Pele: The Goddess Of Fire

By | March 8, 2019

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PAHOA, HI - MAY 12: Street art depicts Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, in the aftermath of eruptions from the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, on May 12, 2018 in Pahoa, Hawaii. Source: (usatoday.com)

The Woman who Devours the Land

Pele the Fire Goddess, not the soccer player, is the most well-known goddess in Hawaiian mythology. She is the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, volcanoes, and even violence. She is known as both a creator and destroyer.

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Pele the Goddess of Fire. Source: (smitefire.com)

The Goddess

Legend says that Pele was born in Tahiti. Her family had six daughters and seven sons. Her parents were Haumea the Earth goddess and Kane Milohai the creator of the sky. There are several versions of how Pele came to Hawaii. One version says that she was exiled by her father because she had a bad temper. Another state she seduced her sister's husband. One of Pele’s brothers gave her a huge canoe and she and her brothers traveled to eventually find Hawaii.