A Curse That Scares Visitors To Hawaii

At the local post office in the peaceful city of Hilo, Hawaii, an odd phenomena occurs. The receiving area floods with parcels bursting with stones, sand, shells, and other geological riches. These odd shipments come from former visitors who once delighted in the beauty of this Polynesian paradise but later wavered in guilt and regret. What motivated this odd deed? Said to be a supernatural retribution, the claimed Pele’s Curse is directed against those who dare to steal from Hawaii’s holy grounds.

Along with these odd bundles are often handwritten notes asking the postal workers to “Return this to the beach” or even more curiously, “Tell Pele I’m sorry.” The revered Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, the Pele in issue is said to be merciless and quick in wrath. Many visitors have returned their ill-gotten mementos in the hope of placating her and bringing the universe back into balance out their fear of running her curse.

For more than two decades, Hilo postal workers have seen this remarkable occurrence: a spike in such mailings every time the myth of Pele’s Curse takes hold in the media. Deeply ingrained in Hawaiian mythology, the claimed curse is said to afflict anyone who removes volcanic rocks or other natural objects from the islands. These sad people are supposed to be tormented by a sequence of events ranging from physical injuries and even death to relationship breakdowns and financial catastrophe.

Personal tales of Pele’s Curse abound, with people asserting to have suffered a rainbow of tragedies following souvenir collecting from Hawaii. While some describe terrible stories of wrongful arrests or unexplained mishaps, others claim years of romantic upheaval. Desperate to lift the curse, these afflicted visitors turn to returning the pilfers—often by mail—along with sincere apologies to the goddess.

Pele’s Curse is clearly psychological even if its existence is still firmly in the domain of myth. Many visitors start to believe that their own misfortunes directly follow from their transgression after learning about the curse or hearing personal stories. Whether driven by superstition or real fear, this belief drives them to act in hope of preventing more catastrophe.

When the postal workers in Hilo get these unusual packages, they follow a special procedure. Carefully wrapped in a red leaf, a sign of good fortune and an offering to Pele, the returned stones mark that the objects have been returned to their proper place. After that, they are taken to particular sites inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park close to Pele’s legendary home, where they are respectfully returned to the ground.

Spokesperson for the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park Jessica Ferracane notes the popularity of the Pele’s Curse myth but stresses it is only that – a myth. She clarifies that although it is illegal to remove stones or other natural objects from the park, the idea of a curse is a modern creation devoid of foundation in traditional Hawaiian beliefs.

Anecdotal stories and the power of suggestion drive the myth of Pele’s Curse even with official stance. For many, the belief in the curse functions as a warning story, a reminder to honor Hawaii’s cultural customs and the sacredness of the land.

The stones returned by repentant visitors find comfort in the embrace of the Hawaiian ground as the myth of Pele’s Curse enthralls and baffles us more. One thing is certain: the legend of Pele’s Curse will live on throughout the years, a monument to the ongoing power of myth and the human yearning for atonement whether their return brings about real relief from misfortune or just offers a sense of closure.