Volcanoes, Culture, and Activism
Hello Fellow World Changers!
Recently, my family and I visited the big island of Hawaii. We had the wonderful privilege of
getting to stay there for two weeks and getting to experience the birth of Pelehonuamea or Pele
the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess who is said to live in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater of the Kilauea
volcano.
getting to stay there for two weeks and getting to experience the birth of Pelehonuamea or Pele
the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess who is said to live in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater of the Kilauea
volcano.
The big island of Hawaii is made from five volcanoes. Kilauea, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea,
Hualalai and Kohala. To the Hawaiians, Mauna Kea is considered a very sacred place because
the snow goddess Poliʻahu, an enemy of Pele, resides on the peak. She is said to wear a cloak
of white kapa that she sometimes drapes on the mountain. Here is a story of their rivalry.
Hualalai and Kohala. To the Hawaiians, Mauna Kea is considered a very sacred place because
the snow goddess Poliʻahu, an enemy of Pele, resides on the peak. She is said to wear a cloak
of white kapa that she sometimes drapes on the mountain. Here is a story of their rivalry.
“Poliʻahu mingled with humans on the East slope of Mauna Kea. One day, while hōlua
sledding with mortals, she was joined by a beautiful stranger who challenged her. The
stranger had no sled, so she borrowed one to run against her.
sledding with mortals, she was joined by a beautiful stranger who challenged her. The
stranger had no sled, so she borrowed one to run against her.
In the first run, Poliʻahu easily passed the stranger. Graciously, she exchanged sleds with
the stranger, before winning again. On the third run, the stranger tried to prevent her from
winning by opening lava streams in front of her, revealing herself as volcano goddess
Pele.
the stranger, before winning again. On the third run, the stranger tried to prevent her from
winning by opening lava streams in front of her, revealing herself as volcano goddess
Pele.
Poliʻahu ran towards the top of the mountain, reeling from Pele's attack. Once she
reached the top of the mountain, she threw snow at the lava and froze it, confining it to
the island's Southern end. To this day, Pele is said to rule Kilauea and Mauna Loa ,
but must submit to Poliʻahu on the northern end of the island.”
reached the top of the mountain, she threw snow at the lava and froze it, confining it to
the island's Southern end. To this day, Pele is said to rule Kilauea and Mauna Loa ,
but must submit to Poliʻahu on the northern end of the island.”
As I have mentioned before, the home of Poli’ahu is a sacred place, so you can understand why
it would be problematic if the government decided to start building observatories and giant
telescopes on the peak of the mountain.
it would be problematic if the government decided to start building observatories and giant
telescopes on the peak of the mountain.
An artist concept illustrating the TMT Observatory (bottom left) at the proposed site on Mauna Kea.
If you measure Mauna Kea from it’s base to height, it is the tallest mountain in the world
rising to about 33,476 ft. Mt Everest rises to about 29,029 ft from base to height. Mauna Kea is
also one of the best places to see and observe stars. That is why there are so many laboratories
and observatories on the top of it. These acts heavily affected the native Hawaiian people.
This was no ordinary mountain, this is and has been sacred land since the first humans arrived to
the islands.
rising to about 33,476 ft. Mt Everest rises to about 29,029 ft from base to height. Mauna Kea is
also one of the best places to see and observe stars. That is why there are so many laboratories
and observatories on the top of it. These acts heavily affected the native Hawaiian people.
This was no ordinary mountain, this is and has been sacred land since the first humans arrived to
the islands.
Photo: Mangauil offers testimony in opposition to the TMT at an Office of Hawaiian Affairs hearing in late April, 2015 | Will Caron
Joshua Mangauil, better known by his Hawaiian name of Lanakila, is someone who will not stand for the construction. You can read more about his inspiring story and how he became an cultural leader protecting the summit of Mauna Kea here.
After watching only five minutes of this video I started crying as I listened to him explain the
importance of the land to those gathered for the groundbreaking.
Even when other people disagreed and asked him to be quiet, he would not stop defending his
sacred mountain. He is backed my many people who come to preserve their sacred land. No
ground was broken that day or since. This is change. It is inspiring to see people who are standing
up for what is right and what they believe in. We need to protect the places and resources of our
earth, not bulldoze them to “develop” our society.
importance of the land to those gathered for the groundbreaking.
Even when other people disagreed and asked him to be quiet, he would not stop defending his
sacred mountain. He is backed my many people who come to preserve their sacred land. No
ground was broken that day or since. This is change. It is inspiring to see people who are standing
up for what is right and what they believe in. We need to protect the places and resources of our
earth, not bulldoze them to “develop” our society.
When we were in Hawaii, I had the amazing pleasure of meeting Lanakila and learning from him as he told the stories of the mountain, Mauna Kea and Poli’ahu, of
Pelehonuamea (Pele) and Namakaokahai (goddess of the ocean) and how their rivalry created
the Hawaiian islands. Because of Lanakila’s willingness to share the stories of his cultural beliefs
and stories, people like me are able to learn from him and connect to this history.
Pelehonuamea (Pele) and Namakaokahai (goddess of the ocean) and how their rivalry created
the Hawaiian islands. Because of Lanakila’s willingness to share the stories of his cultural beliefs
and stories, people like me are able to learn from him and connect to this history.
I will stand with them and I hope you will also.
Further Reading:
Thank you, Lila, for sharing this very important part of your visit to the beautiful island of Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteHi,Lila! This is Naomi! I will stand with you and your cause. I think native people should have more rights. Miss you! Thank you for your story!
ReplyDeleteHi Lila, You write so well Honey just like your granddad Padfield. We are all so proud of you and stand with you in this cause. "I have a dream I hope will come true. You're here with me and I'm here with you." (sung by the volcano) I hope to see you soon dear precious LIla, Nana
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