PELE AND HI’IAKA – EPIC OF HAWAII

The Hawaiian epic myth about the fire & volcano goddess Pele and her sister Hi’iaka is a masterpiece of storytelling.

PART ONE

On the Big Island of Hawaii the fire and volcano goddess Pele was relaxing with her younger sister Hi’iaka, the goddess of pathways and wayfarers. Hi’iaka was watching two Hawaiian women performing a Hula dance dedicated to Laka, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility and the deity who had invented Hula dancing. 

Despite Hi’iaka’s excited praising of the dancing girls’ talents Pele found herself bored by the proceedings and fell asleep. Laka, enjoying the dance and the traditional post-dance offerings to her, felt disrespected by Pele’s inattention. Using her powers as the goddess of love she sent a dream to the sleeping Pela – a dream that would have far-reaching consequences and forever change the relationship between the fire goddess and her sister Hi’iaka.Pele dreamed of the most exquisite drumming she had ever heard. While she slept her kino wailua (spirit body or astral form) wandered in search of the source of the music. On the far-off island of Kaua’i, in the village of Ha’ena the drumming was being performed by the handsome young Prince Lohiau and his friend – the priest Pa’oa. 

The passionate percussion performance was part of the heiau ritual that the village was celebrating. (Ruins of the supposed site of Ha’ena still exist, just like ruins of the real-life city of Troy.) When the performance was complete Prince Lohiau returned to his seat among the other celebrants, surrounded by fragrant flowers like maile, hala and lehua.  

As Pele’s kino wailua entered the celebration everyone was awestruck by the beauty of her spirit form. Prince Lohiau only had eyes for her from the moment she entered. He offered her the privileged seat right next to him and the two proceeded to charm each other. 

Eventually the two equally smitten figures took a long walk by themselves. Pele refused Prince Lohiau’s advances and when he asked why she showed him that her kino wailua was insubstantial and proved it to him by inviting him to try to touch her. Lohiau’s hands went right through the fire goddess’ spirit form, convincing him that he was indeed wooing a deity.

Flattered, the Prince turned on even more of his charm and, as dawn approached he convinced Pele to remain there with him so they could talk and enjoy each other’s company longer. One day became two days and two became three and still Pele lingered, unable to tear herself away from this captivating man. 

Meanwhile, back on the Big Island, Pele’s sister Hi’iaka was concerned by the fact that the fire and volcano goddess had not stirred in days, since falling asleep during the Hula dancing. Hi’iaka became convinced that Pele’s spirit form had wandered to the land of the dead ruled over by the goddess Milu, never to return. +++

PART TWO HERE.   PART THREE HERE.

PART FOUR HERE.   PART FIVE HERE.

PART SIX HERE.   PART SEVEN HERE.

PART EIGHT HERE.   PART NINE HERE.

PART TEN HERE.   PART ELEVEN HERE.

PART TWELVE HERE.   PART THIRTEEN HERE.

PART FOURTEEN HERE.   PART FIFTEEN HERE.

PART SIXTEEN HERE.   PART SEVENTEEN HERE.

PART EIGHTEEN HERE.   PART NINETEEN HERE.

PART TWENTY HERE.   PART TWENTY-ONE HERE.

PART TWENTY-TWO HERE.   PART TWENTY-THREE HERE.

PART TWENTY-FOUR HERE.   PART TWENTY-FIVE HERE.

PART TWENTY-SIX HERE.   PART TWENTY-SEVEN HERE.

PART TWENTY-EIGHT: CONCLUSION HERE.

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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