Pii-ka-lalau

Also known as: Pii · Role: dragon of the Pii family · First appears: Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god

In Chapter III, Pii-ka-lalau and Koa plotted the death of Kau on Kauai. After a time, Pii attacked Kau, but Kau’s wife rescued him. Pele struck Pii with lightning, stunning him; then Pueo, one of Pii’s ancestors and his mighty ghost-god, caught Pele’s fiery darts in his beak and tossed them down.

The warriors wounded Pii and Pueo with spears, darts, and stones. Pii changed into dragon form and escaped to his mountain home, where he “nevermore troubled the chief by the sea.”

Relationship record

Life events

• Koa and Pii-ka-lalau plotted the death of Kau.(Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god · 📍 Kauai)
  • With: Koa
  • “Koa, the angry chief, came to this precipice and called Pii to come to him. There they plotted the death of Kau, the enemy.”
• Pii-ka-lalau attacked Kau, who was rescued by his wife.(Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god · 📍 Kauai)
  • With: Koa Kau
  • “As he entered the door he received a heavy blow which smashed the bones of one shoulder and laid him prostrate. A great giant leaped out, thrusting an enormous spear at him. Kau was one of the most skilful of all chiefs in what was known as ‘spear practice.’ He avoided the thrusts and leaped to his feet.”
• Pele struck Pii-ka-lalau with lightning, stunning him.(Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god)
  • With: Pele
  • “Soon out of the clear sky above the conflict appeared Pele hurling a fierce bolt of lightning at the giant. It struck the ground at his feet, almost overthrowing him. A second flash of lightning blinded and stunned him.”
• Pueo caught Pele’s fiery darts in his beak and tossed them to the ground.(Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god)
  • With: Pueo
  • “Pueo hovered over the head of Pii facing Pele. Whenever Pele hurled her fiery darts, the owl swiftly thrust his head from side to side, catching them in his beak, and with a shake of the head tossing them off to the ground.”
• The warriors wounded Pii-ka-lalau and Pueo with spears, darts, and stones.(Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god)
  • With: Pueo
  • “Thickly flew their spears and darts. Great clouds of stones were hurled, and both Pii and his owl-god were grievously wounded.”
• Pii-ka-lalau changed into dragon form and escaped to his mountain home.(Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god · 📍 Kauai)
  • “The giant called to his au-makua to fly to the mountains, and then, suddenly changing himself into his dragon form, he dashed up the precipice toward his home. The warriors were so surprised at the wonderful change that they forgot to fight, and only realized that this dragon was their enemy when they saw him far out of the reach of their best weapons. They could see that dragon leaping from stone to stone, and swiftly gliding up the steep precipice. He escaped to his home in the mountain recesses and nevermore troubled the chief by the sea.”

Chapter III · Pele and the Owl Ghost-god

• enemies with Kau “There followed a great battle in which Pii attacked all the warriors belonging to the wounded chief.”
• enemies with Pele “Soon out of the clear sky above the conflict appeared Pele hurling a fierce bolt of lightning at the giant.”
• elder kin: Pueo “Pueo was a great owl in which dwelt one of the most powerful of Pii’s ancestors.”
• benefactor: Pueo “Pii, smitten by this new danger, called for Pueo, his most mighty ghost-god.”

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