As an ancient land made up of many cultures, Hawaii has a history somewhat unique to the rest of the Pacific. Hawaiian gods and goddesses are well known in local culture and stories.

One goddess to be recognized by the rest of the world is Pele, goddess of fire and volcanoes—she works overtime in Hawaii.

Hawaii is an island chain made up of many volcanoes. Niihau and Kauai were the first islands to be formed. The Big Island of Hawaii is the most recent. Indeed, Kilauea remains one of the most active, flowing volcanoes on the Big Island. 

History says that Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes, came to Hawaii from a land far, far away.  Reportedly, she traveled the Hawaiian islands far and near—starting from Niihau and Kauai (which gives us an idea of which direction she was coming from).

“Gods and Goddesses thrived on fire in those days…”Pele’s search was conducted southeastward, toward the Big Island. She was looking for the perfect dwelling place. Apparently some Gods and goddesses thrived on fire in those days so the need for a place that could provide an abundant supply was a real estate requirement.

She bypassed Kauai (older island, not much fire, no spouting volcanoes), crossed over Oahu (too congested, too many people, the traffic is murder) and Lanai, Molokai, and Maui (not enough people?) looking for a place to settle. She found the perfect spot at Halemaumau Crater of Kilauea on the Big Island.  Many people say she dwells still on the Big Island and makes all the lava for Kilauea.

Legend has it that Pele can occasionally be seen by local residents. She is often described as a beautiful woman dressed in fire engine red (what they called it before there were fire engines, I don’t know). Other times she’s seen as an old, weather, craggy-looking woman hitchhiking along lonley highways. As the stories go, if you pass her by and fail to give her a lift, your call will develop trouble.

Of course, that’s tough to document. We don’t have many lonely roads in Hawaii anymore, what with over population and all. And, cars break down all the time for no reason—although this sounds like a fun reason to explain to family and friends.

Assuming you’re sufficiently intimidated by the presence of a craggy old woman along a loneyly highway (and you’re worried about whether you car will start the next day), then, by all means, stop and give the woman a ride.

About the worst that could happen, as the stories go, is that you’ll do most of the talking, and then you’ll turn around and she’ll be gone.

So how bad is that?

Hawaiian literature is replete with accounts of Pele’s love affairs (obviously while she was dressed as a beautiful woman in red—it’d be tough to find a suitor as a craggy old woman—although Barbara Bush did OK) and rampant jealousies.

Some even see her likeness in the steam rising from volcano fissures and cracks.
Many Hawaiians believe her presence is everywhere in the islands. In the long, curly stretches of hardened lava, and in the firey, flowing rivers of lava which head to the sea.

Some even see her likeness in the steam rising from volcano fissures and cracks. When the earth trembles (earth does that when you’re near volcanoes), the stories say she’s upset about something.

I suppose that if you had to spend you days and nights for an eternity while droves of busses, rental cars, and gawking tourists circled your home, you’d get testy from time to time.

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