Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Across the globe, the volcanoes in the Pacific are the home
of the goddess Pelé. Born in Tahiti, Pelé was chased after falling
out with her sister Namakaokahai, 4,000 km (2,500 miles)
away to the Hawaiian archipelago. As she swam from island to
island, northwest to southeast, Pelé left craters and mountains
behind her - Diamond Head, on the island of Oahu; Haleakala,
on Maui; and Kilauea, on the island of Hawaii. This progres-
sion matches the modern discovery that the volcanoes become
younger towards the southeast. Pelé's flight ended in Hawaii,
where she created Halemaumau, the crater of Kilauea. There,
according to the legend, she still lives and causes eruptions. Pelé
has a short temper, and can open up craters with a kick of her
heel, hurling lava about wildly. But before each eruption, she is
said to give some warning by appearing either as an old woman,
or a beautiful girl. Pouring as it does from a crack in the earth,
Hawaiian lava has created a vaginal form for its crater. Thus
local tradition has it that an eruption is a sign of the menstru-
ation of Pelé, in which the lava flows to the sea, the place of
ritual cleaning.
Kilauea in eruption, late
19th-century lithograph.
Image not available - no digital rights
