--- title: Volcanic Activity — Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology) · full text with trees · page 2 description: Volcanic Activity, «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: In a little note-book in Hilo is a record which from time to time has been studied and copied frequently by visiting scientists. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/27/page/2/) [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/) / Volcanic Activity # Volcanic Activity · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/27/) **2** Dana says, “The columns of illuminated steam rose with fearful speed to a height of 14,000 to 17,000 feet and then spread out into a vast fiery cloud looking at night as if the heavens were on fire.”[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") After this, there was an underground eruption to the sea marked by a fissure down the mountain side through which clouds of steam and smoke were forced.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") The lava at last found its place for escape under the sea.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") H. M. Whitney, the editor of the Hawaiian Gazette, was a witness of this submarine eruption.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") In the issue of Feb. 28, 1877, he wrote: “As the steamer Kilauea came toward the bay, the passengers saw some canoes rowing about over boiling water.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") The natives reported that about three o’clock in the morning of Feb. 24, they had seen innumerable red, blue, and green lights dancing in the waters.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Morning disclosed a new volcano in the sea.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") The southern shore of the bay has been known as Keei point.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") The eruption appeared to be in a straight line out from this point.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Three boats from the steamer went out, cruising over the most active part of the boiling waters, appearing as if passing over rapids.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") Blocks of lava two feet across were thrown up from beneath, striking the boats and jarring them.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The lava was quite soft and no harm was done.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Six stones hit the boat in one minute.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Several hundred pieces of these stones were floating on the sea at one time.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Nearly all the pieces on reaching the surface were red hot, emitting steam and gas strongly sulphurous.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Several were taken into the boats, perfectly incandescent and so molten in the interior that the lava could be stirred with a stick, the water having penetrated only about an inch.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") When these stones cooled and became water soaked they sank rapidly.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") The specimens taken from the water were of the a-a variety and very light.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Probably only the lightest came to the surface.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of the lava consisted of Pele’s hair, red hot, yet preserving its peculiar characteristics.”[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Mrs. Lyman has the record of a terrible tidal wave which struck Hilo harbor in May of that same year: “1877, May 10.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") A heavy tidal wave at 5 A.M., destroying 34 houses on the Waiakea side of the harbor, also the bridge and twelve houses between Waialama and Aiko’s old store.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") One hundred and sixty people homeless, some bruised, bones broken, five dead.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Wave was thirteen and a half feet above high water mark at Waiakea, swept inland forty rods, accurate measurement.”[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Following this on May 31, came the record “severe shake, things thrown down.”[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Dana says: “A destructive earthquake wave was felt at the Hawaiian Islands on May 10, 1877, which rose at Hilo to a height of 36 feet.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") But it was of South American origin, where there were heavy earth-shocks, and not of Hawaiian.”[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the eruptions from Mokuaweoweo tried to take possession of a river-bed, but the waters chilled one side of the lava and built it into a wall.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") On one side was flowing fire and on the other the swift rapids of a river.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") The antagonistic elements sought the sea side by side.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") A native account of Kilauea in “Ka Hae Hawaii \[The Hawaiian Flag\]” was published in Honolulu in March, 1859.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") In it is a very interesting native account of eruptions on the island Hawaii.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The sketch is in the quaint Hawaiian tongue and is valuable throughout, but only a few extracts from the translation can be used at present.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") The story as told by the Hawaiian runs as follows:[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") “In the very ancient time Mauna Kea threw out vast Pele fires, but long ago these eruptions have been imprisoned.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") The earth has covered them in on all sides and the abundant soil, large trees, and green things of many kinds are multiplying.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") But not so Mauna Loa and Hualalai, other mountains of this island Hawaii.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele fires have burst forth from them even up to recent times.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") “Mauna Loa is the greatest of all the mountains, opening doors for the Pele fires from all its sides.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Kilauea and Mokuaweoweo are the very wonderful Pele pits (craters) discharging fire from the very depths of the mountains.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") “In the year 1822, or 1823 perhaps, there was an eruption from Kilauea pouring down into the Kau district very close to the Puna line.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") From the depths of Kilauea was this bursting forth.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") The a-a (broken lava) of this eruption in its journey to the sea spread about eight miles.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") In the year 1832 the pit of Kilauea was full of burning a-a.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") It broke into some ancient tunnel connected with Kilauea and flowed away.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") The place where the a-a reached the sea is not known.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") It is supposed to have gone into the sea underground.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") “In the year 1840, the people of Puna and Hilo districts saw a great fire inland.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") They thought that the forest wilderness was burning.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") That day was the Sabbath.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") The people assembled together and looked toward the place where the fire was very great and the air was heavy with smoke.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they saw that this was not an ordinary forest fire but a Pele (an eruption).[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") They could not see any a-a breaking out on the mountain, and therefore were greatly afraid that it was very near and would destroy their lands.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Volumes of smoke rolled, curling upward, while the strong steam burst forth with reports like the firing of cannon.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") On the 4th day of June that eruption poured down into the sea.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") Narrow was the flow in steep places and spread out widely in others.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") When it came to the sea mighty was the stormy rage and the boiling of the sea, the steam rising in clouds to the sky.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") There were built up on the beach two hills of black sand, about 400 feet in height.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") Only on the side from which the wind blew could any one come near.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") On the other side the smoke was very strong, offensive and sickening like a volcano.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Then there were burning ashes destroying every green thing for many miles.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") The lands of the people of Nanawale were quickly made a desolate wilderness by the heat and the overflowing lava.[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Some animals were caught by the lava and burned to death.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") None of the people were destroyed.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") They escaped with poverty.”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") A curious and interesting statement is made by the Hawaiian fishermen of Waikiki concerning a peculiar disturbance of the sea simultaneous with all seasons of volcanic agitation.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the older and more intelligent fishermen says that from his boyhood he has known a pushing up and down, backward and forward, of the waters every time that Mauna Loa has shown activity in either of its great craters.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") Fishnets are so tossed about that it is almost impossible to retain any fish in them.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") Hooks are so rapidly moved by the commotion in the waters that fishing with hook and line is not very successful.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") The Hawaiians call the ocean at such times kai-mimiki (the rushing sea).[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") Mimiki is defined as a meeting of a returning wave with another advancing, and is sometimes used to express the confusion of advancing and returning tidal waves.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes mimiki is used to denote the choppy waters which follow a storm.[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") The inherent idea of the word seems to be quick, independent action of waves, bringing them into conflict with each other and destroying the quiet, regular motion.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") IV[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/27/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/27/) - next →: [Changes in Kilauea Crater](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/28/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/)