Hiiaka

Also known as: Hii-aka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele / Hiiaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele / Hiiaka-in-the-bosom-of-Pele / the young Hiiaka · Family: the Pele family · Role: youngest sister of Pele · First appears: Chapter II · How Pele came to Hawaii · Part 1

Born as an egg, Hiiaka was warmed and nourished by Pele until she became a child. Chapter II says that Ku-waha-ilo was her father and Haumea her mother; in Chapter X she is named the youngest of the Pele family, “Hiiaka-in-the-bosom-of-Pele.” After many adventures, she married Lohiau and lived on Kauai.

In Chapter XI, before Pele’s long sleep, Pele charged Hiiaka to wake her if she had not returned to life within nine days. Hiiaka’s call aroused Pele, who then let her remain by the sea with Hopoe, her friend. Chapter XII recounts that Hopoe taught Hiiaka to dance and that, when Pele sent Hiiaka to fetch Lohiau, Hiiaka agreed on the condition that Pele protect her lehua forest and Hopoe. Pele gave her divine power and sent Pau-o-palae as her companion. Hiiaka brought Lohiau back to life and presented him to Pele.

In Chapters XIII–XVI, Hiiaka fought demons and dragons on her journey, using her bamboo knife, magic skirt, and powers, and at times calling on Pele for help. In Chapter XIV, Wahine-omao joined her journey rather than obey Pele’s order to spy on Hiiaka. Hiiaka also restored a drowned fisherman to life, defeated seacoast monsters, and helped make travel safer. In Chapter XVII, she again restored Lohiau to life; after Pele burned places dear to Hiiaka, Hiiaka and Lohiau became husband and wife. They went to Kauai, where they lived as chief and chiefess until Lohiau’s death.