Legend of the goddess with many names

Chapter Fifteen

Hawaiin goddess- namaka

In Hawaiian mythology, namaka, appears as a sea goddess or a water spirit in the Pele cycle. She is an older sister of Pele-honua-mea.

She is the daughter of Ku-waha-ilo and Haumea, whose other children are Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, the Kama brothers, and the bird Halulu. Aukelenuiaiku becomes Namaka's husband in Kahiki, but then later the husband of Pele, and because of this Pele, the Hiʻiaka sisters, Malulani, and Kaʻōhelo migrate to Hawaii. When Pele quarrels with her powerful sister, Namaka, Namaka sends tidal waves to destroy Pele's lands and homes. Helped by her family, Pele fights Namaka, but Namaka defeats her.

In Thrum's Kane-huna-moku myth Nāmaka is called the chiefess of the Mu and Menehune people when they are summoned to build the watercourse for Kikiaola at Waimea on Kauaʻi.

The Legend of Namaka and Pele

Namaka and Pele are Hawaiian Goddesses, as well as sisters that didn’t always get along.  The sea Goddess, Namaka was married to Aukele, who had an eye for the beautiful fire Goddess Pele.

While strolling on the beach one day , Namaka found the two embracing in a rather non-sister-in-law and brother–in-law fashion. Namaka lunged at Pele, but Pele managed to escape to the other side of the island, where she had hidden a boat. She rowed for many miles to the island of Kauai. As soon as her boat touched the beach, she began digging a fire pit, after all being a Volcano Goddess she needs fire in order to survive. However, Namaka sent a tsunami to quench the flames.

Pele moved to Oahu and dug a bigger fire , but Namaka spotted the smoke rising from Diamond Head betrayed Pele’s new address and again, Namaka sent a tsunami to douse the fires.
Namaka finally caught up with Pele on Maiu and the battle lasted for months. When the dust cleared, Namaka dove back into the sea leaving bones scattered all over the beach. To this day the masses of broken lava beneath Haleakala are called Naiwi O Pele (the bones of Pele).

Time passed, Namaka and Aukele made up. On one of their midnight strolls along the beach, they glanced to the big island of Hawaii and saw smoke and flames rising from Kilauea. Pele was back.

Not much is said about this goddess. Only that she and her sister pele was a form of trinity with their mother, haumea. Even though it didnt state that haumea was the goddess of river but she was the one and same as her daughters, namaka, goddess of water and pele, goddess of fire.

Originally, Hawaiian myth tells us, human women could not give birth.  They swelled with pregnancy and, when it was time for delivery, they were cut open – a dangerous procedure.  But the Goddess Haumea came to their rescue, teaching women how to push the child out between their legs.

Haumea was not so much ageless as ever-renewing.  Frequenctly She grew old, but as often She transformed Herself into a a young woman [much like Changing Woman.

Generations went by and still She lived among humans, sleeping with the handsome young men even when they were Her grandchildren and dsitant descendants.  One of Her favored mates was named Wakea.  Once it was said, the people intended to sacrifice him.  Taking him to the forest, which was Her domain, Humea ran directly through the tree trunks, leaving shreds of Her shirts blooming as morning glory vines, and carried Her lover to safety.

Because She owned all the wild plants, Haumea could withdraw Her energy, leaving people to starve.  This She did when angry, but most often Haumea was a kindly Goddess.  Some say She is part of a trinity whose other aspects are the creator Hina and the fiery Pele.