Pele, Volcano Goddess of Hawaii, 2nd Edition

The ancient legends of Hawaii tell how Pele came to the islands from far across the sea. After traveling from north to south, testing each of the islands for a home suitable for herself and her family, she took up her abode in Halemaumau Crater at the summit of Kïlauea on the island of Hawaii. To the Hawaiians of old, she was a living deity. Today, Pele personifies the volcano to visitors and residents, showing her capriciousness and power, while both destroying and creating new land.

Perhaps it is she who weaves the spell that brings people back again and again to the island of Hawaii, sometimes to spend the rest of their days in this vibrant land. That can be said of both Likeke R. McBride, the author, and Dietrich Varez, the illustrator. Often crossing paths, they each found homes for themselves and their families,and lived for decades in Volcano, deep in the land of Pele. Join them in exploring stories of the fire goddess that clearly paint the history of this dynamic land as seen through the eyes of inhabitants over generations, passed down through the ages. Originally published over fifty years ago, Pele, Volcano Goddess of Hawaii will now, with new illustrations, give these tales renewed life.

Likeke R. McBride first fell in love with the Hawaiian Islands and its people as a sailor stationed at Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai. After his military service, McBride received a B.S. degree in Geology from Ohio State University, with a minor in Botany. He joined the National Park Service in 1961 and was assigned as a ranger to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. He made his home in the Volcano area until his death in 1993.

Dietrich Varez was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1939 and has made Hawaii his home since the age of 8, when his mother married an American soldier who adopted her two sons and brought the family home to Hawaii. Earning his Bachelor’s degree in English, Varez joined the U.S. Army as a lieutenant. Returning to Hawaii Island in 1968 with his wife, he settled in the Volcano area. Inspired by Hawaiian folklore and the natural beauty of the native ohia forest surrounding his home, Varez has made art his life’s work. Well-known for his signature block prints, he is further exploring his creativity with full-color paintings in oil.