VOLCANIC DEITIES. 
249 
hump-backs— Pele , principal goddess— Mahore- 
wawahi-waa , fiery-eyed canoe-breaker— Hiata- 
wawahi - lani , heaven - rending cloud - holder — 
Hiata-noholani, heaven-dwelling cloud-holder—* 
Hiata-taarava-mata , quick glancing eyed cloud- 
holder, or the cloud - holder whose eyes turn 
quickly, and look frequently over her shoulders 
— Hiata-hoi-te-pori-a Pele , the cloud-holder em¬ 
bracing or kissing the bosom of Pele— Hiata-ta- 
bu-enaena , the red-hot mountain holding or lifting 
clouds — Hiata-tareiia , the wreath or garland- 
encircled cloud-holder—and Hiata-opio, young 
cloud-holder. 
These were all sisters, and, with many others in 
their train, on landing at Hawaii, are said to have 
taken up their abode in Kirauea. Something of 
their characters may be inferred from the few 
names we have given. Whenever the natives 
speak of them, it is as dreadful beings. This 
volcano is represented as having been their prin¬ 
cipal residence ever since their arrival, though 
they are thought to have many other dwellings in 
different parts of the island, and not a few on the 
tops of the snow-covered mountains. To these 
some of them frequently remove. Sometimes 
their arrival in a district was foretold by the 
priests of the heiaus there, and always announced 
by the convulsive trembling of the earth, the illu¬ 
minating fire in their houses, (craters,) the flashes 
of lightning, and the roar of thunder. They never 
journeyed on errands of mercy; to receive offer¬ 
ings, or execute vengeance, where the only objects 
for which they left their palace. u Nui wale” 
said the people with whom we were talking, 
“ ka kanaka i make ia rakou Great indeed is 
* Alluding to those destroyed by the inundations* 
