PELE AND HI’IAKA: EPIC OF HAWAII PART SEVEN

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

PART SEVEN

Hi’iaka, the fern goddess Pa’u’o’pala’e and the mortal woman Wahine arrived near Hilo. A very rickety bridge across a broad chasm seemed the only available path over the Wailuka River far below. The bridge was erected and guarded by Piliamo’o and Nohoamo’o, two evil sorcerors who had so thoroughly mastered dark magic that they had achieved partial godhood.      

Regarded as actual deities by the locals, the sorcerors extorted valuables from the people who lived near Hilo and from anyone else attempting to cross their bridge. If anyone refused to pay the pair of sorcerors the price they demanded then the evildoers would cause one of the planks in the bridge to give way during crossing, plunging the victim to their death on the jagged rocks far below.

Once Hi’iaka heard of this arrangement from mortals who lived in the area she vowed to destroy Piliamo’o and Nohoamo’o. The residents of the area paniced, insisting that resistance to the duo would only anger them and they would thenceforth inflict even crueler torments on the villagers than they normally did. 

In their panic the villagers surrounded Hi’iaka and her traveling companions, threatening mob violence against them unless they agreed not to invite the wrath of Piliamo’o and Nohoamo’o. Hi’iaka realized that the mere mortals did not understand so she used her divine powers to subdue them without harming them.

The people then realized their mistake and fell to worshipping Hi’iaka. The goddess accepted their worship and assured them that she would destroy the false gods Piliamo’o and Nohoamo’o, thus freeing them from the duo’s reign of terror.   

Hi’iaka and her two companions then approached the bridge and the pair of would-be deities while the terrified villagers looked on hopefully. The goddess and the two evildoers exchanged challenges, with each side claiming superior divine powers.

Not only did Hi’iaka refuse to pay the sorcerors the toll to cross the bridge but she demanded that they provide her and her companions with food and drink. The battle lines were drawn. None of the parties would yield to the other and a duel of eldritch energies commenced.    

Hi’iaka never gave an inch of ground, while slowly maneuvering her opponents away from the bridge. A many-colored light show accompanied the energies being slung around prompting Pa’u’o’pala’e and Wahine to cower in awe alongside the villagers. 

In the end Hi’iaka emerged triumphant and she robbed the pair of sorcerors of all their powers. They tried to flee but the goddess pursued them and killed them, ending their vile reign over the region. +++

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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