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In Hawaiian mythology, 'Pele' is a goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes and violence. She is a daughter of Haumea and Kane Milohai, and lives on Kīlauea.

Contents

The story

Relatives

Trivia

See also

External links

References

The story

Her father exiled her from her homeland, Honua-Mea in Tahiti, because of her bad temper, and a violent personality. She sailed from Tahiti in a canoe guided by her shark-god brother Kā-moho-alii, and was followed by her still-angry elder sister. Every time she landed on an island and created a new volcanic home, it was flooded out by Na-maka-o-Kahai. Finally, the epic battle ended near Hana, Maui, where Pele was torn apart by her sister. Legend says her bones still remain as a hill called Ka-iwi-o-Pele.
Upon death, she became a god and found a home in Kilauea, on Mauna Loa, on the Island of Hawaii. Pele is known for her violent temper, but also for her common visits among mortals. She is said to appear either as a tall, beautiful young woman or as a very old, ugly and frail woman. She is often accompanied by a white dog and typically tests people by asking if they have any food, drink and in more recent times, rides to another part of the island. Those who show kindness are rewarded and spared. Those who are cruel or disrespectful are punished by way of having their homes or crops destroyed. When enraged she may appear as a woman all aflame or as pure flame.
Pele also loves attending social dances, and is known for great jealousy and vengeance when she doesn't get her man. Stories of Pele encounters are common campfire tales. Her presence can be found around the Kīlauea Volcano and Halemaumau Crater in the form of Pele's tears (tear-shaped lava droplets), Pele's hair (babyfine golden strands of volcanic glass), and limu o Pele (thin sheets or flakes of volcanic glass).
Pele is also said to curse Hawaii visitors who return to their homeland with volcanic rock. This is an urban legend, stemming from a story originally created by the late park ranger Russ Apple at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in order to preserve the park. Visitors were damaging sites by removing rocks and artifacts.
However, many lava rock pieces are shipped back to Hawaii from around the world from people who claim to have experienced horrible misfortune since removing the rocks, and asking to be forgiven with letters and a small gift, like a necklace or fresh fruit.
The modern legend does have a strong basis in Hawaiian culture, as the earth is considered the mother of humanity. To wantonly take rocks without good reason and proper protocol is looked on by many Hawaiians and people who have adopted Hawaiian culture as equivalent to grave robbing.
After her battle with Na-maka-o-Kahai, she found new enemies in the snow-goddess Poliahu with whom she fought over Mauna Kea, and the fertility god Kamapuaa, her sometimes lover.

Relatives

Pele's other prominent relatives are:

★ Hiiaka, spirit of the dance

★ Kā-moho-alii, a shark god and the keeper of the water of life

★ Kaōhelo, a mortal sister

★ Kapo, a goddess of fertility

★ Ka-poho-i-kahi-ola, spirit of explosions

★ Kane-Hekili, spirit of the thunder (a hunchback)

★ Ke-ō-ahi-kama-kaua, the spirit of lava fountains (a hunchback)

★ Ke-ua-a-ke-pō, spirit of the rain and fire

Trivia

★ The musician Tori Amos named an album ''Boys for Pele'' in her honor. A single lyrical excerpt from the song "Muhammad My Friend" makes the only musical connection, "You've never seen fire until you've seen Pele blow." Many listeners believe the album title is an allusion to an erroneous, historically incorrect myth that young men were once sacrificed to Pele—thus the title, the sacrificial “boys for Pele.”

★ Simon Winchester, in his book ''Krakatoa'', stated about the Pele myth: "Like many legends, this old yarn has its basis in fact. The sea attacks volcanoes – the waters and the waves erode the fresh laid rocks. And this is why Pele herself moved, shifting always to the younger and newer volcanoes, and relentlessly away from the older and worn-out islands of the northwest."

★ In 2004, American composer Brian Balmages composed a piece entitled "Pele for Solo Horn and Wind Ensemble" on commission by Jerry Peel, professor of French Horn at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. It was premiered by the University of Miami Wind Ensemble under the direction of Gary Green, with Jerry Peel on Horn.

★ Pele is mentioned in the song "Hot Lava" by Perry Farrell on the South Park Album.
:"And after the eruption, we lay dormant for a while
:Let's just hold each other and talk,
:For now, Pele sleeps"

★ Steven Reineke created a musical composition called "Goddess of Fire" which was inspired by the story and life of Pele.

★ A character claiming to be the goddess Pele appeared as a villainess in DC Comics' 1990s ''Superboy'' title, which was set in Hawaii.

See also

Pere, a Cook Islands goddess

External links

★ Mythical Realm: Pele, Goddess of Fire

★ Return Lava Rock to Hawaii

References