Poliahu
Encyclopedia
In Hawaiian mythology
, Poliahu is one of the four goddesses of snow
, all enemies of Pele. She was thought to reside on Mauna Kea
, which if measured from the seafloor is the world's tallest mountain.
Aiwohikupua on the Eastern slope of Mauna Kea. The two fell in love and Aiwohikupua took Poliahu home to his native Kauai
. There Poliahu discovered that the alii was already betrothed to a princess of Maui
. Poliahu left in dismay, but managed to first curse the betrothed. She first chilled the princess of Maui to the bone, then turned the cold into heat. Finally, the princess gave up and left him. Later Poliahu similarly cursed Aiwohikupua, freezing him to death. The four goddesses are defined by their otherworldly beauty. Poliahu is noted as Hawaii's most beautiful goddess.
Poliahu mingled with humans on the East slope of Mauna Kea. One day, while hōlua sledding with mortals, Poliahu was joined by a beautiful stranger who challenged her. The stranger had no sled, so she borrowed one to run against Poliahu.
In the first run, Poliahu easily passed the stranger. Graciously, Poliahu exchanged sleds with the stranger, before winning again. On the third run, the stranger tried to prevent Poliahu from winning by opening lava streams in front of her, revealing herself as volcano
goddess Pele.
Poliahu ran towards the top of the mountain, reeling from Pele's attack. Once she regained her composure, Poliahu threw snow at the lava and froze it, confining it to the island's Southern end. To this day, Pele is said to rule Kīlauea
and Mauna Loa
, but must submit to Poliahu on the northern end of the island.
Hawaiian mythology
Hawaiian mythology refers to the legends, historical tales and sayings of the ancient Hawaiian people. It is considered a variant of a more general Polynesian mythology, developing its own unique character for several centuries before about 1800. It is associated with the Hawaiian religion...
, Poliahu is one of the four goddesses of snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
, all enemies of Pele. She was thought to reside on Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea
Mauna Kea is a volcano on the island of Hawaii. Standing above sea level, its peak is the highest point in the state of Hawaii. However, much of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over tall—significantly taller than Mount Everest...
, which if measured from the seafloor is the world's tallest mountain.
Aiwohikupua
Poliahu met the aliiAli'i
Alii is a word in the Polynesian language denoting chiefly status in ancient Hawaii and the Samoa Islands. A similar word with the same concept is found in other Polynesian societies. In the Cook Islands, an ariki is a high chief and the House of Ariki is a parliamentary house...
Aiwohikupua on the Eastern slope of Mauna Kea. The two fell in love and Aiwohikupua took Poliahu home to his native Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
. There Poliahu discovered that the alii was already betrothed to a princess of Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. Poliahu left in dismay, but managed to first curse the betrothed. She first chilled the princess of Maui to the bone, then turned the cold into heat. Finally, the princess gave up and left him. Later Poliahu similarly cursed Aiwohikupua, freezing him to death. The four goddesses are defined by their otherworldly beauty. Poliahu is noted as Hawaii's most beautiful goddess.
Poliahu and Pele
Poliahu also engineered Hawaii's Hāmākua Coast.Poliahu mingled with humans on the East slope of Mauna Kea. One day, while hōlua sledding with mortals, Poliahu was joined by a beautiful stranger who challenged her. The stranger had no sled, so she borrowed one to run against Poliahu.
In the first run, Poliahu easily passed the stranger. Graciously, Poliahu exchanged sleds with the stranger, before winning again. On the third run, the stranger tried to prevent Poliahu from winning by opening lava streams in front of her, revealing herself as volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
goddess Pele.
Poliahu ran towards the top of the mountain, reeling from Pele's attack. Once she regained her composure, Poliahu threw snow at the lava and froze it, confining it to the island's Southern end. To this day, Pele is said to rule Kīlauea
Kilauea
Kīlauea is a volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and one of five shield volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Kīlauea means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava. The Puu Ōō cone has been continuously erupting in the eastern...
and Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean, and the largest on Earth in terms of volume and area covered. It is an active shield volcano, with a volume estimated at approximately , although its peak is about lower than that...
, but must submit to Poliahu on the northern end of the island.