PUBLICATIONS:

There is extensive literature on the Pele - Hi‘iaka tradition. Many traditional versions remain in the Hawaiian language newspapers and are not readily accessible to the average reader. A few English versions are also available.

We consulted the following:

Barrére, Dorothy B., Mary Kawena Pukui, and Marion Kelly (2000) Hula: Historical Perspectives Pacific Anthropological Records Number 30. Honolulu, Hawai‘i : Bishop Museum Press, 2000. Here is a description of the contents:

"The Hula in Retrospect, Dorothy B. Barrére; Notes from a Kumu Hula, Mary Kawena Pukui; Halau Hula and Adjacent Sites at Ke`e, Kaua`i, Marion Kelly; Extracts from "The Goddess Pele," William Hyde Rice; "Hiiaka and Lohiau," Thomas G. Thrum; Extracts from Vancouver's Journal, 1801; List of Hula at the Coronation of King Kalakaua; "The Ruins at Ke`e, Ha`ena," Kenneth P. Emory."

Charlot, John (1998) "Pele and Hiiaka: the Hawaiian-language newspaper series" Anthropos, v. 93 (1998): 55-75. In this article, Charlot discusses the different Hawaiian-language versions of the story, and remarks that the one by William Hyde Rice is the one most clearly rooted in Kaua‘i tradition. Rice's version is said to focus more on events at Kaua‘i and local place names than the others.

Emerson, Nathaniel B. (1997) Pele and Hiiaka : a myth from Hawaii. Most recently published: Honolulu : ‘Ai Pohaku Press, 1997. This text was originally published by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1915, and was reprinted in 1978 by AMS Press.

Kekahuna, Henry E. (1959) Map and Text on Ka Ulu a Paoa Heiau, Kauai Historical Society, October 4.

Kelly, Marion (1984) Pele and Hi‘iaka visit the sites at Ke‘e, Ha‘ena, island of Kaua‘i" (Bishop Museum publications in education; 1) Honolulu, Hawai‘i : Bishop Museum Press.

Krauss, Beatrice H. (1993) Plants in Hawaiian Culture, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press .

Poepoe, Joseph M. (1908, 1911) Ka Mo‘olelo Ka‘ao o Hi‘iakaiakpoliopele, Ku‘oko‘a Home Rula, Ianuari &endash. Collected and copied by Laian Wong ca. 1991. With further work by Noenoe Silva and others, Spring 1994.

Pukui, Mary Kawena (1983) ‘Olelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings, Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.

Silva, Carol (1995) Historical and Cultural Report: Ha‘ena State Park, Halele‘a, Kaua‘i, State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks.

Varez, Dietrich and Pua Kanaka`ole Kanahele (1991) Pele: The Fire Goddess. This is available from the Bishop Museum Press. It is described as "A simple, powerful, and authentic telling of the ancient myth of Pele, fire-goddess of Kilauea volcano. The story is richly illustrated with Varez's magnificent block prints."

IMAGES:

With the exception of the map re-drawn from Kelly's text (above), all images in this section are by RDK Herman, Pacific Worlds.

WEBSITES:

Our synopsis of the Pele-Hi‘iaka story is drawn in part from the website of Halau O Kekuhi http://alohaweb.com/Pele/index.htm. Go here to learn more about this ongoing hula tradition.