Nāmakaokahaʻi

In the big, blue ocean lived two sisters. One sister was named Pele. Pele loved things that were hot, hot, hot! She loved fire and glowing mountains. Her sister was Nāmakaokahaʻi. Nāmakaokahaʻi loved things that were cool, cool, cool! She loved the water and the gentle waves. This is the story of the two sisters. This is the myth of Pele and Nāmakaokahaʻi.

Pele the fire sister made a big mountain. RUMBLE, RUMBLE! Hot red lava came out of her mountain. The lava was bright and orange. It flowed down to the sea. SSSSS! The hot lava touched the cool water and made new land. But the new land was sharp and rocky. Ouch! Then came Nāmakaokahaʻi, the water sister. Swish, swoosh went her waves. Her gentle waves cooled the hot rock. Her big waves made the sharp rocks smooth. Pele made the land with fire. Nāmakaokahaʻi shaped the land with water. It was a happy dance.

The sisters danced across the big ocean. Pele made an island here. RUMBLE! Nāmakaokahaʻi shaped the island here. SWOOSH! They made another island there. RUMBLE! And Nāmakaokahaʻi shaped it, too. SWOOSH! Together, they made all the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. Fire is hot and water is cool. They are very different. But the two sisters worked together to make something wonderful. They made a beautiful home for the fish, the birds, and for you and me.