Pele's Home - Halema'uma'u

Pele's Halema'uma'u

9 x 12 soft pastels on Art Spectrum Colourfix

Miki Willa

Pele angered her older sister and had to leave her home. She sailed north to our islands, holding tight to the egg her mother gave her. She came to the older northern islands, dug holes with her digging stick and settled in to each fiery lair. Her sister, who commanded the water, followed her and drowned her fires out. Pele kept looking for a place where the waters could not reach. She finally came to the island of Hawaii and Kilauea. There, her sister's water could not reach her. The crater at Kilauea where Pele finally stopped is called Halema'uma'u (the house of the ma'uma'u fern). It was there that the precious egg hatched to become Pele's beloved sister, Hi'iaka.

Today, Pele's presence is recognized by the Hawaiian people. Halema'uma'u is alive with steam vents and the warmth of Pele's fire. In the last couple of months, the crater has had several minor eruptions, with lava visible. The sulphur from the new opening has closed the park and forced evacuations of nearby areas. It is a big reminder that the earth is constantly changing and reforming.

Standing on the rim of Halema'uma'u is like standing near creation. There is a very stark beauty, and a strong connection to Creation. This is my third attempt to put down my impressions of the place using pastels. This is the closest yet.