Volcanoes National Park

"High amounts of dangerous sulfur dioxide are present in the park." Not to mention high levels of wisdom, creation, destruction and visible signs of the Goddess Pele. I have never been to a place with such a dynamic landscape and history. "The volcanoes here are a part of the 3,600-mile-long Emperor Seamount and Hawaiian Island chain, also known as the Hawaiian archipelago. Kilauea and Mauna Loa are the the youngest and most active of the volcanoes. With an estimated volume of 16,500 to 19,00 cubic miles from its depressed sea-floor base, Mauna Loa is the most massive volcano on earth."-Volcanoes National Parks Visitor's Guide- I spent the last few days camping a few miles from the Halema'uma'u Crater at the center of the Kilauea Caldera. At night, its glow is so bright it can be seen from 1000s of yards away and its plume of toxic sulfur dioxide engulfs most of the 330,000-acre park. The landscape is something out of a sci-fi movie, miles upon miles of black earth scattered with the fearless life that springs up from its destruction. The 'Ōhi'a Lehua (the name 'Ōhi'a refers to the tree and Lehua to the flower) tree dots the seemingly deserted lava flow, scattering the land with beautiful red flowers. The 'Ōhi'a Lehua tree has a beautiful myth that goes something like this:

According to Hawaiian mythology, Pele, Goddess of the volcanoes, fell in love with a mortal, a man named ‘Ohi'a. ‘Ohi'a, however, was already deeply in love with a beautiful woman named Lehua, and was not swayed by Pele's charms. It seemed nothing could separate such a strong bond. When Pele realized how much ‘Ohi'a cared for Lehua, she fell into a rage of jealously for she knew she would never win the heart of the faithful ‘Ohi'a. In her wrath, Pele transformed ‘Ohi'a into an ugly, twisted tree and left Lehua terrified and weeping beside her lover. Lehua could not bear to be separated from him and begged Pele to return ‘Ohi'a to a man or else turn her into a tree, as well. The other Gods saw what Pele had done and took pity on Lehua. They transformed her into a beautiful red flower and placed her on the ‘Ohi'a tree. From then on, the Lehua flower always blooms on the ‘Ohi'a tree. It is said that if a lehua flower is plucked from the tree it grows on, rain falls. The rain is the tears Lehua cries, as she cannot bear to be separated from her true love.

Katie and I spent the day driving and hiking to some of the beautiful natural features I have ever been witness to. The Thurston Lava Tube ( a little interconnectedness of my home Thurston County!) is about 1/3 mile enormous cave that once housed the destruction of Pele herself and one of the more impressing sights in the park. My favorite of the sights was 1.4 mile hike through the petro-glyphs of Pu'uloa. Here is a little history... The name Pu'uloa (large hill) carries a Kaona (hidden meaning)- Hill of long life. Families with genealogical ties to these lands came here to place the Piko (umbilical cord) of their child. The hope is that the Mana (spiritual guiding energy) of Pu'uloa would bless that child with a long and prosperous life, and root them to their ancestral lands. Each Puka (hole) is created to house a single child's Piko. Of the 23,000 petro-glyphs, 16,000 are Piko related carvings- a testament to the importance of both Pu'uloa and 'ohana (family). The energy of in this part of the park was unsurpassed! The myth/truth in this land is so strong, it is undeniable, there is a presences here, be it Pele, be it God, or whatever you want to call it, it is here and strong enough to send chills up your spine and raise every hair on your body. I feel that I have seen the face of Pele and know her all powerful furry that has raised islands from the sea and brought to life the most wondrous place I have ever been lucky enough to witness with my own eyes. The myth of Hawai'i has become more than truth it has become a part of my truth, a part of the Goddess that lives within each of us and will forever shape me as a woman and a Goddess.