180th Commemorative Anniversary Of
Chiefess Kapi'olani's Defiance of Pele
December 13, 1824
Copyright (c) 1991 Herb Kawainui Kane. Used by permission.
http://www.hawaiianeyes.comIn 1824, the high chiefess Kapi'olani, an ardent Christian, decided to act in defiance of the volcano goddess Pele as a demonstration to her people of her new faith.
The chiefess proclaimed,
"Jehovah is my God. He kindled these fires. If I perish by the anger of Pele, then you may fear the power of Pele. But if I trust in Jehovah and He shall save me from the wrath of Pele when I break through her kapus, then you must fear and serve Jehovah!"Ignoring dire warnings, Kapi'olani descended into the caldera to the brink of the fire-pit Halema'uma'u. There she ate forbidden 'ohelo berries and read passages from the Bible. Fearful onlookers were amazed!
"She lives!"Unharmed Kapi'olani returned home, hopeful that her action would help win converts among her people.
Chiefess Kapi'olani's act of moral courage was a pivotal event in Hawai'i's Christian history.
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See 1 Kings 18:16-46 Elijah and the Prophets of Baal.
Text adapted from Voyagers (p. 130) by Herb Kane and Supernatural Hawaii (p. 38) by Margaret Stone.
The Hawaiian Historical Society cites December 13, 1824 as the date of this event.
http://www.hawaiianhistory.org/ref/chron.html
Additional readings: http://www.sacred-texts.com/pac/hlov/hlov25.htm
Alternate spellings:
Kapiolani
Halemaumau