Volcanoes in Hawaii represent far more than natural wonders—they are powerful sacred beings that have shaped not only the physical landscape but also the cultural and spiritual identity of the Hawaiian people. Beyond their fiery spectacles and flowing lava, these volcanic formations hold deep spiritual significance as the embodiment of Pele, the revered goddess of fire and volcanoes. Consequently, volcanic imagery permeates ancient Hawaiian artistic traditions, from intricate petroglyphs carved into hardened lava surfaces to symbolic patterns woven into traditional kapa cloth. Indeed, these artistic expressions reveal a profound relationship between Hawaiians and the volcanic forces that both create and transform their island home. Throughout this article, we'll explore the hidden stories behind Hawaiian art and uncover how volcanoes particularly influenced the creative and spiritual practices that continue to resonate in Hawaiian culture today.
The sacred role of volcanoes in Hawaiian culture
For Native Hawaiians, volcanoes stand as the fundamental architects of existence, creating not just physical landscapes but embodying profound spiritual dimensions that permeate every aspect of culture and daily life. This relationship extends far beyond mere appreciation of natural phenomena—it represents a complex interconnection between people, land, and divine forces that has shaped Hawaiian identity for centuries.
Volcanoes as creators of land and life
Native Hawaiians have long recognized the geological story of their homeland through careful observation and oral tradition. Remarkably, ancient Hawaiians understood that the islands formed in sequential order from northwest to southeast, a fact that perfectly aligns with modern scientific knowledge The Hawaiian islands in the north were formed first, with each island to the south forming afterward, creating a chronological chain of volcanic birth and development
When examining Mauna Kea, a dormant 14,000-foot shield volcano, we witness one of these magnificent creators that took more than a million years to form after volcanic eruptions sent lava bubbling up from the ocean floor. Throughout Hawaiian mythology, these massive formations aren't considered mere geological features but living entities with feelings, the ability to communicate, and the power to act with intention.
This concept of volcanoes as alive manifests most dramatically during eruptions. When Mauna Loa erupted in 2022, many Native Hawaiians viewed it not as a destructive event but as Pele's regenerative power—a cleansing that brings gratitude rather than fear . During the 2018 eruption in Puna district, over 700 homes were destroyed, yet 875 acres of new land were created as lava met ocean and hardened. This exemplifies Pele's signature on the Hawaiian Islands: destroy and create, destroy and regenerate.
Spiritual connection to Pele, the volcano goddess
At the heart of this volcanic spirituality stands Pele (pronounced peh-leh), the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, fire, lightning, wind, and dance . Known by honorific names like Pelehonuamea (Pele of the red earth) and Peleʻaihonua (Pele the eater of the land), these traditional titles themselves serve as historic accounts describing her volcanic energy and movement .
According to Hawaiian oral history, Pele was born in the distant land of Kahiki and voyaged to the Hawaiian Islands in search of a suitable home sometime between 850 and 1250 AD . Interestingly, her journey mirrors the geological formation of the islands . Hawaiian legends tell that Pele first landed on the northernmost inhabited Hawaiian island and worked her way down the island chain, which precisely follows the actual formation order of the islands .
Pele's permanent home is believed to be Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea, one of Earth's most active volcanoes. From this fiery abode, she governs all volcanic activity on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi . For many Native Hawaiians, especially those in the Puna and Kaʻū districts, Pele is considered ʻohana (family) and is revered as an ʻaumakua (deified ancestor).
When Pele's volcanoes erupt, many Native Hawaiians engage in traditional practices to honor her. During Mauna Loa's 2022 eruption, some made offerings of gin, tobacco, and coins while chanting to Pele . As one Hawaiian expressed, "A volcanic eruption is a physical manifestation of so many natural and spiritual forces for Hawaiians" .
Throughout Hawaiian culture, Pele's presence is not approached with fear but with deep respect. It remains customary to ask permission from Pele to travel through her land and sacred landscape, acknowledging that these powerful volcanic forces continue to shape both the physical terrain and spiritual foundation of Hawaiian life.
Legends and myths born from volcanic landscapes
Hawaiian mythology weaves intricate tales around the volcanic landscapes, creating a rich tapestry of stories that explain both physical features and human relationships with these powerful forces of nature. These legends not only entertain but serve as vehicles for preserving historical knowledge, cultural values, and scientific observations across generations.
The story of Pele and her family
The Pele myth cycle stands as one of the most elaborate and extensive in all of Polynesia . In most Hawaiian traditions, Pele was born to divine parents—typically Kū-waha-ilo as her father and Haumea (sometimes Hina) as her mother, both considered among the highest gods. Her large family included dozens of siblings , most notably her brother Ka-moho-alii (the shark king who steered the canoe that brought Pele to Hawaii), her antagonistic older sister Nāmaka-o-kaha'i (a sea goddess), and her favorite younger sister Hi'iaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele, who was born as an egg and carried in Pele's bosom during their journey.
The compelling saga of Pele's migration to Hawaii forms the cornerstone of volcanic mythology. After conflict with her sister Nāmaka-o-kaha'i, Pele was forced to flee her homeland of Kahiki. Sailing on the canoe Honuaiakea (The Great Expansive Earth) , the family voyaged through the Pacific until reaching the Hawaiian archipelago. Furthermore, this migration story remarkably parallels modern scientific understanding of how the islands formed in sequence from northwest to southeast .
How lava flows became sacred paths
Throughout her journey, Pele attempted to establish homes on each island she encountered, digging into the earth with her sacred digging tool called Pāoa . On Kaua'i, she created a hill called Pu'uopele (hill of Pele), yet her sister's waters extinguished her fires . Moving southeast, she tried again on O'ahu, creating what is now known as Diamond Head (Le'ahi). This pattern of failed attempts continued across Moloka'i and Maui until finally reaching Hawai'i Island.
Native Hawaiians recognized these volcanic remnants as the physical manifestation of Pele's journey. Additionally, evidence shows that over tens of thousands of years, indigenous pilgrims traveled known physical and spiritual trails to communicate with volcanoes during ceremonies. Upon reaching these volcanic destinations, they embedded the landscape with rock peckings, paintings, stone cairns, shrines, and various offerings.
The Hawaiian view of the islands expressed in Pele's travels along the chain is remarkably consistent with James Dana's 1849 scientific proposal that volcanic extinction proceeded from northwest to southeast . Hence, these sacred paths recorded in mythology accurately preserved geological knowledge.
Volcanoes as homes of the gods
At Kīlauea, Pele finally found her permanent home in Halemaʻumaʻu crater . Hawaiians considered this not merely as a geological feature but as a living household where Pele and her family resided. In fact, they believed the volcanic family lived lives there similar to those of humans . As described by William Ellis in early accounts, Hawaiians viewed the conical craters as houses, the roaring furnaces and crackling flames as music for their dance (hula), and the red flaming surge as waves where they played .
The volcano household included various deities with specific powers. Pele's brothers included Kane-hekili (Kane-the-thunderer) and Kane-pohaku-kaa (the earthquake-maker). Meanwhile, her numerous sisters were mostly called "The Hiiakas" . Each deity controlled different aspects of volcanic phenomena—lava, steam, ash, acid rain—all operating as a divine family under Pele's supreme rulership .
Even today, many Native Hawaiians approach Kīlauea with deep reverence, considering Pele as 'ohana (family). Before traveling through volcanic landscapes, visitors are encouraged to ask Pele's permission, honoring these sacred abodes that continue to shape both the physical and spiritual geography of Hawaii.
How ancient Hawaiian art reflects volcanic power
Ancient Hawaiian artisans expressed their profound relationship with volcanic forces through various creative mediums, preserving knowledge and spiritual connections across generations. These artistic traditions reveal how deeply intertwined the volcanic landscape was with everyday Hawaiian life and culture.
Use of volcanic imagery in petroglyphs
The smooth pāhoehoe lava fields created perfect canvases for ancient Hawaiians to record essential cultural information through petroglyphs (kiʻi pōhaku). At Puʻuloa, within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, lies the state's largest petroglyph field containing over 23,000 carvings dating back several centuries . These images include poho (cupules) where umbilical cords of newborns were ceremonially placed to ensure long life—a practice connecting new generations directly to volcanic land.
Carved using stone tools to break through the volcanic crust, petroglyph motifs vary from human figures and canoe sails to geometric designs and feathered cape patterns. Reverend William Ellis documented these carvings as early as 1823, noting "straight lines, semicircles, or concentric rings, with some rude imitations of the human figure, cut or carved in the compact rocks of lava" . Beyond artistic expression, these petroglyphs served practical purposes—recording journeys around the island, expressing wishes for human longevity, communicating events, and marking boundaries.
Symbolic patterns in kapa and featherwork
Traditional kapa cloth, made from beaten wauke (paper mulberry) plant, featured designs that often incorporated volcanic symbolism. Creating kapa required growing plants for up to two years before harvesting, then beating them with wooden mallets into papery sheets imprinted with symbolic patterns . These designs, created using 'ohe kapala (bamboo stamps), told stories and preserved cultural knowledge .
Similarly, featherwork—once exclusively possessed by aliʻi (chiefs)—required gathering feathers from thousands of birds to create magnificent capes and helmets. Each design embedded specific meanings that often referenced natural elements including volcanic phenomena, connecting chiefly authority to the power of Pele herself.
Volcanoes in hula and chant traditions
Perhaps most dramatically, the hula kahiko (ancient hula) physically embodied volcanic energy through dance. The rhythmic rising, falling, swaying, and flowing movements in hula portraying Pele accurately mirror the actual rhythmic patterns scientists observe in volcanic activity. The 'uhi 'uha sounds in chants replicate the sounds of gas and lava rushing through volcanic vents.
Interestingly, modern scientific observations confirm what ancient Hawaiians expressed through dance—Kīlauea volcano exhibits rhythmic infrasound, episodic tremor (seismic activity), and regular deflation-inflation events that match the patterns of traditional hula. As one tradition explains, Hi'iaka, goddess of the seas, began dancing to entertain and calm her sister Pele, creating the first hula at the edge of volcanic power.
Volcanoes as symbols in modern Hawaiian art
The reverence for volcanoes in Hawaii stretches beyond ancient practices into contemporary artistic expression, where modern creators continue to draw inspiration from these powerful natural forces. Throughout the islands, artists translate the drama, beauty, and spiritual significance of volcanic landscapes into works that bridge traditional and modern sensibilities.
Contemporary artists inspired by lava and fire
Modern Hawaiian artists have developed unique approaches to capturing the essence of volcanic power. J Brad Lewis, a renowned photographer, utilizes "movement, light, and texture of volcanic activity to open human emotions to the pulse of the Earth". His dramatic images of Kilauea's eruptions evoke the same awe that inspired ancient Hawaiians. Likewise, Herb Kane, who painted nearly 400 canvasses of the Pacific, became celebrated for bringing pre-contact Hawaiian life and mythology to visual existence through his art.
Volcano motifs in sculpture and painting
The "Volcano School" represents an influential artistic movement that emerged in the 1880s when non-native Hawaiian artists painted dramatic nocturnal scenes of Hawaii's erupting volcanoes. Artists like Jules Tavernier, Charles Furneaux, and D. Howard Hitchcock created works that exemplified "a fusion of the European Sublime esthetic, Romantic landscapes, and the American landscape traditions". Their paintings, showcasing smoldering lava pools and shorelines aglow under cloud-laden skies, remain iconic representations of Hawaii's volcanic majesty.
Cultural preservation through modern expression
Nestled within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Volcano Art Center has served as a creative hub for over 40 years . Located near Kīlauea, home to Pele, this center promotes "the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawai'i's people and environment through activities in the visual, literary, and performing arts" . Native Hawaiian artisans like Rocky Kaʻiouliokahihikoloʻehu Jensen continue traditional stone carving practices, creating works that connect past, present, and future .
Many contemporary Native Hawaiian artists view their creative process as a spiritual endeavor involving Pele. This dynamic environment "has inspired the Hawaiian people and their crafts, songs, dances, and legends for centuries", establishing a continuous artistic tradition that honors the volcanic forces still actively shaping both the physical landscape and cultural identity of Hawaii.
Spiritual lessons from the volcano
Beyond their geological significance, volcanoes in Hawaii offer profound spiritual teachings that continue to resonate with both Native Hawaiians and visitors alike. Throughout history, these dynamic formations have served as natural philosophers, imparting wisdom through their fiery displays and transformative power.
Resilience and transformation
Volcanoes embody the ultimate symbol of resilience—what appears as destruction ultimately leads to renewal. Native Hawaiians view volcanic eruptions not as devastating events but as necessary processes through which the Earth renews itself. Unlike Western perspectives that often emphasize volcanic danger, indigenous Hawaiian beliefs hold that volcanoes teach us to embrace change rather than fear it.
In essence, the volcano serves as a potent image of the unconscious—unpredictable, sometimes explosive, powered from the depths—but also capable of bestowing its fructifying blessing upon us. As one researcher notes, "Volcanoes create new rocks and new land mass. Their mineral-rich output fertilizes the surrounding soil, producing abundant and delicious crops." This perspective transforms what might be seen as catastrophe into opportunity.
Hawaiian communities demonstrate this resilience by their response to eruptions. After the devastation of lava flows, many have brazenly built houses atop the hardened flows, using the very lava rocks as walls, fences, and foundations. One resident explained this philosophy simply: "We thank God every day for today because tomorrow, we know it will erupt again." This attitude reflects a deep understanding that transformation, although challenging, brings new possibilities.
Balance between destruction and creation
At its core, volcanic activity represents the perfect balance between opposing forces. Scientists recognize that "the release of volcanic materials is necessary to maintain the balance of pressures within the earth." Nonetheless, this scientific understanding parallels ancient Hawaiian wisdom that has long recognized this equilibrium.
Despite their terrifying displays, volcanoes teach us that what appears destructive actually creates new possibilities. Pele's legacy, as understood by Native Hawaiians, "is not just one of destruction, but of balance. The islands of Hawaii are a testament to her power—the lush rainforests, the fertile fields, and the towering volcanoes all owe their existence to her."
Interestingly, this balance extends beyond physical manifestations. Native Hawaiian practitioners believe "the volcano is like the Earth's mother" and that "their welfare and the Earth's ecological balance are dependent on their continued and appropriate interactions with this living being." As such, the spiritual practice involves not domination over nature but harmony with it—recognizing that both creative and destructive forces have their necessary place.
The volcano thus becomes our teacher, demonstrating that in life, as in nature, destruction and creation are not opposites but complementary aspects of the same process—a lesson that remains profoundly relevant in our rapidly changing world.
Throughout the centuries, volcanoes have stood as more than geological wonders in Hawaiian culture—they exist as living entities that shape both the physical landscape and spiritual identity of the islands. Indeed, these fiery mountains embody the perfect balance between destruction and creation, a principle deeply woven into Hawaiian understanding of life itself. The story of Pele and her volcanic family reveals how closely Hawaiians connected their existence to these powerful forces, developing a relationship based on respect rather than fear.
Ancient Hawaiian artists captured this profound connection through petroglyphs carved into hardened lava, symbolic patterns on kapa cloth, and the rhythmic movements of hula that mirror volcanic activity. Subsequently, modern artists continue this tradition, translating volcanic energy into contemporary expressions while honoring ancestral wisdom. This artistic continuity demonstrates how volcanic influence flows uninterrupted from ancient to present-day Hawaiian cultural identity.
The volcanic teachings of resilience and transformation remain particularly relevant today. While Western perspectives might emphasize danger and catastrophe, Hawaiian wisdom recognizes that what appears destructive ultimately creates new possibilities. Therefore, volcanoes serve as powerful teachers, showing us that life's challenges often bring unexpected renewal.
Above all, the sacred volcanoes of Hawaii remind us that humanity exists not separate from nature but intimately connected to it. The hidden stories embedded in Hawaiian art reflect this truth—that we thrive not by dominating natural forces but by understanding them. Though modern society often forgets this lesson, the ancient wisdom preserved in Hawaiian volcanic traditions continues to offer profound guidance for living in