Hiiaka, the goddess of lightning, was ordered by her sister, Pele, to deliver a message to the other side of the Big Island. Hopoe, Hiiaka's friend, was worried because she knew there were many demons living in the forest, river, ocean, and mountains. Hiiaka reassured her that she would be fine since Fern Maiden was coming with her. Hopoe gave Hiiaka a lehua lei as they said good-by. Hiiaka said, "Don't worry Fern Maiden and I will come back. Pele has promised to protect you."

Before leaving Hiiaka put on her magic pa-u.

On the way Hiiaka and Fern Maiden met a woman named Singing Thrush. The three ladies went into the forest. Singing Thrush was telling her about Forest Demon who lived in the forest. When they were standing near a giant candlenut tree, Singing Thrush said, "That's the Forest Demon." Fern Maiden was scared. She wanted to go home but Hiiaka wanted to stay. Hiiaka quickly took off her pa-u and whirled it in the air. Suddenly there was a flash of lightning in the sky and it hit the Forest Demon. Hiiaka's spears of lightning killed Forest Demon. The three ladies walked on into the forest.

They saw a river with two logs stretched to the other side of the shore. On a rock were gifts of fish, coconut, and fruits that water travelers offered One of the travelers said, "When you cross the river, you will fight the Lizard Women." They didn't know where these Lizard Women were. Meanwhile, an old lady put an offering on the rock and started to cross over the logs. The logs almost ate the woman. Suddenly they noticed that they were the giant bodies of lizards. Hiiaka, Fern Maiden, and Singing Thrush saved the old woman. Then the lizards tried to drag Hiiaka into the water. But the goddess whirled her pa-u again. Lightning spears came out and hit the Lizard Women and turned them to stone. The travelers gave their gifts and food to the ladies. They continued their journey.

One day Fern Maiden and Singing Thrush wanted to go swimming. But Hiiaka yelled, "STOP!" Hiiaka dropped some leaves and the Man-Eater Shark came out of the water and took the leaves. Hiiaka and the shark fought. Hiiaka again threw her spears of lightning at the shark and killed it.

The three women met a young chief and his warriors who told them of the giant, lizard-like beast, mo'o. As they came near a cave, they met the Great Mo'o. The warriors used their spears but weren't able to pierce the tough hide. The mo'o's tail struck Fern Maiden to the ground. Once again Lightning Goddess took off her magic pa-u and hurled her lightning spears at the Great Mo'o until it fell to the ground and died.

The battle was not over yet for tiny mo'o came out of the cave. Hiiaka called the gods of the storm to help her. With her lightning spears and a furious storm, the mo'o were washed out of the cave and fell to their death over the cliffs.

They delivered Pele's message. Hiiaka kept watching the moon and saw that it was getting smaller and smaller which meant the 40 days were running out. She said good-by to her 2 friends and headed back to Kilauea.

When Hiiaka reached home, she ran to Hopoe but her friend didn't answer. Pele had broken her promise and didn't protect Hopoe. Instead the goddess of fire turned Hopoe to stone. Therefore, Hopoe was known Dancing-Stone-of-Puna.

by Natashia

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Thompson, Vivian L. Hawaiian Myths of Earth, Sea, Sky. New York: Holiday House, 1966.