Hawaii’s Lava Rock Curse
October 22nd, 2008
You may have heard about it. There’s a legend that says Madam Pele, the
Hawaiian goddess of fire who commands the volcanic action on Hawaii’s Big
Island, lives in the fire pit in Halema’uma’u crater, at the summit caldera of
the Kilauea volcano.
You may also have heard that Madam Pele doesn’t like to have lava rocks
purloined once they have cooled and settled. It is said that anyone who removes
a piece of rock from the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park will incur her wrath.
Bad luck is certain to follow.
Well, visitors take them anyhow. They’re nice souvenirs and they travel well.
But there’s no question about this: Visitors who have taken rocks from Pele’s
land have returned them in hopes of ending scary streaks of bad luck. Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park and most of the hotels are inundated with packages
containing rocks from guilt-ridden vacationers who are intent upon reversing
their sudden spates of misfortune.
Pets die. Jobs are lost. Houses burn down. Sudden and devastating illness
strikes loved ones. Marriages break apart.
These are actual quotes from former Big-Island vacationers:
Please take this rock and put it back somewhere on your island.
I have had very bad luck since it came into my life and I am very sorry I took
it. Please forgive me and I pray that once I send it
back where it comes from, my bad luck will go away.
Ever since we have taken items, we have had nothing but back luck and
medical problems. We apologize for taking the items, so we are returning
same to Hawaii.
We placed the rock last fall on a cast iron chair in our garden; this
spring the chair’s leg had fallen off. That’s the least of the problems
we have had since we’ve taken the rock.
Please return these rocks to their rightful spot. I never had so much
bad luck as I’ve had since I returned from Hawaii.
I picked up a small piece of lava somewhere, (we are rock and crystal
collectors), never dreaming of what might come. Since then we have lost
half of our retirement savings to a scam artist and will have to go back
to work. Please work your magic on the enclosed piece of lava and
hopefully nothing worse will happen.
There are thousands more like those. The Volcano Post Office, Volcano National
Park and lots of hotels find the returned rocks a nuisance (although they
faithfully dispose of them by tossing them onto a big pile right behind the
Volcano Visitor Center.)
The Volcano Gallery on the Big Island gladly accepts returned rocks. Once they
receive the rocks they carefully wrap them in ti leaves and return them to a
special location in Volcano close to Pele’s home, along with an offering of
orchids to ask for her forgiveness. For the service, the gallery asks for a
donation of $15, but will perform the service in any case.
What, you’ve been to Hawaii and have a lava rock? You can still return it.
Here’s the address:
Rainbow Moon Attn: Lava Rock Return P.O. Box 699, Volcano, HI 96785
Posted by Jim Winpenny
Entry Filed under: Big Island, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Oahu, Podcasts
35 Comments Add your own
1. Deanne | December 8th, 2008 at 7:07 am
What about coral? I have tried many links to research taking coral from the island and find nothing bad; this would be coral washed up on the beach, not live coral.
Can you advise?
2. Luana | December 27th, 2008 at 7:01 am
I am in deeper trouble than others have mentioned. I feel like my fate was sealed because instead of sending them back, my family just wanted to get rid of them so I ended up throwing them in the local river. You see, I lived on Oahu for a short time as a youth and later as an adult, and my son was born in Kapi’ olani Hospital in Honolulu, so I guess I felt like the rule did not apply to me.
I took them (3 small ones) off of Haleakala volcano in May 1985 while on vacation with a friend. Various bad things happened, lost my job, lost money, and then in August met a man that was a knight in shining armor. The day my ten-year-old son and me married him, December 15th 1985, I found out I married a classic abuser, the type that suddenly become a different person, but it is too late because they have spent an intensive time period convincing you he is a knight not a villain. Many other things kept going wrong and somehow I did not want to believe a superstition (so I thought). Life got worse and my son and I ended up isolated, living in Spain, since he was in the Navy. (What was I was wrong with me?) After being badly hurt, I able to get us away to a secret location in a new state. I found out I was unable to return to my previous occupation that I loved dearly due to severe back injuries. So, I had to seek public assistance for a few months while I figured out what I would be able to do, and to pay for medical treatments and bills. Then I found out I had somehow missed a registered letter from the Readers Digest Sweepstake, but it was too late and they gave my winnings to someone else.
Shortly, thereafter I came down with a devastatingly and life altering illness which they do not know what causes it, it is rare and incurable. After that is when I threw them in the river. I cannot express how it has continued to get worse since then. I can never win for all the losing in every aspect of my life. I have been raped, mistreated, and after my illness for a long period have been in wheelchair for 6 years. I have had a close brush with cancer and have been the hospital for long stays four times this past year. I also now have a tumor on my right ovary we hope is benign but will need to be dealt with soon as they told me things a now growing.
Is there anything, anything at all, to do at this point? I am now nearer death than far from it, and need any assistance that anyone in the islands can offer. Please, help me.
3. Jim Nichols | January 7th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I took a lava rock from Maui near the top by the visitor area. I only see info on rocks taken from the big island. Is this part of the curse? Please advise.
4. Bruce Fisher | January 7th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
According to my sources, and I checked with several locals, taking lava rock from any island leaves you with a “curse”
5. Before Hawaii Went Commer&hellip | January 30th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
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6. Chad Warren | February 24th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
My wife and purchased a hawaiian Ku God statue made from the black sand while in Hawaii on our honeymoon (Maui). Since we purchased it from a store, is this considered “bad”, or should no one ever take sand from Hawaii, regardless of whether we paid a store for it? The “god” was supposed to bring us good luck, but we have struggled through every difficulty immaginable. Is it bringing us good luck, and keeping us all alive, despite our problems, or is it the thing cursing us and keeping us from prospering?
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8. Apex Professionals LLC | March 20th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
This entry is fantastic. I love a good bit of folk lore. Thanks for the read!
9. Carolyn Dipietro | April 2nd, 2009 at 3:00 am
this curse is scary,some unusual events have transpired since i have been home. how do i know the rocks make it there?thanks for your service offered.
Carolyn
10. Trang | April 23rd, 2009 at 9:31 am
Hi,
I really did not know this. I took one rock from the Black Sea on Highway to Hana in Maui.. I brought it to Big Island and I read the article.. I was so afraid so I left the rock in my hotel room in Big Island.. I did not bring it back to Canada. Please let me know if this is ok that the rock still belongs in Hawaii.. I am having a lot of bad luck at the moment..I really don’t know if it is coincidence. I am so sorry to Madam Pele. Please forgive me
11. Scared fool | May 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 pm
What have I done? I just returned from Hawaii with 5 volcanic rocks and a vial of black sand. I had heard rumors, but I wanted to study the rocks and the sand so that I could see if there was anything special about these things from Hawaii versus other places. I took 3 stones from Waikiki beach, 2 stones from the blowhole on Oahu, and the sand from there as well. Now, I have already left very important and expensive equipment is Hawaii, my glasses snapped, and I broke every glass bottle is my refrigerator. Is this Pele’s curse?
12. friend | June 1st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
My friend took three lava rocks in 04, in 08 she found out she had stage 3 lung cancer, had been growing unknown for some time. She passed away recently, i feel she has more than paid any debt to anyone, goddess, or god, she suffered very much. Her family keeps the rocks in sight, I worry for them, it all seems to creepy, please let me know they will be okay they had nothing to do with taking the rocks, they just found out about the curse after her death (as i did). I don’t think they will send them back, even if some wanted too they wouldn’t be able too because the one who owns them now won’t part with them. Will the current owner bare the curse, will their children suffer also or has the debt been paid.
13. Mark | June 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 am
In 2004 I visited and took some black sand. My wife left me in 2005 for another person she was training at work. I have since re married but it has been a hard struggle. I have lost both of my sons over my 2nd marriage. They don’t speak to me. I want to send the black sand back but i don’t know where or how.
I could list more of my bad luck but i think you get the point. I want to rid my self of it. Please e mail me at girardpaguy@yahoo.com is anyone reads this and has information on how i can send it back with out traviling there
Thank you. Mark
14. no name | June 3rd, 2009 at 4:19 pm
if someone mails me something, does the curse still apply?
15. m | June 4th, 2009 at 11:34 am
In 1981 I visited Hawaii. I did not know there was a curse. When I heard about it I through them away immediately. I did not now yoy could send them back. How can I make amends.
16. m | June 13th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Hi I wrote the above question on 6/4 about making amends to madam Pele. I have not received an answer. I think my address was incorrect. I am waiting a reply. Thank you in advance
17. GNS | June 19th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
We had taken a rock from Haleakala Crater, Maui in 2007 and had no idea of this.. Can you please let us know which address we should send it back to in Maui ? this page refers the address of Big Island only.
we would appreciate if someone can help us find this information.
Thank you
18. RN | July 12th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
My husband and I recently went to Maui. For souvenir, we took some black rocks and sand from the black beach. Before we left the island, I saw some sites about the curse. We went to the black beach and returned the rocks and sand and I put coins under the rocks. the only thing is that the black rocks were taken from another black beach (but still in maui). We never left the island before we returned the rocks and sand. but I have been experiencing some unusual bad luck since. What did I do wrong???
19. Wayne NICHOLS | August 9th, 2009 at 3:38 am
Lets just say I believe. Pele is a powerful goddes.
Wayne N.
20. Laura | August 16th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Does anyone know the name of the book that is a compilation of letters written about the lava rock curse?
21. Bruce Fisher | August 16th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I am not aware of a book of letters, where did you hear about that?
22. Susan | September 23rd, 2009 at 6:08 pm
We purchased a hibiscus plant growing on a lava rock at the airport in Kauai two years ago. Does the curse still apply? We’ve had a very bad year but so has everyone else is today’s economy.
23. Joshua Pike | November 6th, 2009 at 2:16 am
And Nostradamus said, “bad things will happen,” so the world held its breath in suspenseful fear, and choked in the wait.
You are cursed because you believe you are cursed. If you think I am wrong, think of this. It is only the cursed that get sick or die. Those that are born free, and stay that way are all loved and fed, are never with out a home. Abuse is saved for those who deserve it and children never go to bed hungry. The world is perfect, save for the cursed.
Faith is a powerful thing. It is the focal point of its object. The closer you look at a tree the harder it is to see the forest. If you are always focused on the bad you will always be blind to the good.
I took three rocks from the big island and I am blessed.
24. Seth | November 6th, 2009 at 5:15 am
I took a rock from Sunset beach on Oahu which I intended to put in my stone wall in my garden (i’m an amateur mason). The day we left we got food poisoning. While on the plane, I was throwing up in the bathroom and my wife passed out into the isle. We lost our camera on the way back. I seem to be having hives for no reason……..
So what am I going to do? I’m going to put that damn rock into my wall I’m building, that’s what. Pele can go to hell for all I care. If she wants the rock back she can tear down my wall and take it.
25. JJG | December 7th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
My son’s classmate gave him a lava rock this morning as a gift from visiting the Big Island but I am sending it back. I am from the Big Island though now living on the Eastern part of the U.S. The stories and folk lore that have been told to me still believes in them.
If you visit Kilauea or the Volcano Visitor Center in Volcano Big Island you will see the letters of the people returning lava rocks from big to small and their fate from accidents to deaths and such. Either you believe in the things that has been told to you or read it’s up to you. Coincidence or not I am not sure, but, you have nothing to lose if you return it. My whole family still live there 30 mins from the Volcano and they were alarmed when I called them and told them someone gave my son a lava rock as a gift and urged me right away to return it. I am not taking any chances, though God will always be my only saviour. To those people that wanted the address where you can return the rocks I have found this in the internet, I would send it to my family and send it back to the Halemau’mau crater (Volcano) but if you send it to this address the people will do the proper “offering” as they say:
Rainbow MOON
Attn: Lava Rock Return
PO BOx 699
Volcano, HI
96785
ps…I was searching about lava rock curse stories and this site came up and thought I’d read it..It’s up to you guys to decide but do be careful when visiting the Islands. Enjoy the Island just don’t take anything that belongs to the Goddesses that protects it.
GOD BLESS,
JJG
26. Seth | December 7th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Here is the stone in the wall. Notice the white stone at about 10:30 in the arch. If Pele doesn’t like the position the stone was put in, she isn’t a reasonable God and I refuse to abide by her edict.
27. Seth | December 7th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Link didn’t work.
http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu3/srsbusiness/wall.jpg
28. Ashley | December 11th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
my friend sent me a care package from one of the islands (not sure which one) and there was a seashell in there.. do I need to return it? I have tried googling it but all I am finding is about lava rocks. help please! I have a baby girl and I dont want to put her in danger bc of a shell..
29. w | December 20th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
does it matter if someone sends you the lava rock, if you forgot it and left it behind while on vacation? i took the rock, but left it behind at someone’s home. a few weeks later they mailed the rocks to me 3k miles away. i forgot about them, and their existence all these years. what is the general rule? the person who takes them or the person who gives them? is giving a lava rock gift actually (malicious) and inappropriate? please let me know, if you can. thank you.
30. Seth | December 21st, 2009 at 5:29 am
You guys have got to get a grip. There is no angry volcano god out to get you. It’s just your irrational desire to pin the blame for bad luck on some higher power.
31. Jeff | January 7th, 2010 at 8:54 am
I have heard about the curse from my Father-In-Law who was born and raised in Maui. He claims that if your are of Hawaiian decent that the curse doesn’t apply. Beware everyone else.
32. Irene | February 18th, 2010 at 10:55 am
I was given a lava rock by a friend that went to Hawaii. All I can say is since I received that rock I have had one thing after another happen to me that would be considered bad luck. I’m not taking anymore chances —- the rock goes back!
33. Bruce Fisher | February 18th, 2010 at 11:01 am
You can send it here:
Attn: Lava Rock Return
PO BOx 699
Volcano, HI
96785
34. O | March 18th, 2010 at 5:32 am
now i have been hearing a lot about the lava stones now i was wondering does that apply to sand? I made a Zen Garden with it so it is out in the open next to my fish bowl.
35. Abdel | March 19th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Last week my friend went to Hawaii for vacation with his girlfriend. I told him to bring me a cool volcanic rock. That same week I got a cold, I lost my job and I was in a car accident. Today I spoke to him over the phone and he tells me about the lava rock curse which a native told him about. My friend has already returned the rock. This past week I have felt very weak, disorganized and disoriented. Although I never received the rocks I think I got a taste of Pele’s wrath. I hope my luck improves.
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