► 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.)


NEXT: Pele and her canoe

► The Kahuna: Importance of Prayer

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Monday,June 15, 1959 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"

     "Daddy Bray, how many of these haole "seekers of the truth" ask you about prayer?"

     "To date there have boon only four," he replied. I asked:

     "Isn't it prayer that unlocks the secrets of the ancient Kahuna?"

     "Yes," he said. "I try to tell them - but a man has to have a certain spiritual development before he is willing to ask. Each of these seekers for truth has to learn that they do not know all and that they must learn from a higher power.

OPEN BIBLE

     "I try to tell them that they d not need to pray to Kane, Ku or Lono. They have only to open their Bibles and truth will be unfolded.

     "I give them certain chapters to read. If they are sick or in trouble, I tell them I will assume their burdens for a certain length of time... after that, it is up to them.

     "To help them focus their minds, I give them simple little rituals to carry out at the time they read the Bible.

     "I teach them about the four elements of the Hawaiian - earth, air, fire and water. These four elements account for all life. Then there are the upper and the lower forces.

     "Upper forces come from the heaven. They bring enlightenment and harmony. Lower forces are of the earth - they bring greed envy and hate.

HUMBLENESS

     "The Kahuna approaches God in humbleness. He prays to know his own sins then asks forgiveness for them. He them seeks harmony between himself and the people amongst whom he lives. It is only them the Kahuna achieves harmony with God.

     "It is only then that the Kahuna can ask for blessings or the knowledge of how to treat the sick or those in trouble.

     "Most people do not know how to pray. They pray aloud to be heard. They make demands upon God.

     "As a result, they make a god of themselves and they arose hate in themselves and in others.

     "Instead of receiving an answer to their prayer, they become confused - for hatred breeds confusion."

NEXT: The rathole

► Chinese Lore for Chinese-Hawaiians - 21 : The Cemetery

Honolulu Star Bulletin, Wednesday, February 27, 1957 - Clarice B. Taylor's "Tales about Hawaii"

    In selecting a site for a cemetery, the Chinese thought of the dragon, the symbol of Heaven, earth and sea.

     If the dragon were happy, then the Chinese reasoned that the spirits of his father and mother would be at peace and happy.

     The site must be on a mound with undulating curves where the imagination of the Chinese pictured the dragon (lum) resting at ease.

     The mound must be enclosed by mountains and have a nice view of the heavens, the mountains and the water.

     These three things, heaven, earth and water would make the dragon happy and so make the spirits of those buried there happy.

     Westerners who knew better are horrified when they visit China and see the most beautiful spots occupied by cemeteries. They do not realize the philosophy behind the selection of the site.

Manoa Chinese Cemetery Welcome Gate

     Manoa Chinese Cemetery on Oahu is a perfect cemetery site.

     It fulfills all the needs - mountains at the back and sides, an undulating mound, and a beautiful, serene view of the sky and seacoast.




A TREE
     If there be no tree growing atop the mound to provide shade and comfort, the Chinese will plant a tree. The tree provides an excellent place for the spirits to rest in and look at the view.

     The mountains surrounding the Manoa cemetery are perfect for this reason. They act as the back and arms of a chair so that the dragon can rest.

     The mountains shut off strong winds, so that a hard wind cannot sweep the spirits away from their peaceful home.

OBLIGATION
     The view from the cemetery fulfills and important obligation. It is peaceful and has the water of the ocean in front.

     The ocean, a stream or a ditch in front of the cemetery is important because spirits are apt to get restless if something goes wrong with their descendants.

     The spirits may wander away from their cemetery home, but when they come to water they turn back and find their homes.

     Spirits never attempt to cross water, nor are they ever drowned in it.

     NEXT: Foong shui.