VOLCANIC MYTHS AND STORIES
Pele, is the Hawaiian Goddess of volcanoes.
Pele had frequent moments of anger, which brought about eruptions. She
was both honored and feared. She could cause earthquakes by stamping her
feet or volcanic eruptions and fiery lava by digging with her Pa'oa, her
magic stick. Long strands of volcanic glass, have been called Pele’s
Many of the stories were created to explain some
of the odd but beautiful structures that were formed. For instance rocks
that look like tree trunks are given this story. "Pele is a
skilled rider of the holua, a wooden sled that slides down steep stone
ramps. Papalauahi and and other chiefs challenged Pele to see who was
the best holua rider. Papalauahi proved by far to be the most skilled.
Pele lost her temper. She produced a great flood of lava which overran
many of the chiefs and onlookers and they became stone pillars."