--- title: Pele and Kama-puaa — Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology) · full text with trees description: Pele and Kama-puaa, «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Note: The adventure of the demi-god Kama-puaa has been given in “The Legends of Old Honolulu.” --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/11/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mytholo…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/) / Pele and Kama-puaa # Pele and Kama-puaa Pele and Kama-puaa of «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 128 sentences and 2217 words. 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Note: The adventure of the demi-god Kama-puaa has been given in “The Legends of Old Honolulu.”[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") But because it is one of the most widely told of the Pele stories, it is repeated here.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa was born on the island of Oahu, where he was known as a very powerful and destructive monster, also as a peculiarly handsome and even lovable chief.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") He was a kupua—a being who could appear at will as an animal or man.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") He usually appeared as a man, but when his brutal desires to destroy overcame him or when he wished to hide from any one he adopted the form of a hog.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") He had the two natures, human and brutal.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") He had been endowed with super-human powers, according to the legends, and was many times called Puaa-akua (Hog-god) of Oahu.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") There is a curiously marked fish with an angular body and very thick skin, which is said by the Hawaiians to sometimes utter a grunting sound.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") It is named the Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-puaa (The-grunting-angular-pig).[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") It was claimed that the hog-man could change himself into this fish as easily as into a hog.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") An ancient chant thus described him:[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “O Kama-puaa\![12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") You are the one with rising bristles.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") O Rooter\![14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") O Wallower in ponds\![15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") O remarkable fish of the sea\![16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") O youth divine!”[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa had a beautiful magic shell—the leho.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") This was a fairy boat in which he usually journeyed from island to island.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") When he landed he took this shell in his hands and it grew smaller and smaller until he could tuck it away in his loin cloth.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") When he sailed away alone it was just large enough to satisfy his need.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") If some of his household travelled with him, the canoe became the large ocean boat for the family.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of the legends say that as a fish Kama-puaa swam through the seas to Hawaii, but others say that he used his leho boat, visited the different islands and passed slowly to the southeastern point of Hawaii to Cape Kumu-kahi.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") He crossed the rough beds of lava, left by recent eruptions.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") He threaded his way through forests of trees and ferns and at last stood on the hills looking down upon the lake of fire.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Akani-kolea was the hill upon which he stood clearly outlined against the sky.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Here was Ka-lua-Pele (The-pit-of-Pele), the home of the goddess of fire.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Here she rested among glorious fountains of fire; or, rising in sport, dashed the flaming clouds in twisted masses around the precipices guarding her palace.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Here Kama-puaa looked down upon a fire-dance, wherein Pele and her sisters, wrapped in filmy gowns of bluish haze, swept back and forth over the lake of fire, the pressure of their footfalls marked by hundreds of boiling bubbles rising and bursting under their tread, until the entire surface was a restless sea covered with choppy waves of fire.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly a great cloud concealed the household, then rolled away, and all the surrounding cliffs were clearly revealed.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the sisters looking up saw Kama-puaa and cried out: “Oh, see that fine-looking man standing on Akani-kolea.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") He stands as straight as a precipice.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") His face is bright like the moon.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps if our sister frees him from her tabu he can be the husband of one of us.”[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") The sisters looked.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") They heard the tum-tum-tum of a small hand-gourd drum, they saw a finely formed athletic stranger, who was dancing on the hilltop, gloriously outlined in the splendor of the morning light.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele scorned him and said: “That is not a man, but a hog.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") If I ridicule him he will be angry.”[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she started the war of taunting words with which chiefs usually began a conflict.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") She called to him giving him all the characteristics of a hog.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") He was angry and boasted of his power to overcome and destroy the whole Pele family.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele thought she could easily frighten him and drive him off, so she sent clouds of sulphur-smoke and a stream of boiling lava against him.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") To her surprise he brushed the clouds away, with a few words checked the eruption, and stood before them unharmed.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The sisters begged Pele to send for the handsome stranger and make him a member of their family.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") At last she sent her brother Kane-hoa-lani to speak to him.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") There were many hindrances before a thorough reconciliation took place.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") For a time Pele and Kama-puaa lived together as husband and wife, in various parts of the district of Puna.—The places where they dwelt are pointed out even at this day by the natives who know the traditions.—It is said that a son was born and named Opelu-haa-lii and that the fiery life of his mother was so strenuous that he lived only a little while.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") Some say he became the fish “Opelu.”[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") This marriage did not endure.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa had too many of the habits and instincts of a hog to please Pele, and she was too quickly angry to suit the overbearing Kama-puaa.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele was never patient even with her sisters, so with Kama-puaa she would burst into fiery rage, while taunts and bitter words were freely hurled back and forth.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") A sarcastic chant has been handed down among the Hawaiians as one of the taunts hurled at Pele by Kama-puaa.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") “Makole, Makole, akahi Hele i kai o Pikeha Heaha ke ai e aiai He lihilihi pau a ke akua.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") “Oh, look at that one with the sore eyes\![54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Tell her to go to the sea of Pikeha.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") (To wash her eyes and cure them.)[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") What food makes her fair as the moonlight?[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Even her eyebrows were shaved off by some god.”[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele was bitterly angry and tried her best to destroy her tormentor.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") She stamped on the ground, the earth shook, cracks opened in the surface and sometimes clouds of smoke and steam arose around Kama-puaa.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") He was unterrified and matched his divine powers against hers.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") It was demi-god against demi-goddess.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") It was the goddess-of-fire of Hawaii against the hog-god of Oahu.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele’s home life was given up, the bitterness of strife swept over the black sands of the seashore.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") When the earth seemed ready to open its doors and pour out mighty streams of flowing lava in the defence of Pele, Kama-puaa called for the waters of the ocean to rise up.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Then flood met fire and quenched it.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele was driven inland.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Her former lover, hastening after her and striving to overcome her, followed her upward until at last amid clouds of poisonous gases she went back into her spirit home in the pit of Kilauea.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Kama-puaa as a god of the sea gathered the waters together in great masses and hurled them into the fire-pit.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Violent explosions followed the inrush of waters.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") The sides of the great crater were torn to pieces by fierce earthquakes.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Masses of fire expanded the water into steam, and Pele gathered the forces of the underworld to aid in driving back Kama-puaa.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") The lavas rose in many lakes and fountains.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") Rapidly the surface was cooled and the fountains checked by the water thrown in by Kama-puaa, but just as rapidly were new openings made and new streams of fire hurled at the demi-god of Oahu.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a mighty battle of the elements.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") The legends say that the hog-man, Kama-puaa, poured water into the crater until its fires were driven back to their lowest depths and Pele was almost drowned by the floods.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") The clouds of the skies dropped their burden of rain.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") All the waters of the sea that Kama-puaa could collect were poured into the crater.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele sent Lono-makua, who had charge over the earth-fires.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") He kindled eruptions manifold, but they were overwhelmed by the vast volumes of water hurled against them by Kama-puaa.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa raised his voice in the great ancient chant:[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") “O gods in the skies\![82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Let the rain come, let it fall.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") Let Paoa \[Pele’s spade\] be broken.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") Let the rain be separated from the sun. O clouds in the skies\![85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") O great clouds of Iku! black as smoke\![86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") Let the heavens fall on the earth, Let the heavens roll open for the rain, Let the storm come.”[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") The storm fell in torrents from black clouds gathered right over the pit.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") The water filled the crater, according to the Hawaiian, ku-ma-waho, i.e., rising until it overflowed the walls of the crater.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") The fires were imprisoned and drowned—the home of Pele seemed to be destroyed.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") There remained, however, a small spark of fire hidden in the breast of Lono-makua.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele prayed for:[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") “The bright gods of the underworld.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") Shining in Wawao (Vavau) are the gods of the night.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") The gods thick clustered for Pele.”[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa thought he had destroyed Pele’s resources, but just as his wonderful storms had put forth their greatest efforts, Lono-makua kindled the flames of fierce eruptions once more.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") The gods of the underworld lent their aid to the Pele family.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") The new attack was more than Kama-puaa could endure.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") The lua-pele (pit of Pele) was full of earth-fire.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") Streams of lava poured out against Kama-puaa.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") He changed his body into a kind of grass now known as Ku-kae-puaa, filling a large field with it.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") When the grass lay in the pathway of the fire, the lava was turned aside for a time; but Pele, inspired by the beginning of victory, called anew upon the gods of the underworld for strong reinforcements.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") Out from the pits of Kilauea came vast masses of lava piling up against the field of grass in its pathway, and soon the grass began to burn; then Kama-puaa assumed the shape of a man, the hair or bristles on his body were singed and the smart of many burns began to cause agony.—Apparently the grass represented the bristles on the front of his hog-body which were scorched and burned.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") The legends say that since this time hogs have had very little hair on the stomach.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") Down he rushed to the sea, but the lava spread out on either side cutting off retreat along the beach.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele followed close behind, striving to overtake him before he could reach the water.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") The side streams had poured into the sea and the water was rapidly heated into tossing, boiling waves.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele threw great masses of lava at Kama-puaa, striking and churning the sea into which he leaped midst the swirling heated mass.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa gave up the battle, and, thoroughly defeated, changed himself into a fish.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") To that fish he gave the tough skin which he assumed when roaming over the islands as a hog.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") It was thick enough to withstand the boiling waves through which he swam out into the deep sea.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") The Hawaiians say that this fish has always been able to make a noise like the grunting of a small hog, so it was given the name Humu-humu-nuku-nuku-a-puaa.[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") It was said that Kama-puaa fled to foreign lands, where he married a high chiefess and lived with his family many years.[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometime during this adventure of Kama-puaa in the domains of Pele, the islands were divided between the two demi-gods, and an oath of divine solemnity was taken by them.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") They set apart a large portion of the island of Hawaii for Pele, and the eastern shore from Hilo to Kohala and all the islands northwest of Hawaii as the kingdom over which Kama-puaa might establish rulers.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") It is said that the oath has never been broken.[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the long legends describes a new island home brought up from ocean depths by Kama-puaa, in which he established his family and from which he visited Hawaii.[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") It says that Pele saw him and called to him:[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") “O Kama-puaa divine, My love is for you.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") Return, we shall have the land together, You the upland—I the lowland.[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") Return, O my husband, Our difficulties are at an end.”[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") He refused, saying that it was best for them to abide by their oath, and not take any part of what belonged to the other.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps this desire for reconciliation underlies the legendary love of Pele for sacrifices of those things which would most intimately connect her with Kama-puaa.[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") Kama-puaa has figured to the last days of Pele worship in the sacrifices offered to the fire-goddess.[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") The most acceptable sacrifice to Pele was supposed to be puaa (a hog).[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") If a hog could not be secured when an offering was necessary, the priest would take the fish humu-humu-nuku-nuku-a-puaa and throw it into the pit of fire.[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") If the hog and the fish both failed, the priest would offer any of the things into which it was said in their traditions that Kama-puaa could change himself.[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") IX[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Pele and Kaha-wali](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/10/) - next →: [Pele and the Snow-goddess](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/12/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/)