Pele Erupts; Combating Geothermal Corruption in Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands are commonly referred to as being paradise; the islands are often utilized as a remote tropical get-away for tourists from around the world. The majority of the people who visit the Hawaiian Islands are seeking an idyllic vacation and often fail to realize the complex and corrupt nature that exists on the islands. As a result of US colonialism, the Indigenous Native Hawaiian Culture and Religion has suffered severely. The State has essentially prostituted the land and culture out to tourists and non-native business ventures for financial gains.

The development of the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV)on Big Island, HI is one of the most significant displays of the State promoting foreign business at the expensive of Hawaiian culture and religion while simultaneously exploiting Hawaiian land and resources. PGV has a long history in Hawaiʻi and is quite possibly one of the most controversial aspects of the Island. In order to understand the severity of the PGV situation, it is imperative that the reader realize that not only do Indigenous Hawaiians have their own religion but many Hawaiian Natives believe that their identity and ultimately their well-being is intertwined with the land. Hawaiians also have a strong belief in Mana, which is essentially the spiritual life force that lives within all things.

Traditional Hawaiian religion has a deep reverence for a vast system of Gods, Goddesses, and Demigods. Many Hawaiians believe that these Gods and Goddesses are alive and live…