How many stories of the Hawaiian Islands have you heard? If you are a culture lover, you may be curious to know what makes Hawaiian culture so rich. In this episode, Bryan is joined with Andrew Fowers of Shaka Guide to discuss three important stories of goddess Pele.
Pele, also known as the goddess of fire, can be quick to anger and a jealous lover. In the three stories, we are about to hear, it’s hard to ignore Pele’s anger. A silver lining about Pele is that she has a conscience, too.
In the first story of how the Kilauea volcano came to be, Pele got jealous of her little sister Hiiaka. Pele sent her sister to find her lover Ohia and bring him to her. Pele gave Hiiaka a deadline of 40 days. Hiiaka failed to meet the deadline. She came back after the deadline had elapsed, but she brought Ohia with her. Pele’s angry got the best of her and destroyed Hiika’s forest. When Hiiaka saw that, she too got angry and embraced Ohia in Pele’s presence. Pele got upset and buried Ohia beneath rapid hot lava.
The second story is about the curse of Pele. According to Hawaiian culture, what belongs to Pele must remain in Hawaii. Many people who visit Hawaii usually get tempted to take away lava rocks or sand as souvenirs. Unfortunately, many of them end up mailing them back because of the many bad things they encounter. Could it be the curse of Pele?
The third story is about the relationship between Pele and the Ohia Lehua tree. This story is evidence enough that Pele is not always bad. When lava erupts, it is usually black and barren. Amazing enough, there is one tree that can withstand that, the Ohia Lehua tree.
This tree is said to close its leaves and pore for it to survive the harsh conditions. The Ohia Lehua tree has beautiful red flowers that some native Hawaiian birds feed on. It is believed that after Pele calmed down, she turned Ohia’s body into the tree and Lehau’s body into its flowers. She did that to join the lovers together forever.
Fast forward today, there is a fungus that is threatening the life of the Ohia Lehua trees, and great effort is being put in place to save the trees.
Listen in as Andrew tells us the stories in depth.
Key Talking Points
What is Shaka Guide?
Goddess Pele: The goddess of fire
How the Kilauea Volcano was formed
The curse of Pele
The relationship between Pele and the Ohia Lehua tree
Bryan Murphy is the creator of Hawaii’s Best Travel and a Certified Hawaii Destination Expert through the Hawai‘i Visitors Bureau. He’s an active member of the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau and continues ongoing education focused on Hawaiian culture, history, and sustainable travel. As the host of the “Hawaii’s Best Travel” podcast—one of the top travel podcasts in the U.S.—Bryan shares practical, respectful guidance to help visitors experience Hawai‘i in a more meaningful way. His work reaches nearly half a million people across podcast, blog, and social media.
Aloha! We are Bryan and Ali Murphy, a family of five that loves exploring Hawaii. Bryan Murphy, founder of Hawaii’s Best Travel, is a certified Hawaii Destination Expert with the Hawaii Tourism Authority. In addition, he's an active member of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, With more than 30 visits to the Hawaii, Bryan blends firsthand experience with formal training to provide practical tips, budget-friendly recommendations, and insider insights to help travelers plan meaningful Hawaii vacations. As host of the top-rated podcast "Hawaii’s Best Travel," we offer insights on best Hawaii travel tips and ways to support local. Learn More ->
