Pele's Curse
Visitors who take a piece of lava home from Hawaiʻi's volcanoes are said to suffer bad luck, and every year, hundreds of rocks are posted back.
What was reported
In Hawaiian tradition, Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanoes, who lives in the crater of Kīlauea. A modern legend says that anyone who takes rocks, sand or lava from her island will be cursed with bad luck until they return them.
Every year, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and local hotels receive packages of rocks posted back by visitors from around the world, often with letters apologising and describing the misfortunes they blame on the stones.
Explanations offered
Many historians think the 'curse' was invented or spread in the 20th century, possibly by park rangers or tour guides trying to stop visitors from taking rocks. Hawaiian cultural practitioners note that taking things from sacred places is disrespectful, curse or not, and removing rocks from the national park is illegal.
- When
- Told since the 20th century
- Where
- Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiʻi, USA
- Witnesses
- Park rangers and visitors
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.