Pele and Hi'iaka

One night, as Pele slept in her fire pit at Kilauea, her spirit traveled across the ocean to the island of Kauai. There she heard the sound of drums and followed them to a hula celebration. Among the dancers was Lohiau, a chief of surpassing beauty and grace.

Pele, in spirit form, appeared to Lohiau as a beautiful woman. They danced together, fell in love, and spent three nights in passionate union. But on the fourth morning, Pele had to return to her body. She promised Lohiau she would send for him.

When Pele awoke in Hawaii, she was consumed with longing for her mortal lover.

Pele called her youngest sister, Hi'iaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele (Hi'iaka in the bosom of Pele), and gave her a mission: travel to Kauai, find Lohiau, and bring him back to Kilauea.

"But you must return within forty days," Pele warned. "And you must not embrace him, for he is mine."

Pele gave Hi'iaka supernatural powers for the journey: the ability to defeat monsters, restore the dead to life, and command the forces of nature. In return, she demanded absolute obedience.

Hi'iaka loved her sister, but she made one request: "Promise me you will not harm my beloved ohia forests while I am gone. They are dear to me."

Pele promised, and Hi'iaka set out on her journey.

Hi'iaka's journey to Kauai forms the longest epic narrative in Hawaiian tradition. Along the way, she:

• Defeated the mo'o (dragon/lizard spirits) that blocked her path
• Restored villages that had been devastated by supernatural forces
• Made friends and allies who would remember her kindness
• Composed mele (songs/chants) praising the beauty of each place she visited

The journey took far longer than forty days. Months passed, and still Hi'iaka had not reached Kauai.

Back at Kilauea, Pele grew impatient, then suspicious. She convinced herself that Hi'iaka was deliberately delaying, perhaps falling in love with Lohiau herself.

In her rage, Pele broke her promise. She sent rivers of lava flowing through Hi'iaka's beloved ohia forests, destroying the groves that her sister treasured.

When Hi'iaka finally looked back toward Hawaii and saw the smoke rising from her forests, her heart broke.

When Hi'iaka finally reached Kauai, she found Lohiau dead. He had died of grief, waiting for the beautiful woman from his dream who never returned. Using the powers Pele had given her, Hi'iaka captured Lohiau's spirit and restored him to life.

The journey back was long and difficult. Hi'iaka honored her promise not to embrace Lohiau, though she had begun to love him. They traveled as companions, nothing more.

When Hi'iaka and Lohiau finally reached Kilauea, they stood at the crater's edge and looked down at Pele. Hi'iaka saw the devastation of her forests and understood her sister's betrayal.

In that moment, Hi'iaka made a choice. Standing where Pele could see her, she embraced Lohiau and kissed him.

Pele's rage was volcanic - literally. She poured fire and lava over Lohiau, burning him to death as Hi'iaka watched helplessly. Then she turned her flames on Hi'iaka herself.

But Hi'iaka had her own powers. She could not be burned. She descended into the earth, digging toward the water table beneath the volcano. If she reached it, the resulting steam explosion would destroy Pele herself.

Their brother Kane-milo-hai intervened before the sisters destroyed each other. He reminded them of their bond, their shared journey from Kahiki, the love they had once had.

Pele relented. She allowed Hi'iaka to restore Lohiau to life once more. But this time, Pele gave up her claim on him. Lohiau became Hi'iaka's husband.

The sisters reconciled, but their relationship would never be quite the same. The forests grew back, but they bore the scars of Pele's fire. And when the volcano rumbles today, some say it is the memory of that terrible quarrel, never quite healed.