► Pele's Family Gods

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Thursday, November 26, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"

     If you are fortunate, you may see Pele and her Hiiaka sisters when visiting Kilauea Iki. There are seven Hiiaka sisters, all younger than Pele and devoted to her as good alii sisters should be.

     Each Hiiaka has a name that distinguishes her from the others. The name indicates her personality.

     The first is Hiiaka-Kapu-Ena-Ena (Hiiaka of theburning tabu) If she is called Hiiaka-Pu-Ena-Ena, the name means "Hiiaka of the burning hills."

     The second sister is Hiiaka-Wawahi-lani (Hiiaka breaking the heavens for the heavey rain to fall.)

     The third is Hiiakanoholani (Hiiaka-dwelling in the skies).

     The fourth is Hiiaka-makole-wawahi-waa (Hiiaka the fire-eyed canoe breaker).

     The fifth: Hiiaka-kaa-lawa-maka (Hiiaka with the quick glancing eyes).

     The sixth: Hiiaka-ka-lei-ia (Hiiaka encircled by garlands of smoke clouds).

     The seventh and youngest Hiiaka is the best known of the sisters. She is Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hiiaka in-the-bosom-of-Pele).

     These girls were born long, long ago to Haumea, the goddess known as Earth's pali. Their father was the great god Ku. They lived far, far away in the South Seas on a beautiful Island.

     The Hiiakas had two elder sisters, Namaka-o-ka-hai, Queen of the Ocean, and Pele, the fire goddess.

     These two sisters were always quarreling. Their quarrels were the eternal battle between fire and water.

     Pele aggravated Namaka by building fires and littering the nice sandy beaches of their Island home.

     Pele was angered when Namaka swept away the fires she had built.    

     The row between Namaka and Pele became intense when Namaka caught Pele flirting with her husband.

INTENSE
     The row was so intense that Pele decided she would have to leave home.

     So, Pele called in her brothers and sisters and announced she was seized with wanderlust and she asked her father for a sea-going canoe which would carry her and her brothers and sisters to foreign lands.

     "What will you do with your little egg sister?" asked Ku.

     Pele took the egg, wrapped it in her skirt to keep it warm, and said the egg would always remain near. This is how the youngest of the Hiiakas received her name Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hiiaka-in-the-bossm-of-Pele.)


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