--- title: Na Puu O Pele — Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology) · full text with trees description: Na Puu O Pele, «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Through the fleeting hours of Tuesday, January eighth, in the year nineteen hundred and seven, earthquakes were felt all over the isla --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/7/) [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/) / Na Puu O Pele # Na Puu O Pele Na Puu O Pele of «Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)» by W. D. Westervelt: the whole text, 84 sentences and 1540 words. 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Through the fleeting hours of Tuesday, January eighth, in the year nineteen hundred and seven, earthquakes were felt all over the island of Hawaii.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon after midnight as the stars of the new day Wednesday, January ninth, looked down on the melting snows of Mauna Loa, a glorious fire-light broke out on the southern slope.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") This light filled the sky above the mountain and was visible from all parts of the island.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The Hawaiians said “Pele has come again.”[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") For some hours great floods of lava poured forth with extraordinary activity, quickly covering a vast area of land on the side of the mountain about four thousand feet below the summit crater.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") Then as the brilliant light of the sun took the place of the glow of volcanic fires, clouds of eruptive gases and smoke marked the course of the lava in its flow down the mountain side.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Moreover, for nearly two days the lava found an underground channel from which it burst forth at times with explosions attended by earthquakes which shook the western coast of the island.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Puffs of smoke by day and pillars of fire by night marked the course of this underground channel.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus for nearly three days the country throbbed with excitement because of the uncertainty attending the continued action of the lava flow.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Then came Friday evening and a sky flooded with an ocean of fire.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") The lava burst from the side of the mountain about half-way between the summit and the sea in magnificent tossing waves, a river hundreds of feet across, dashing over old lava flows, burning the ferns and trees of the forest which had grown on lava a hundred years and more of age.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") Down it forced its way, sometimes cooling in great stone masses, crunching and crushing against each other, sometimes a rough mass of cinders resting upon a moving bed of fire and sometimes a swiftly moving liquid stream pushing from under a cooling surface and continually pressing downward toward the sea.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile, as this lava flow was making its descent, another branch broke away westward.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") A little hill of lava frozen ages before into a massive breastwork of black stone standing in the front of this flow of 1907 divided it so that this western branch took its own way to the ocean beach.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus this mighty force of melted rock from the underworld hurled its vast mass down the mountain, piling itself over all life in its path and leaving only towering heaps of desolation to cover the earth.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Between these two branches of the lava river lay stretched a tract of ancient lava several miles wide, desolate and dreary save for small clumps of trees and patches of ferns and grass.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") At the end of this uncovered old lava two symmetrical mounds rise from the rugged splintered rocks.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") These are marked on the maps of the large island as “Na Puu o Pele” (The hills of Pele).[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") In the summer of 1905 two friends journeyed across the desolate country which has been made more desolate by the eruption of 1907.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Wearied by the hours passed in travelling over lava sharp as broken glass these friends found a grass-covered resting-place and there waited for their fatigue to pass away.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") In a little while some Hawaiians drew near.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") “Aloha oukou \[Friendship to you\]!” was the greeting to them.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Aloha olua \[Friendship to you also\]!” was the reply.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “This place is deserted by almost all life.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Surely one cannot expect it to add any story to Hawaiian mythology.”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ay, there is a story which belongs to the two hills of Pele down by the sea.”[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") That summer day, on the lava of long ago, so long ago that its date is not recorded, we heard the story of the chiefs of Kahuku and the fiery and voluptuous goddess of the volcanic forces of the Hawaiian Islands.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Kahuku, the land now under past and present lava flows, was at one time luxuriant and beautiful.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") The sugar-cane and taro beds were bordered by flowers and shaded by long-branching trees.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Villages here and there marked the population which supported the chiefs of Kahuku.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Two of the young chiefs were splendid specimens of savage manhood.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") They both excelled in the sports and athletic feats which were the chief occupation of those days.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Wherever a hillside was covered with grass and the ground properly sloping, holua races were carried on.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Very narrow sleds (holua) with long runners were used in these races.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Maidens and young men vied with each other in mad rushes over the holua courses.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Usually the body was thrown headlong on the sled as it was pushed over the brink of the little hill at the beginning of the slide.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") Sometimes the more courageous riders would rest on hands and knees while only the very skilful dared stand upright during the swift descent.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele, the goddess of fire, loved this sport and often appeared as a beautiful and athletic princess.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") She carried her sled with her to Kahuku to the holua hillside, and easily surpassed all the women in grace and daring.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon the two handsome young chiefs saw her and challenged her to race with them.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") For hours they sported together, the chiefs led captive by the charms of the goddess.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Jealous of each other, they strove to win Pele each to his own home.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the days passed by, filled with sports and pleasures.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the young men became suspicious of their companion, her love was so fitful and capricious, sometimes burning with a raging fire toward her friends and sometimes filled with hot anger on very slight provocation.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") At last a warning came that this beautiful stranger might be the goddess Pele from the other side of the island; that her home was in Halemaumau (The continuing house) of the volcano Kilauea; her attendants the always leaping flames; the caves filled with rolling waves of fire her dwelling-rooms; that she carried the control of the fires of the underworld with her wherever she went.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") The young chiefs talked together concerning their experiences and then began to draw away from their dangerous visitor.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") But Pele made it difficult for them to escape from her presence.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") She continually called them to race with her.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") At last the grass began to die.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") The soil became warm, and the heat intense.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Slight earthquakes made themselves felt.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") The tides were more snappy as they cast their surf waves along the beach.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") The chiefs became afraid.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele saw it and was overcome with anger.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Her appearance changed.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Her hair floated out in tangled masses, touched by the breath of hot winds.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Her arms and limbs shone as if enwrapped with fire.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") Her eyes blazed like lightning, and her breath poured forth in volumes of smoke.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") In great terror the chiefs rushed toward the sea.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele struck the ground heavily with her feet.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Again and again she stamped in wrath.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Earthquakes swept the lands of Kahuku.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the awful fiery flood broke from the underworld, and swept down over Kahuku.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") On the crest of the falling torrent of fire rode Pele, flashing the fires of her anger in great explosions above the flood.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") The chiefs tried to flee toward the north, but Pele hurled the fiercest torrents beyond them to turn them back.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they fled toward the south, but Pele again forced them back upon their own lands.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they hurried down to the beach, hoping to catch one of their canoes and escape on the ocean.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") Quickly these young men leaped on.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Swiftly came the fiery flood behind them.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Pele was urging the underworld forces to their utmost speed.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Shrieking like fierce, whistling winds, tearing her hair and throwing it away in bunches, Pele sped after the chiefs.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") The floods of lava, obeying the commands of the goddess, spread out over all the land of the chiefs so that from the mountain to the sea the luxuriant lands became desolate.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") Nearer and nearer to the sea came the swift runners.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") It seemed as if they had found the way of escape, for the surf waves waited eagerly to welcome them, and a canoe lay near the beach.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") But Pele leaped from the flowing lava and threw her burning arms around the nearest one of her former lovers.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") In a moment the lifeless body was thrown to one side.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") The lava piled itself up around it, while at the command of Pele a new gush of lava rose up like a fresh crater and swallowed up all that was left.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") The other chief was petrified by fear and horror.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") In a moment Pele seized him and called for another outburst of lava, which rose up rapidly around them.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") In a few minutes the Hills of Pele were built.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus the lovers of Pele died and thus their tombs were made.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") For many years, even from ancient times, they have marked the destruction of the beautiful lands of Kahuku.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Later lava flows have turned aside to spare the monuments of the chiefs with whom Pele played for a time, and the two hills of Pele are still seen near the shore of the ocean.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") V[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Pele and the Owl Ghost-god](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/6/) - next →: [Pele and the Chiefs of Puna](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/8/) - ↑ back to [Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes (mythology)](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66516/)