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Poli‘ahu
Snow Goddess of Mauna Kea
Only Pele, the goddess of the volcano, rivals the goddess Poli‘ahu in power or beauty. We ski one peak and view the Kilauea caldera on the other, lacking answers beyond the scientific to explain the forces that allow their coexistence. To the early Hawaiian the contrast of snow covered Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa was mystifying. The island of Hawaii is a place where the past speaks clearly through nature. In all the miles of black lava, white and green and black sand beaches, maile forests, rolling hills, crashing waterfalls and isolated valleys and in the active volcano and snow capped mountains lie the gods and goddesses of ancient times, protecting and punishing in reaction to misuse or respect. Poli‘ahu, sometimes called "Cold Heart," translates literally to "bosom goddess." [ED. NOTE: Place Names of Hawaii translates the name Poli’ahu: garment (for the) bosom (referring to snow)] She wears a dazzling white cloak of snow (‘ahu can also mean cape) and keeps the majestic peaks of her home cold and barren. She is an aloof vision with a gentle side shown only to her favorite, the Hamakua coast. Hamakua, or the "back of the island," lies on the sun-blessed eastern side of Hawaii. It is a fertile area, marked by waterfalls and streams. It is said that Poli‘ahu liked to relax by the Hamakua cliffs and look out to the sea from a ledge of rock above the waterfalls. She watched and sometimes joined Hawaiian mortals in their sports and games. The ali’i (royalty) rode holua, sleds made of kauila wood, to race down a steep, slippery mud or grass course several hundred feet long. One famous legend tells of a visit the snow goddess paid to a Hamakua sporting festival. The best competitors brought holua with polished runners. Poli‘ahu borrowed one to demonstrate her skills. The spectators were wild with delight to see her mantle of pure white kapa (bark cloth) thrown back to reveal her legendary beauty, and hushed as she stepped onto the holua to race against the finest athletes. Standing tall with pride, Poli‘ahu powerfully and gracefully surpassed them all. One woman in red stood alone, studying the snow goddess in glowering silence as the villagers praised her ability. When the two women acknowledged each other, an unspoken challenge was offered and accepted. Poli‘ahu stepped up to the holua once more, and a rumble issued from the depths of the earth, ominously moving the ground beneath her. Startled, she gazed into the jealous eyes of her mortal enemy, Pele, and watched as the fire goddess roused the elements of destruction at her control. Pele's hair turned into long, licking flames, and smoke issued form her angry mouth. A column of fire leaped out at Poli‘ahu, singeing the mantle she grasped to her for cover, and the residents of Hamakua fled with fear as lava surged from the belly of Mauna Kea toward their homes. Poli‘ahu gathered her strength and raced for the summit, spreading the thick mantle of her snow cloak over the mountain. The earth quaked and shook with the violence of fire and snow battling for supremacy; huge rocks fell down the mountainside and streams of lava mercilessly poured forth. The snow goddess gathered clouds over the summit to cool the raging fires sent by Pele. Slowly the mantle of snow enveloped Mauna Kea down to the red masses of lava, checking the flow and eventually hardening it so the river was choked back into Pele's home at Mauna Loa. The lava flowed too quickly toward the ocean, leaping out to create the ragged area of Laupahoehoe, which means smooth lava branch, and the arch of Onomea, still visible today. Pele and Poli'ahu have met many times, but the snow goddess and her maidens have always emerged as victors at Mauna Kea. It is said that Pele rules the southern half of the island, while the kingdom of the north will always belong to Poli‘ahu. |
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