Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1913-12-30
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volcano should exist In the side or q
larger one, but this Is the case with
Kihuea and Moana Loa, and the pc
cuharty Is accounted for by scientists
who claim that at one time there were
ard that lava falling from them so
filed the intervening valley that they
eventually became one volcano. At
ally rate, Moana Loa is higher than
its sister, Kilauea, and the theory
seems plausible. Moana Loa, which
is often visited, possesses attractions
fer expert mountain climbers. for the
trail Is a hard one. When this high
volcano becomes active the effect Is
stupenious. The two volcanoes are
remarkable living wonders, and Moana
Loa can proudly boast that it is the
second highest peak in the Pacific.
Just Is the natives have given a
name to the inner crater of Kilauea,
so they have dubbed the pit of Moana
Loa by the somewhat awe-inspiring
name of Mokuaweoweo, long name.
but + is jokingly said the craters
Blu the two VOLCANOES selected for
the rational monument are not by any
meals the only ones on these islands
of ciriosities. There Is also the ex-
tinct crater Of Haleakala. said to be
! the worlds greatest extinct volcano,
for the circumference of its crater ia
| 20 niles. A score of cones rise from
thiscrater, and 1t Is cut by many lava
| crad1s. The view from its summit
is siperb, for all the world seems
spred out before 1t. Then, there are
the amous Needles, tall rock forma-
| lions that stand like sentinels In a
| plain and on the Island of Oahu, not
far rom Honolulu, is the famous Pail
of Nuuanu, great cliff overlooking
| the sea where engineers have built
a roadway In order that fine view
| Of The windward side can be obtained.
NAM travellers consider this the most
beautiful view of the Pacific. Back
of Honolulu is also Mount Tantalus
with drive to its summit and all
arouid are mangos, citrus fruits,
vines and every kind of tropical
growth.
Superstitious HawaiIans.
1t not surprising that the enriy
and lncultivated natives should at
tribute supernatural powers to all
these phenomena and especially to the
volcalos of Moana Loa and Kilauea.
They peopled them with gods and god
desses, and supreme among them was
Pele, goddess of fire, who dwelt in
Halenaumau. The oldest legend tells
how Pele and her train came to abide
in the fire palaces of the famous era
ter. Her enemy, Kama-puaa, the water
god, half hog, half man, desired to
wed her, but as might be expected,
was not pleasing to the goddess, who
fled and took refuge in Halemaumau.
The water god followed. pouring
floods of water into the lake of fire.
Pele's slaves turned the water into
steam and hurled stones upon the
monster until he took refuge In the
sea. Delighted to find such a retreat
Pele remained In the crater and sent
forth lightnings, earthquakes and vol
canic eruptions, and SO in awe were
early Hawaiians that they tried in
every way to propitiate her. They
erected sacred temple nearby for
her priests and constantly offered her
chickens, fish. fruit and dogs, inter
spersed with occasional human VIC
tins. Great pains were taken to pro-
pitiate her at the first sign of an erup-
ton and hogs were thrown into the
crater and the streams Of lava.
Many a traveller who has stood On
the shores Of Halemaumau and watch
ed the strange forms that seem to
leap up with wild shrieks and then
disappear has realized how easy It
might be to imagine this fiery vcrpa
was the abode of a goddess and her
satellites. Especially as there are
certain formations around the crater
called by her name. It Is a common
thing to hear islanders speak of Pele's
hair, meaning the fine threads of lava.
looking much like spun glass, which
are found among the rocks and which
the birds use in building nests. When
the lava Is thrown to great height
the wind catches 1t as it drops and
spins it out into threads, olive, green
OF yellowish brown, and this 10 the
beautiful Pele's hair, so lovely that II
seems natural to associate It with a
goddess.