In ancient Hawaiian chants and legends, Pele the volcano goddess, is often described as passionate, volatile, and capricious. She was born to the female spirit Haumea, who, like all other important Hawaiian gods and goddesses, was descended from the supreme spirits Papa or Earth Mother and Wakea, Sky Father.

According to legend, Pele was among the first to venture to Hawaii with members of her clan; her esteemed uncle Lonomakua, keeper of the sacred fire sticks and eldest brother Kamohoali'i, the great navigator. Among the clan is the favored sister Hi'iaka (Hi'iaka-i-ka-poli-o-Pele), who is carried on the long journey and held close to Pele's bosom in the form of an egg.

Arriving in Hawaii and after many trials, the clan settles in Puna on the island of Hawaii and Pele creates her home in the fire pit of Halemaumau. She then falls into a deep slumber and dreams of far-off Kauai and the handsome prince Lohiau. Hi'iaka in the meantime, roams the Puna countryside and is enchanted by the many Lehua groves. It is in Puna, near the sea that Hi'iaka befriends Hopoe and is taught the ancient hula. Pele awakens from her deep sleep and beckons to Hi'iaka. Always the obedient one, Hi'iaka complies with her older sister's request to fetch her dream-lover Lohiau from Kauai and to return him to Hawaii Island to be her husband. As Hi'iaka willingly undertakes the journey, which proves to be fraught with many obstacles and danger, so begins the epic tale of duty, honor, death, revival, passion, revenge, and finally, reconciliation.

Dr. Nathaniel Emerson assembled many different strands of this myth and ended up with Hawaii's own answer to Homer's Odyssey. Emerson was a physician who became fluent in ?Olelo Hawai?i, and he often translated the works of esteemed Native Hawaiian historian and friend David Malo. This is Emerson's last work, written in 1915. An absolutely stunning tale told with the rich literary language of the early 20th century and supernatural scenes that bring to mind the Holy Bible.