning widespread use by AP customers and hundreds of thousands of views across platforms.
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