Ailaau the Forest Eater

retold here by Blaise

Adapted here from "Ailaau the Forest Eater" from Legends of Volcanoes by West D. Westvert

This legend is about Pele trying to seek a new permanent home in Kileau. She first stopped by Keahialaka to go on a journey. In Kileau, Ailaau was feared by everybody because of his tremendous appetite. He was the destroyer of trees and forests. All native farmers feared him because of his lava flow that went on the fertilized fields.

One day Pele went to see Ailaau and find a new home. Ailaau vanished because he heard someone named Pele coming. Pele was too strong for Ailaau and he knew that he was going to lose the against her. And so that is why from then on everybody in Kileau didn’t have to fear of Ailaau because he was gone forever. Pele was satisfied with her new home and dug up everlasting lava in the crater of Kileau and where she is still here today.