Pele's Remodeling

[MonikaC]

I was talking to a native Hawaiian woman yesterday who described herself as a follower of Pele. She sees this eruption of Kilauea as a cleansing of the imbalance brought about largely by humans. The 'ohi'a trees, which populate the lava fields first are being consumed by the lava. The 'ohi'a is a major conserver of water, both in providing a canopy and a thick understory that acts as a sponge, releasing the water into streams & aquifers. There has been a fungus that attacks the 'ohi'a, mostly on the Big Island, causing Rapid Ohia Death. This woman claimed that the locus of the fungus was where the lava has been most destructive and now is being cleansed. The power plant that has so far survived intact, was the subject of protests for 25 years. Wiping out all the rich peoples' homes is an expression of returning people to a less excessive, more pure state.

But anyway, here are some "snapshots" i.e SOOC images of Pele doing her work. Aerial shots from a doors-off helicopter this morning.

 

[AlanLichty]

I am more than slightly jealous of your chopper ride to take these shots and to be there watching this spectacle. Thanks for sharing some of what you got to see.

Great tale for Pele's cleansing as well.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I have some experience there from about 1998, awsome, but I did not get a helo ride, just a hike out to the lava stream at the time. one of the most awsome times I have had.

 

[JimFox]

Congrats on the Daily Featured Post Monika!

 

[MonikaC]

I am more than slightly jealous of your chopper ride to take these shots and to be there watching this spectacle. Thanks for sharing some of what you got to see.

Great tale for Pele's cleansing as well.

I actually had the idea when talking to that woman that maybe Madame Pele was menstruating & PMS-ing. When the endometrial layer of the uterus sloughs off, it's often considered "remodeling". Then the obvious red flow.... But that's probably disrespectful.

 

[MonikaC]

I have some experience there from about 1998, awsome, but I did not get a helo ride, just a hike out to the lava stream at the time. one of the most awsome times I have had.

Since nobody's allowed in the area due to the SO2, Pele's hair & general instability (though it's relatively stable now), hiking in is not an option. If caught, the fines have gone up to $5000 & a year in jail (that's the maximum).

 

[MonikaC]

Congrats on the Daily Featured Post Monika!

Thanks, Jim!

ps I just added more in the Travelogue forum.

 

[Zeph]

I buy both theories, removing the parasites (humans) and rebirth.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Just amazing. Thanks for sharing those!