10. The Coral Tears of Hawaiian Volcano Goddess
Hawaiian mythology tells a moving story tying the fiery domain of volcanoes with the vivid underwater world of coral reefs. The myth goes that the strong goddess of volcanoes, Pele, developed intense love for a mortal chief called Lohiau. < Pele’s fiery nature was incompatible with Lohiau’s mortal form, hence their love was ardent but finally tragic. Pele was so deeply grieved when Lohiau passed away that she withdrew to the ocean to cry. Her tears, along with the fire of her volcanic spirit, dropped to the sea floor and grew to be coral polyps. Pele’s coral tears started to proliferate and finally developed into the stunning reefs encircling the Hawaiian Islands. The tradition continues that the several colors of coral reflect various facets of Pele’s feelings: red coral for her passion, pink for her love, and white for her grief. This myth deftly links geological phenomena with emotive narrative to explain the volcanic source of the Hawaiian Islands and their adjacent coral reefs. It emphasizes the Hawaiian cultural viewpoint according to which water and land are linked and where strong influences shape both worlds. Oral traditions, hula dances, and chants have helped to carry down the tale of Pele’s coral tears over many years. With many local artists finding inspiration in the myth, it still shapes Hawaiian art and culture. Furthermore, the myth has helped Hawaiians—who view the reefs not only as ecosystems but also as a living tribute to their cultural legacy and the continuing power of love and transformation—to develop a feeling of duty toward coral reef preservation.