10 Bernice P. Bishop Museum — Bulletin 



Pele began to dig. At last success crowned her efforts. Digging day 

 and night, she came to fire and knew that this spot would be suitable for 

 the long-sought home. She decided to make a home large enough for all 

 her many brothers and sisters. 



After the fiery pit was dug, Pele changed her egg-like sister, Hiiaka, 

 into human form and the two lived happily in her new home. 



One day Hiiaka went down to the forest of Panaewa near Hilo. There 

 she .saw a girl so skilled in making leis of lehua blossoms that she longed 

 to make of her a personal friend. Hiiaka learned that her name was 

 Hopoe, and she spoke to her in these words, "Now that we are friends you 

 must go wherever I go. Wherever I sleep you shall sleep. We shall never 

 be parted." 



Hopoe was very happy and answered, "I spend my time making leis. I 

 have planted two groves of trees, one white and one red. These I give 

 to you." 



So Hiiaka returned to Kilauea with her friend who pleased Pele very 

 much by teaching her to make leis of lehua flowers. Soon all Pele's 

 household was busily stringing the flowers. 



As Pele worked she heard the voice of her beloved Lohiau calling 

 her, for the wind carried his sad song to her ears. So Pele called her 

 sisters to her and asked each one to go to Kauai to find her husband. All 

 refused. Then Pele commanded Hiiaka, "Go to Kauai and bring my hus- 

 band to me. Do not dare to kiss him, lest some dire disaster befall you. 

 Be gone no longer than forty days." All agreed that it was wise for 

 Hiiaka to go, as she was the youngest. 



Stretching out her right hand to her sister, Pele bestowed upon hei 

 all the supernatural powers she possessed, so that the journey could be 

 accomplished in safety. 



Hiiaka prepared for the journey and as she worked she sang a incle 

 in which she voiced her complaint that she should go alone to Haena for 

 the handsome Lohiau. Pele heard her and cheered her by saying that 

 she would meet someone who would go with her. 



So with a sad heart Hiiaka set forth on her sister's errand. Looking 

 back she saw her home in the volcano where her brothers and sisters were 

 sitting like .stone images. She called to them to care for her beloved grove 

 of lehua trees. 



As she entered the forest alxjve Hilo she met Wahine-omao, the Stead- 

 fast-Woman, who was on her way to carry gifts of pig and sugar cane 

 as a sacrifice to Pele. Thinking that Hiiaka was Pele, Wahine-omao laid 

 her gifts before her. Hiiaka saw that the stranger was mistaken and 

 spoke these words to her: "I am not Pele. She is still in Kilauea. Carry 



