PELE AND HI’IAKA: EPIC OF HAWAII PART THREE

Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of the grand and exciting Hawaiian epic about the goddesses Pele and Hi’iaka.

PART THREE

The goddess Hi’ika set off for Kaua’i to retrieve and escort Pele’s chosen mate Prince Lohiau back to Pele’s home on Mount Kilauea. In some versions she is first granted some additional divine power by Pele to help her fight her way past the countless menaces that lay in her path. 

As traveling companions Hi’iaka chose her female friends Wahine and Pa’u’o’pala’e, the fern goddess. The beauty of these three ladies served as a magnet to attract crowds of men as they traveled along.

At one point three particularly persistent men were so love-struck at the sight of Hi’iaka and her companions that they attempted to embrace the trio. Hi’iaka used her powers to make the men think that three nearby rocks were really the ladies and as the importunate males canoodled with those rocks Hi’iaka and company traveled on.

In some versions of this myth it is not until now that Wahine joins Hi’iaka and Pa’u’o’pala’e. In those acccounts Wahine mistook Hi’iaka for Pele herself and offered to sacrifice a wild boar to her. Hi’iaka corrected the woman’s mistake and told her the way to sacrifice the animal to the real volcano and fire goddess.

Pele accepted the sacrifice and instructed Wahine to join Hi’iaka on her journey. Next the trio of ladies reached Kuolo on the Big Island. Here a party of flower girls caught sight of them and prostrated themselves before them, begging to serve them. One of the young ladies – named Pa-Pulehu – came from a very prominent family and offered to provide a meal for our traveling threesome.  

Hi’iaka and her companions accepted and a lavish banquet was served. Pa-Pulehu’s family were very impressed with the regal bearing of the trio and wondered if they were royalty from some far-off island. Hi’iaka asked the assembled family to lower their heads and close their eyes. The family did so and after one brief moment Hi’iaka told them to open their eyes. They did so and marveled at the sight before them – every bit of the meal was gone.

This miracle convinced the assembled banqueters that the ladies must be goddesses and they immediately showed them worship. When the time came to move on Hi’iaka asked if Pa-Pulehu could accompany her and her companions. The girl’s parents said yes and the group – now four strong – resumed their journey. +++   

I’LL CONTINUE THE STORY SOON. CHECK BACK ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK FOR UPDATES.

FOR MY LOOK AT THE TOP ELEVEN GODS IN HAWAIIAN MYTHOLOGY CLICK HERE

FOR ANOTHER EPIC MYTH CLICK HERE:   https://glitternight.com/2013/03/17/iroquois-epic-myth-hodadeion/

FOR SIMILAR ARTICLES AND MORE OF THE TOP LISTS FROM  BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE:  https://glitternight.com/top-lists/

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