05x05 - There is Pele

[bunniefuu]

Hey, everyone-- it's me, Molly!

♪ Molly of Denali

Let's go!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

[laughing]: Whooo!

♪ By plane or sled or snowshoe ♪

♪ She is ready to explore

♪ From Kaktovik down to Juneau ♪

♪ Always wanting to learn more ♪

Yeah!

♪ Together with her best friend Tooey ♪

♪ Always by her side And Trini!

♪ Discovering the outdoors

♪ On adventures day and night

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ Through fields of fireweed

♪ Come along with Molly

♪ Molly

♪ From tundra to the sea

Mahsi'choo-- let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali

Yeah!

♪ She's Molly of Denali

♪ Come on ♪ Let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali

♪ She's Molly of Denali

MOLLY: "There is Pele."

MOLLY: Did you ever notice how sometimes

you don't know you're having an adventure until...

[gasps]

Lava!

♪

It all started with one teeny tiny wish.

Aloha, everyone!

It's me, Molly, coming to you live

from the most volcano-y place we've been yet.

Outside of Alaska, that is.

Hawai'i!

We're on the actual island of Hawai'i,

which is also called The Big Island,

because it's the biggest island of Hawai'i!

And, oh yeah...

[rotorblades whirring]

I'm in a helicopter!

♪ Woohoo

I'm with Grandpa Nat and Keahi,

his volcanologist friend.

From way back when, when we were both baby volcanologists.

Here comes Mauna Loa, Molly.

Mauna Loa is one of six volcanoes

here on The Big Island.

♪

MOLLY: Cool!

Be back soon, hopefully with lava.

Actually, there aren't any active lava flows at the moment.

Aw... really?

But there have been some small tremors,

which could mean we're getting closer to an eruption.

Hope so!

Be careful what you wish for.

[chuckles]

I don't need to see a lot of lava,

just a little lava.

I wish, I wish, I wish you'd erupt,

just a little bit.

Please?

[rotorblades whirring]

And right over there is our farm.

You have a farm?

It's my Tutu Emma's.

And boy, is she excited to meet you.

Mmm, aloha,and welcome to The Big Island.

Aloha!

You must be Tutu Emma.

Yes.

Aloha.

Aloha,Molly.

And this is my niece, Kawena.

Hi.

Welcome to Akahai Farm.

Aloha.

We are so grateful to be guests on your homelands.

Mahsi'choo.

[sniffs]

These smell amazing!

Oh!

We brought king salmon

and blueberry jamfor you.

Mahalo.

We never had real deal king salmon

from Alaska before.

And I love blueberries.

We hear you two want to talk story about volcanoes.

But first, I need to finish making 'aina ahiahi,

or dinner, as people from The Continent say.

What does continent mean?

It's like when you say

the Lower to refer to the other states.

Kawena, show Molly around the farm.

Sure.

Is there any place you can see Mauna Loa from here?

Mm-hmm. I'll take you.

Oh, good.

I made a little wish,

and I need to see if it came true.

Come on!

Any lava yet?

No, I don't think so.

Is that what you wished for?Lava?

Yes.

It'd be a great ending for Shchada'a's documentary.

Plus, I'd really like to see some too.

Hey, what did Tutu Emma mean by talk story?

Talk story is when we slow down

and really share our knowledge or histories.

Sometimes it's just funny memories.

Talk story.

I like that.

Oh!

What's that down there?

Kalo.

It's called taro in English and it's delicious.

Hawai'i is so different than Alaska,

but there's something about it that feels the same.

Maybe it's the people?

Yeah!

Or the beautiful nature all around.

Or just maybe the spirit of the place.

[laughs] I like that!

MOLLY: Still no lava.

Kawena, have you ever seen Mauna Loa erupt?

Mm-mm, I've only seen peleflowing at Kilauea.

Pele?

That's how we say lava in 'Olelo Hawai'i,

our Hawaiian language.

Sorry we don't have any new lava,

but I can show you some old lava.

Really?

Mm-hmm.

KAWENA: We call this Pele's tears.

It's molten lava that cooled quickly in the air.

And this is called Pele's hair.

Tutu Emma says it forms

when lava shoots into the air.

TUTU EMMA: Boom!

The wind blows the lava

and creates very thin strands,

like hair.

Pele's tears, Pele's hair.

Who is Pele?

[thundering boom]

[rattling]

Ola'i!

Ah!

There she is now,

stomping her feet.

[small sigh] 'Ae,we go clean.

♪

What's going on?

In Native Hawaiian culture,

Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanoes.

Whenever she visits, we clean up,

out of respect for her.

KEAHI: Her full name is Pelehonuamea.

It means "she who shapes the sacred lands,"

or Pele of the Red Earth.

Because all of the Hawaiian islands

were formed by volcanic activity.

Just like the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

Can I help, Tutu Emma?

Mahalo. 'Ae,Molly.

KEAHI:What we know from our stories is that

when we feel an earthquake like we just felt,

and hear a boom like we just heard,

it means a volcanic eruption is about to happen.

Wait! It's happening!

The volcano's erupting.

TUTU EMMA: 'Ae.

This is a very sacred time for us.

A time of renewal.

Shchada'a!

Now you can film some lava for your documentary!

And we might be able to get a lava sample for our research.

As soon as we clean for Pele.

♪

ANNOUNCER [on radio]: Good morning andaloha!

And unless you're on the moon,

you know the world's largest active volcano, Mauna Loa,

erupted last night.

Experts say there's no threat

to life or property right now,

but be on the lookout for lava,

and stay tuned right here for more updates.

All right!

Who wants to film some lava?

I do! Me!

[laughing]

I'm glad your wish came true.

So am I.

[gasps]

MOLLY: Lava!

Ha'! Watch out!

KEAHI: 'Ae, aia la o Pele.

There is Pele.

That is the fastest lava I've ever seen.

Hang on tight!

[car rumbling, dirt crunching]

♪

[gasps]

I didn't know the lava would be so...

powerful.

[lava gurgling]

Maybe... maybe I shouldn't have made that wish.

Looks like we're taking a detour.

[sputtering]: Molly, quick!

The drone!

We can use it to find a way out.

[drone buzzing]

♪

[clicking]

Ooh, take a look at this.

Just a sec.

The lava's slowing down.

We can stop here.

I know that road.

That'll get us back to the farm.

[music playing on radio]

[door opens]

[chuckles] Whew.

Home so soon?

The road got blocked by lava!

Ahoo! It was beautiful.

Oh, wow...

[beeping]

ANNOUNCER [on radio]: This just in.

Officials say lava has blocked Saddle Road.

All nearby neighborhoods

are under mandatory evacuation orders.

Check out our website

for the emergency shelter nearest you.

[music resumes playing] Evacuation?

Doesn't that mean people need to pack up

and leave to go someplace safe?

Mm-hmm.

I wish I hadn't made that wish.

Uh, shouldn't we be packing?

Oh, no rush.

The lava is still a long way from us.

Molly, may I see your phone?

KEAHI: This is Mauna Loa.

These orange areas show where the lava is,

and these places are evacuating now.

And way down here is where we are.

We don't need to evacuate until the lava

reaches about here.

Phew.

Still, shouldn't we be a little worried?

I mean, that lava was moving really fast.

When Tutu Pele comes,

we know that it is a time of making everything new again.

Lava makes the soil rich

so new plants can grow.

It makes reefs for the fishes

and land for the people.

Lava is how the islands of Hawai'i came to be.

That's why we don't worry

and why it's important

to make h*'okupu,an offering,

just like our revered Princess Ke'elikolani.

What's h*'okupu?

And who is Princess Ke'eliko...

Ke'elika, um...

Princess Ke'elikolani.

Let me tell you, she was a fierce defender

of our Hawaiian language and culture.

[beeps]

[light drumming]

In , Mauna Loa had

a big eruption.

The people living in Hilo

were afraid the lava would destroy their town.

So they called upon Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani

to help them.

Princess Ke'elikolani had a great love for her people,

so she came from her home on O'ahu to help.

She arrived bringing h*'okupu,

these are offerings or gifts for Tutu Pele,

and she made oli,

our traditional chant.

♪ 'Ae, aia la 'o Pele i Hawai'i, ♪

♪ aia la 'o Pele i Hawai'i, 'ea Ke ha'a mai ♪

Pele was satisfied,

and the lava stopped

before reaching Hilo.

Beautiful.

Thank you, Emma.

I hope I grow up to be like Ke'elikolani.

So do I.

Time to feed the horses!

Kawena, please put the kaloin the pot.

Thank you, Molly.

GRANDPA NAT: I'll be working in my room.

Call if you need me!

Okay!

[phone chimes]

Oh!

The lava is even closer!

All those people having to evacuate.

Kawena, I need to go make h*'okupufor Tutu Pele.

What?

Think about it.

Mauna Loa was totally quiet

until I wished for it to erupt.

If I make h*'okupu,

just like Princess Ke'elikolani,

and stand right where she stood,

maybe Pele will stop the lava for me too.

That's a great idea!

I know someone who can help!

For h*'okupu,our 'ohana-- that means family--

always made lei.

That's the necklace of flowers

we gave you when you first got here,

with 'ohi'a lehua flowers.

But the 'ohi'a lehuatrees

have been hit by a really bad fungus

and are under a lot of stress.

So, we will use

these ferns, palapalai, instead.

It will still be good h*'okupu.

♪

[snipping]

♪

♪

MOLLY: They are so beautiful!

Now, we just need to go to where

Princess Ke'elikolani stood

and make our h*'okuputo Pele,

and maybe she'll make the lava stop

like she did before.

My uncle can take us there.

KEAHI [sighing]: Sorry,

the roads are blocked by lava, remember?

MOLLY:[gasps]

Look at how close the lava is to the farm now!

KAWENA: Yeah, but the place where Princess Ke'elikolani stood

is still okay.

But the roads to there aren't.

We don't have to go in a car.

We can travel like the princess did.

Wahoo! Wahoo!

[laughs]

♪

Are we getting closer?

The trailhead is right around this cliff.

Um, everyone,

there's a...

there's a...

KAWENA: A kohola!

A whale!

These same whales migrate all the way up to Alaska.

It's amazing how the oceans connect us.

That's why it's so important

that we keep them clean and protected.

Right, Shchada'a?

[chuckles] That's right.

[splashing]

MOLLY: Whoa! KAWENA: Beautiful!

KEAHI: Auwe no h*'i e.

E ku!

Why are we stopping?

It's raining up in the mountains.

Pretty hard from the looks of it.

We need to keep an eye out.

For what?

[thunder rumbling, all gasping]

KAWENA: Flash flood!

Sorry, but flash floods are too dangerous.

We have to go back.

[water rushing, rain pouring]

How will we ever stop the lava now?

KAWENA: Do we need to evacuate,

Tutu?

The radio said to be ready.

[gasps]

[sobbing]

Molly, what's wrong?

This is all my fault.

What is?

I made a wish for the volcano to erupt, just a little,

so Shchada'a could have lava for his documentary.

But now Tutu Pele is coming,

and all these people are evacuating,

and the lava is going to destroy your farm,

and I can't get to the place

where Princess Ke'elikolani stood to make h*'okupu,

so there's nothing I can do to make the lava stop.

[softly]: Oh...

Oh, Molly.

It's not your fault.

Tutu Pele is so powerful,

she moves at her own pace and when she wants to,

not because you asked her to.

Really?

And you don't need to go

to where Princess Ke'elikolani stood.

We can make h*'okupu right here.

We can?

Pele can hear us wherever we are.

These h*'okupu are beautiful,

but the most perfect h*'okupu you can give is aloha.

Aloha?

You mean say hello?

[chuckles]

Alohais much more than a greeting.

Alohais love.

And I can tell you have so much alohain your heart

because you care so much.

Keahi and Nat,

can you put the h*'okuputhere, please?

I will recite an ancient oli,

and when I'm done, we can all say aloha

as h*'okupu for Tutu Pele.

♪ 'Ae, aia la 'o Pele i Hawai'i 'ea ♪

♪ Ke ha'a mai la i Maukele 'ea

♪ 'Uhi'uha mai ana 'ea

♪ Ke nome a'e la ia Puna, 'ea

♪ Ha'ina 'ia mai ka puana 'ea

♪ No Hi'iaka no he inoa 'ea

Ha'ina no Pele.

ALL: Aloha!

[wind whistling]

[screeching]

[phone chirps]

It's stopping!

Scientists are saying the lava is stopping.

We don't need to evacuate!

KAWENA: Yes!

Our h*'okupuworked!

[laughing]

BOTH: Mahalo,Pele!

GRANDPA NAT: Ooh, who wants to check out the documentary so far?

I do, Shchada'a! Ooh!

Can't wait! It's starting.

[countdown beeps]

GRANDPA NAT [on video]: Long before there was a science called volcanology,

there was Indigenous knowledge of volcanoes.

And this knowledge

was passed down from generation to generation

through their stories.

Bird found a place on the land that was just right.

And this doe'gwo'ah became so angry,

it tightened its coils around the mountain

and started to squeeze!

GRANDPA NAT: And because of these stories,

we know how people long ago experienced volcanoes.

It's through these stories

that we know the ways of volcanoes

and how to understand their language.

These stories remind us of who we are

and how we must continue

to take care of one another,

the land, water, and animals.

This is how we keep our cultures alive.

Luckily for us,

there's a new generation of storytellers

to lead the way.

♪

Hey, everyone! Molly here to answer your questions

about life outside of Alaska.

Tzvi from New York asks,

"How can I learn more about hula?"

We can ask my friends in Hawai'i.

ALL: Aloha,Molly!

Aloha, my name is Kanehiwa.

This is my younger sister, Waipunalau,

and this is my hula friend, Kealaomahina.

We are in Kea'au

in this district of Puna on Hawai'i Island.

As Native Hawaiians,

the indigenous people of Hawai'i,

we welcome you with aloha.

In the Hawaiian language, kumumeans teacher.

This is my kumu, Kumu Pele and Kumu Kekoa,

and today we are practicing our hula.

WAIPUNALAU: Hula means dance

in 'Olelo Hawaii,

which is the Native Hawaiian language.

E h*'oma'ama'a kakou.

Let's practice some of our motions.

And so in the beginning of our mele,

the song that we're going to do,

it's Kalakaua He Inoa.

And Kalakaua is the name of the king,

so we have to be very regal

when we do this motion,

and follow our motions always

with our maka, with our eyes.

Of course, in our song, we also have Mauna Kea,

when we go up to the mountain.

And also,

we're going to visit Kilauea, the volcano creator,

in our mele,in our song.

KEALAOMAHINA: Kumu,

why is hula so important?

That's a great question, Kealaomahina.

Hula is important because

it is one of our highest forms of h*'okupu,

our offerings.

When we dance hula,

it connects us to our ancestors.

It also connects us to this place,

Hawai'i, our homeland.

And it tells a story of our people.

Most importantly, we dance hula with aloha.

ALL: A hui hou no,Molly!

See you later!

Mahsi'choo!

Thanks for asking,

and see you on our next epic adventure!

♪