The Pele Stories

A collection of three Hawaiian legends written in English and Hawaiian: Pele Finds a Home, Hi‘iaka Battles the Wind and Naupaka for kindergarten through second grade. These stories, written by elementary school librarian, Gabby Ahuli‘i, introduce young kids to stories about Pele, the volcano goddess.

Pele Finds a Home introduces kids to one of Hawai‘i’s best-known deities, the volcano goddess, whose power is still on view today on the Island of Hawai‘i where Kīlauea continues to erupt.

Hi‘iaka Battles the Wind introduces kids to Hi‘iaka, Pele’s sister, and tells the story of how she saved Waipi‘o Valley from a vicious, destructive wind using her lightning pā‘ū (skirt).

Naupaka introduces kids to one of Hawai‘i’s best-known love stories that explains why the native plant naupaka—which can be found on the beach and in the mountains—blooms only half a flower.

In simple, poetic language, these stories give small kids a taste of Hawai‘i’s rich history of storytelling.