By Andrew Tan
Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano has been erupting for over 30 years. It started in 1983 and continuously erupted until 2018. This active volcano has been spewing lava out the northwest wall of the Halema’uma’u crater.
Until December 31, 2020 Kilauea has spilt over 27 million cubic meters. Residents have had less outdoor activities because they were asked to stay indoors since there was air pollution called vog. Even though vog isn’t deadly, it can irritate your skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Kilauea is now recognized as one of the most active and youngest volcanoes. It was only after researchers discovered a magma plumbing system that extended over 37 miles inside its crater in 1984 that they found out why it was exploding a lot. Most locals believe that Kilauea’s eruptions have been caused by Pele, a Hawaiian volcano goddess. Pele is one of the six daughters and seven sons born from an ancient Earth goddess, Haumea. Pele was exiled to Hawaii from Tahiti. She went crazy and created destructive fire pits and volcanoes. While she died in an epic battle, Pele battled her sister Namaka on the island of Maui.
Now her spirit lives on the Halema’uma’u crater. This is why some locals believe that Pele was the cause of all the eruptions.
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