Ulumau Pohaku Pele is a 7-ton, 11-foot-high sculpture of stone and wood that personifies the spirit and identity of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaiʻi (aka the Big Island). The carved stone features Pele, the Hawaiian volcano deity, to provide the park with a means of connection to the spiritual and physical nature of the area that audiences can experience in multiple ways.
The Embodiment of All Things Volcanic
Created by John “Kalewa” Matsushita and unveiled in 2007, Ulumau Pohaku Pele is translated as “ever growing rock of Pele” which honors the sacredness of Mauna Loa and Kilauea as well as the goddess Pele (Pelehonuamea), the mythical creator of the volcanic islands. According to Hawaiian tradition, visitors should be respectful when in the realm of Pele, as she embodies all things volcanic. The monument physically embodies this tradition.
The head and body of Pele are cut into the face of the stone, while Ohia wood carvings around the base portray aspects of a vision by the late Emma Kauhi, a highly regarded elder in the Kapuna Committee. They depict Pele’s past (her journey to Hawai’i), her present (her home at Kilauea and Mauna Loa), and her future (her new home at Kama’ehu, a submarine volcano).
The nearby giftshop of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park features various products that incorporate Pele, highlighting the economic impact of the monument as well as the additional connections it has enabled with audiences. Doing so has allowed people to better experience and appreciate the unpredictable nature of the area that has been visible throughout the centuries and into the present.
Experiencing the Presence and Power of Pele
Many have said the power and presence of Pele are felt all across Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, as she is embodied by the lava and natural forces associated with volcanic eruptions. Created to represent the volcano goddess who has come to show the people her power, Ulumau Pohaku Pele has become an icon of the park and attraction that connects audience of all types with the legacy of the region.
