PELE AND HI’IAKA: EPIC OF HAWAII PART NINETEEN

Haena on the island of Kauai

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

PART NINETEEN

Hi’iaka and her mortal traveling companion Wahine approached the sorceresses named Kilioe and Kalanamainu’u, ready for battle. The naked sorceresses who had stolen the corpse of Prince Lohiau were fighting on their home turf there in their cavern hideaway, where they were familiar with every shadowy tunnel and corner. 

Any advantage that may have provided Kilioe and her sister witch was lost the minute Hi’iaka saw Lohiau’s corpse on the mats that lined the floor. It was then that she realized that her speculation was right – the pair of sorceresses had used their dark magic to preserve Lohiau’s body in all its male glory. They had never been able to woo the late prince in life but wanted him all to themselves in death.    

The goddess was filled with a combination of hope for the possibility of reuniting Lohiau’s corpse with his wandering spirit and disgust at the vile way Kilioe and Kalanamainu’u had been using the prince’s dead body. Fueled by these conflicting passions Hi’iaka used her divine powers to bombard her foes with wave after wave of ancient energies.   

Ricocheted waves of those incomprehensible forces began billowing from the mouth of the cave as the evil sorceresses fought back against Hi’iaka. The multi-hued layers of energy caused panic among Prince Lohiau’s friends and family, watching the action from far below.

Various forms of animal life on the island of Kauai were attracted by the spectacle as well. Not only that but Lohiau’s wandering spirit was drawn to the vicinity by the peculiar light and sound show generated by the eldritch forces being flung around. As the spirit entered the mouth of the cave, Wahine recognized it and called out to Hi’iaka that Lohiau’s soul was nearby.   

Hi’iaka then realized the shrewd game her foes were playing. Sensing that they would stand no chance against her, the witches were simultaneously fighting her and using their magic to lure Lohiau’s spirit there. No matter what their own fate was the sorceresses planned to deprive Hi’iaka of ultimate victory by eradicating the prince’s soul, just as she had done to the evil King Olepau (see Part Ten).   

With incredible finesse Hi’iaka managed to mystically snare Prince Lohiau’s spirit, then overpower Kilioe and Kalanamainu’u while their anger over her success distracted them. Thoroughly overcome on both the physical and astral plane the pair of witches slumped to the floor of the cave, dead. +++ 

Be here next time as our adventurers at last encounter Tom Bombadil! 

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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