Pele is an ancient goddess of Hawaii that is said to be responsible for the volcanic activity of the island. She is a goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. There are many legends and stories about people on the island meeting a mysterious woman who may be young or old who is the goddess in disguise. She is said to have been buried on an island off of Maui, but her spirit still roams the islands. When I was in Hawaii, I was told that she mainly resides on the big island of Hawaii. According to wikipedia:
In one version of the story, Pele is daughter of Kanehoalani and Haumea in the mystical land of Kuaihelani, a floating free land like Fata Morgana. Kuaihelani was in the region of Kahiki (Kukulu o Kahiki). She stays so close to her mother's fireplace with the fire-keeper Lono-makua. Her older sister Nā-maka-o-Kahaʻi, a sea goddess, fears that Pele's ambition would smother the home-land and drives Pele away. Kamohoali'i drives Pele south in a canoe called Honua-i-a-kea with her younger sister Hiʻiaka and with her brothers Ka-moho-aliʻi, Kane-milo-hai, Kane-apua, and arrives at the islets above Hawaii. There Kane-milo-hai is left on Mokupapapa, just a reef, to build it up in fitness for human residence. On Nihoa, 800 feet above the ocean she leaves Kane-apua after her visit to Lehua and crowning a wreath of kau-no'a. Pele feels sorry for her younger brother and picks him up again. Pele used the divining rod, Pa‘oa to pick her a new home. A group of chants tells of a pursuit by Namakaokaha'i and Pele is torn apart. Her bones, KaiwioPele form a hill on Kahikinui, while her spirit escaped to the island of Hawaiʻi. (Pele & Hi'iaka A myth from HAwaii by Nathaniel B. Emerson)Some of the other gods of Hawaii include (per wikipedia):
- the four gods (ka hā) – Kū, Kāne, Lono, Kanaloa
- the forty male gods or aspects of Kāne (ke kanahā)
- the four Hundred gods and goddesses (ka lau)
- the great Multitude of gods and goddesses (ke kini akua)
- the spirits (na ʻunihipili)
- the guardians (na ʻaumākua)
The Kahunas of Hawaii were priests, magicians, sorcerers, and crafts people that had learned special knowledge or skills. Kahunas were frowned upon after missionaries came to Hawaii; however, the Kahuna is coming back to the Hawaiians.
By Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pele_(deity)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polynesian_mythology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcano
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_volcanic_eruptions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lava
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_religion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kahuna
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