It was a sarong she wore, but not like the gaudy-colored ones you find in some touristy shop off the beaten path.
Instead, red triangles spread sideways across the material, giving off a dynamic appearance when worn correctly. She was over six feet tall, possibly six feet three or more. She did not slouch but walked with her shoulders back and chest out. She held her head high naturally, not as a way to look down at people. Nothing on her feet seemed out of place, considering how uncomfortable the small lava rocks can be under your feet. Her hair was long, curled, and fell just beneath her waist, a deep black color. Her face was a throwback to what the most potent Hawaiian chiefesses must have looked like. Big piercing eyes, full straight nose, full lips, naturally formed eyebrows. She brimmed with intensity, almost hummed with it. It was disconcerting that she stood there unbothered by the throng of tourists, the power of the smoke, and the pure chill in the air.Some tourists tried unsuccessfully to initiate a conversation, but she ignored them.
"I suggest you find something more constructive to do with your time rather than annoy me," she said.
Many were put off by her attitude, while others expressed anger. Finally, she stepped toward those persons and stared a hole through them, causing them to back away. How else should you reply when being stared down by an intensely beautiful Hawaiian woman who is twice your height? More smoke rose from the crater, and a thick part of it engulfed the tourists completely, causing them to choke, gag, and throw up. When it all cleared, the tall Hawaiian woman stood there with an expression of disdain. Simultaneously, the earth began to tremble.
"Time to go, all of you," the Hawaiian woman said with a finality. Without question, everyone scattered to their rentals and tour vans. Thick smoke crawled out of the crater and lay in the area like a blanket covering a sleeping infant. It was gentle, almost maternal. A half-hour later, the park rangers at the ranger's shack saw the smoke coming up the crater rim drive toward them. Rather than swirl about and be moved by the random whim of any errant wind, the smoke lay low to the ground and moved like fingers reaching out to touch someone or something. With the smoke passing through and around the shack, the two rangers on duty gave one another a strange look. Before words could be spoken between them, the tall Hawaiian woman appeared. Her manifestation was so sudden that the two rangers jumped back with fright.
"The smoke will be thicker than this in the next few days," the Hawaiian woman said. "Close the park so no one gets hurt."
The smoke suddenly rose from the ground, completely engulfing the Hawaiian woman. When it abated, she was gone. The park closed for the following week, but during that time, people claimed they could see torch lights in the thick smoke and that they could also hear lively conversations in Hawaiian, with a kind of music being played. It went on around the clock. A week later, the smoke was gone, and life, such as it was, continued. People speculated and searched online for answers, but the Hawaiians and locals did not need to do that. They already knew that it was Pele having a celebration of some kind at her home and that she wanted privacy. Not that she needed to ask, but at least she expressed a modicum of mercy to a group of tourists who didn't know better.
Photo Credit: Will Pattiz.
Loved it
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