Pele, goddess of fire, lightning, wind and Volcanoes. According to Hawaiian mythology, she created the Hawaiian Islands. She must be angry about something, as Kilauea Volcanoe has been erupting since January 3, 1983, to the present day, when the 2018 lower Puna Eruption started on May 3, 2018. On May 4 there was a 6.9 earthquake. More outbreaks of lava from new fissures in the Puna area occurred. People are evacuating. Losing their homes and their lands, as the lava continues to flow down to the Ocean.
The population of the Big Island of Hawaii always knew that this could occur. Property is much cheaper than Oahu, Maui or Kauai, due to the activity of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. This is a major eruption, the first I have seen in the 25 years I have lived here.
What does a volcanoe erupting on the Big Island have to do with old native Hawaiian legends in this day and time? Most of Hawaii is Christian now! Are people praying to Pele for protection? Will this join the stories of Pele, goddess of fire and volacnoes? Part of the Hawaiian culture is the rich history of the goddesses and gods of ancient Hawaii. What stories of Pele are told?
I found Hawaiian legend, tradition and mythology fascinating! Hawaiian religion was polytheistic, the Polynesians who lived here worshiped gods and goddesses, the most famous being Pele. I began my journey by going to hear one of Hawaii's well-known story teller and Professor at UH Manoa, Glen Grant. He was at a local beach one night, everyone sitting on the grass in beach chairs, intently listening to the "chicken skin" (scary, goosebumps) stories that Glen was telling. My husband had him sign a copy of his book I had, the first of what would be my collection. I gained much knowledge from his books.
Pele lives in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. A pit crater located within the much larger summit caldera of Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The circular crater is 2,530 feet by 2,950 feet. Halemaʻumaʻu is home to Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes, according to the traditions of Hawaiian mythology. Halemaʻumaʻu means "house of the ʻāmaʻu fern".
How many fissures have opened since May 3? Over 20 fissures have opened resulting in the destruction of at least 82 structures in lower Puna, evacuations of approximately 2000 residents.
Outbreaks of lava fountains up to 300 feet high, lava flows and volcanic gas in the Leilani Estates subdivision were preceded by earthquakes and ground deformation that created cracks in the roads. The gas emitted from the lava flows is toxic and cannot be breathed in. One man was injured sustaining a broken hip when he was hit by a lava rock from an eruption, when he was standing outside of the evacuation area. That is a lot of force!
Lava rivers flowing down from Kilauea to the ocean have crossed and closed part of Route 137 continuing on down to the ocean. As of June 4 the number of houses destroyed by the lower Puna eruption was 117, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Seeing the lava streams from on aerial view on the news is actually extraordinary! The good hardworking people living on the Big Island are taking things in stride. After all, what can they do, but pray? And the lava continues in streams into the ocean. A spectacular show from the goddess of fire as she covers up farmland and adds new lava rock land to the island of Hawaii.
The lava that is being ejected into the atmosphere forms thin volcanic ash glass streams that is called Pele's hair. The strands are formed by the glass from lava, lava fountains, lava cascades, and vigorous lava flows. Islanders grow an air fern which is called Peles Hair. Hung from tree branches or off of the bottom of the roof, it will dry out and turn grey, but you still need to water it occasionally to keep it alive! Some people like their Peles hair green, and water it daily. It can grow long, two feet long and up! I have even seen it hung on chain link fencing, making it a part of the fence! The reason some people like it grey, is Pele has long white hair according to legend and is often seen with a white dog. Lava is a sacred piece of the fire goddess. It is bad luck to pick up a lava stone if you are a tourist, to take home with you. You will have bad luck, and the Big Island of Hawaii has hundreds of tourists returning lava rock each year, claiming that they were having bad luck. Don't mess with Pele and take a piece of her home with you!
Even as Kilauea is erupting and people are trying to find out if they still have homes to go to, there are those individuals who are collecting the Peles hair when it cools down and are selling it on Ebay. Will these people experience a special kind of bad luck from Pele? What kind of person would want to profit from another persons disaster and misfortune?
Watch for Pele! She has been seen as an old woman with long white hair and with her is her white dog! You have to respect the old myths and legends that are still being handed down even until this day, by Native Hawaiians. Two boys who had been out drinking one night, were driving home drunk on the south side of Oahu. In the headlights they saw an old woman with white hair, hitchhiking. They pulled over to pick her up. One boy got in the back seat and gave the front seat to the old lady. She pulled out a cigarette, palmed her hand, and flame came up from her hand to light her cigarette. Now the boys were startiing to get nervous! Down the road a way, they saw a traffic accident, around a hairpin curve, involing a truck and a car. If they had not stopped to pick up the hitchhiker, they would have been the car involved. They got home to the Makiki District of Honolulu, and drove up to a cab stand to let out the old woman. The driver said, "This is a far as we go, Aunty, I will get you a cab to take you the rest of the way." He got out of the car and went to the nearest taxi and told the driver would he please take the old woman where she wanted to go. The taxi driver responed, "What old woman? Only another boy in the back seat." Chills ran down the boys spine as he realized that the hitchhiker was Pele, and that she had saved their lives! She had saved them from the accident they had seen on the road!
