The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Monday, November 30, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"
"Pele must be mad."
That is the common remark you hear as soon as a volcanic eruption is announced.
The remark shows how little modern day people know about Pele. Moderns only know her by her destructive force.
As a matter of fact the old Hawaiians think of Pele as "The Earth-Warming Woman". Without the warmth which she gives earth, there would be no green vegetation.
Without Pele, there would be no new earth to enrich the world.
BIRTH PLANS
Before Pele floods the earth with her lava flows, she goes through the pains of childbirth just as a woman does.
The Hawaiian says, "there must be destruction, before there can be new life." Just so Pele burns the old forests, lays waste the fertile lands and covers them with new.
Of course Pele does no create the miracle of new-earth alone. She needs the help of the Lono family who bring rain to the new lava and she needs the help of the Kane family whose members strike the new lava with thunder and lightening. Then she needs the help of the Ku family members who spread green trees and vegetation on her flows.
AIDS SICK
The Pele family are all revered by old Hawaiians for their health restoring abilities. A kahuna (physician) who could not heal a sick person could always pray to Pele and ask her aid. A Kahuna did not pray directly to Pele. He prayed to one of the Hiiaka sisters or one of Pele's brothers and asked for aid.
Pele in turn, would give assistance to the faithful by asking the aid of one of the great gods in heaven.
GOLDEN RULE
Pele was a stern upholder of the Golden Rule law of the Hawaiians. The best known stories of Pele are those which tell of her punishment of those who did not follow this rule.
Pele would appear as an old haggard woman before the house of the proud, rich family. Invariably she would ask for food and be refused.
According to one story, she pointed to a breadfruit tree and asked for one fruit. She was refused. The next day all the fruit fell from the tree.
At the home of an old couple, she asked for food and was invited to come in and share their sweet potatoes.
The old couple were rewarded. When Pele sent a flow toward their home, the flow divided and went around their sweet potato patch and home.
NEXT: More about Pele's Travels
"Pele must be mad."
That is the common remark you hear as soon as a volcanic eruption is announced.
The remark shows how little modern day people know about Pele. Moderns only know her by her destructive force.
As a matter of fact the old Hawaiians think of Pele as "The Earth-Warming Woman". Without the warmth which she gives earth, there would be no green vegetation.
Without Pele, there would be no new earth to enrich the world.
BIRTH PLANS
Before Pele floods the earth with her lava flows, she goes through the pains of childbirth just as a woman does.
The Hawaiian says, "there must be destruction, before there can be new life." Just so Pele burns the old forests, lays waste the fertile lands and covers them with new.
Of course Pele does no create the miracle of new-earth alone. She needs the help of the Lono family who bring rain to the new lava and she needs the help of the Kane family whose members strike the new lava with thunder and lightening. Then she needs the help of the Ku family members who spread green trees and vegetation on her flows.
AIDS SICK
The Pele family are all revered by old Hawaiians for their health restoring abilities. A kahuna (physician) who could not heal a sick person could always pray to Pele and ask her aid. A Kahuna did not pray directly to Pele. He prayed to one of the Hiiaka sisters or one of Pele's brothers and asked for aid.
Pele in turn, would give assistance to the faithful by asking the aid of one of the great gods in heaven.
GOLDEN RULE
Pele was a stern upholder of the Golden Rule law of the Hawaiians. The best known stories of Pele are those which tell of her punishment of those who did not follow this rule.
Pele would appear as an old haggard woman before the house of the proud, rich family. Invariably she would ask for food and be refused.
According to one story, she pointed to a breadfruit tree and asked for one fruit. She was refused. The next day all the fruit fell from the tree.
At the home of an old couple, she asked for food and was invited to come in and share their sweet potatoes.
The old couple were rewarded. When Pele sent a flow toward their home, the flow divided and went around their sweet potato patch and home.
NEXT: More about Pele's Travels
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