Poliahu

Role: snow-goddess · First appears: Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 1

In Chapter IX, Poliahu, one of four beautiful maidens who were enemies of Pele, met Aiwohikupua at Hamakua. He proposed marriage, and they sealed their betrothal by exchanging cloaks. After their marriage festival, Poliahu and her chief went to Kauai, but she turned against him and forsook him. She and her white-mantled friends chilled Aiwohikupua and his companions, then disappeared from Kauai, returning to their home on the great mountains of the southern islands.

At Mauna Kea, Pele attacked Poliahu with fire. Poliahu carried her snow-mantle to the summit, then cast it over the mountain, covering it with snow and extinguishing the lava flows.

Relationship record

Life events

• Aiwohikupua proposed marriage to Poliahu, and they exchanged cloaks to seal their betrothal.(Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 1 · 📍 Hamakua)
  • With: Aiwohikupua
  • “He landed and proposed marriage, but she made a betrothal with him by the exchange of the cloaks which they were wearing.”
• Poliahu and Aiwohikupua went to Kauai after their marriage festival.(Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 1 · 📍 Kauai)
  • With: Aiwohikupua
  • “After the days of the marriage festival Poliahu and her chief went to Kauai.”
• Poliahu turned against Aiwohikupua and forsook him.(Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 1 · 📍 Kauai)
  • With: Aiwohikupua
  • “Poliahu turned against her husband and forsook him.”
• Poliahu and her friends chilled Aiwohikupua and his friends, then disappeared from Kauai.(Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 2 · 📍 Kauai)
  • “Then Poliahu and her friends of the white mantle threw their cold-wave over the chief and his friends and, while they shivered and were chilled almost to the verge of death, appeared before all the people standing in their shining robes of snow, glittering in the glory of the sun; then, casting once more their cold breath upon the multitude, disappeared forever from Kauai, returning to their own home on the great mountains of the southern islands.”
• Pele attacked Poliahu with fire, but Poliahu covered the mountain with snow and extinguished the lava flows.(Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 2 · 📍 Mauna Kea)
  • With: Pele
  • “Pele threw off all disguise and called for the forces of fire to burst open the doors of the subterranean caverns of Mauna Kea. Up toward the mountain she marshalled her fire-fountains. Poliahu fled toward the summit. The snow-mantle was seized by the outbursting lava and began to burn up. Poliahu grasped the robe, dragging it away and carrying it with her. Soon she regained strength and threw the mantle over the mountain.”

Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 1

• enemies with Pele “There were four maidens with white mantles in the mythology of the Hawaiians. They were all queens of beauty, full of wit and wisdom, lovers of adventure, and enemies of Pele.”
• married with Aiwohikupua “There is a legend of Kauai woven into the fairy-tale of the maiden of the mist—Laieikawai—and in this story Poliahu for a short time visits Kauai as the bride of one of the high chiefs who bore the name Aiwohikupua.”
• engaged with Aiwohikupua “He landed and proposed marriage, but she made a betrothal with him by the exchange of the cloaks which they were wearing.”

Chapter IX · Pele and the Snow-goddess · Part 2

• enemies with Pele “Poliahu in legendary battles has met Pele many times.”

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Extracted from the original text of Hawaiian Legends of Volcanoes. Made with Rho MD.