If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, it’s a good idea to know a thing or two about Pele—the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, and volcanoes. Legend has it that Pele resides at the summit of Kilauea volcano, and serves as a protector and guardian of the volcanic rock on the island. According to the myth, anyone who removes lava rock from its natural home will be cursed. While many don’t believe such a curse originates from ancient Hawaiian legend, and instead credit a park ranger for inventing the tale— you’re better safe than sorry when it comes to messing with Pele. To this day, it’s said that thousands of regretful tourists end up sending pieces of lava rock back to the Island after returning home with their “souvenirs” and then suffering bad luck or hardships soon after. Numerous ancient Hawaiian legends exist surrounding the origin of Pele. One of the most popular versions tells a tale of a tumultuous, violent beginning in which the hot-tempered, Tahitian-born goddess seduced her sister’s husband and was subsequently exiled from her home. She traveled on a great canoe that her older brother, the king of the sharks, provided—eventually landing on Hawaii. There, however, she continued to fight with the water-goddess sister she had betrayed, nearly meeting her demise. She escaped and dug out several fire pits (including Diamond Head) before moving around the islands and creating the volcanoes. Her sister is said to have caught up with her on Maui, where their final battle resulted in Pele’s destruction. After her mortal death, she dug her eternal fire pit home, the Halemaumau Crater of Kilauea—where many believe her spirit still resides. Pele’s jealousy, rage, or longing for her lost love is connected to every volcanic eruption on the Island— keeping her legendary status ever-present in the hearts and minds of Islanders and visitors alike. The goddess is also believed to be able to take on human form—appearing sometimes as a beautiful, young woman but other times as an old, weak, beggar woman with a white dog. In the latter countenance, she often “tests” people by asking for their help. Those who are kind-hearted and provide her with the food or drink she requests are rewarded, while those who are greedy or selfish are punished. Whenever modern sightings of Pele are reported, increased volcanic activity is said to closely follow. The legend of Pele has rich, cultural roots passed down through oral tradition. Her spirit, presence, and power stay actively ingrained in the modern Hawaiian culture in large part because her volcanic home continuously erupts and flows on the Big Island. Just as Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Pele is the most actively celebrated and revered deity of Hawaiian legend.