Coral on the beach is like shells - OK to pick up and take with you. It is unlawful to take, break or damage, with any implement, any stony coral from the waters of Hawaii, including any reef or mushroom coral. This visible and active power has resulted in respect (and even worship) for Pele to far outlive those of any other gods. According to the Division of Land and Natural Resources, taking small amounts of sand, dead coral, rocks or other marine deposits for personal, noncommercial use is allowed. In Hawaii, no celebration's ... And it's bad luck to give a tied lei to a pregnant woman, ... Black coral is technically an animal, but it's often used to make jewelry. [ It's a jungle out there... ] Flashback, [See that line where the sky meets the sea? tina marie | Mar 14, 2008 1:55PM. We know our pets aren’t human but, in some ways, we care for them (and even regard them) as if they were. --Live coral is legally protected in most places iirc. Coral on the beach is like shells - OK to pick up and take with you. Required fields are marked *. Please do not take live coral or shells from the reef. ... coral, figurines, and jewelry made out of lava are also common. A sense o. What’s The Best Island In Hawaii To Visit? Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanos who, according to legend, resides in the crater of Kilauea on Hawaii Island (which, today, is Hawaii Volcano National Park). These things are considered to be unlucky and may cause the person bad luck. He writes had it not been for his quick reflexes coupled with some good luck, the coral would have chewed him to shreds. However, what I strongly feel about is preserving the environment and leaving no carbon foot print behind. So we're returning the Lava back where it came from. Sure I can blame everything that happens to me on the damn black sand. Money speaks volumes. So, back to Pele’s curse. Return Lava Rock to Hawaii! However you may want to find out what the rule is regarding this as you will pass through security. The locals call the outcrop Pu’u Keka’a. As much as I respect its environment, it seems odd that you can’t take home a few black stones to make a piece of jewelry memorializing the beautiful island when you see huge resort after resort being built and basically ruining the natural landscape. I have had bad luck for the last 21 years. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You may believe this, or you may not, there is no scientific proof, but many people believe that lava rocks that have wrongfully been taken from Hawaii should be returned by the person who took them. If she were to return it to a beach or get rid of it, or something. Do you think that the coral could be part of the curse? I mean, I knew you shouldn’t take home sands and rocks, but I didn’t know there were so many legends and curses related to this! Whether you believe it or not, the foundation of that story is true in the sense that Hawaiians have long considered it unlucky or ill-advised to disturb/remove rocks from a place unless certain protocol is followed or ceremonies are performed or someone skilled (like a Kahuna) does it for you. However, taking a souvenir such as lava rocks, sand and other natural elements off of the island is believed to bring bad luck. I do believe in negative karma and I can totally agree you shouldn’t take sand or rocks from Hawaii – or anywhere in the world for that matter. According to Hawaiian mythology, Pele lives in the volcano on the Big Island and is an extremely vengeful being. It is unlawful to take, break or damage, with any implement, any stony coral from the waters of Hawaii, including any reef or mushroom coral. It is not like a truly reef-protected beach area. However, dead pieces of coral can be collected and used in jewelry. It's actually against the law to remove objects from a … They belong to it and vice-versa. However, taking a souvenir such as lava rocks, sand and other natural elements off of the island is believed to bring bad luck. And that’s hilarious that the Volcano Park gets so many letters like that, haha. However, Hawaii plays host to over seven MILLION visitors per year. You may believe this , or you may not, there is no scientific proof, but many people believe that lava rocks that have wrongfully been taken from Hawaii should be returned by the person who took them. You’ll be cursed by Pele, the fire goddess. My sister did this and her husband had bypass and died of cancer…coincidence? Is it ok if I leave it on the beach before I leave? so im from michigan, I went on a vacation with family from california when i was young, about 13. we went to Hawaii for my causins soccer tournament. While some scoff at the notion that bad luck can be blamed on a rock, others have come to believe that rocks and sand taken from Hawaii do, in fact, fetch with them a curse of epic proportion. Since Pele is (reportedly) zealously protective of her lands and her children. Black Coral . Hawaiian culture is one of many superstitions and legends. Possessing or removing any natural mineral is illegal and could cost you some hefty fines. Nothing has happened to us. “People sent them back for a reason. However, it is ALWAYS wrong to take coral or rocks from their natural environment. Some believe that doing so is bad luck, and every year many boxes of lava rocks are returned to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from folks who believe that. I know that taking sand is supposedly bad luck, but... Watch this Topic. She was right! We returned all the items back to Honolulu. One version about the legend's genesis is this: a disgruntled park ranger, angry at the number of rocks that were being taken from the islands by visitors, said that Pele would curse them with bad luck should they take anything. Native Hawaiians consider every grain of Hawaii … Hawaiian culture is one of many superstitions and legends. Cutting yourself could result in a serious staph infection if it is not cleaned properly. Never heard about this curse. Dashed that idea. Local Hawaiian legend says, however, that taking a lava rock or black sand from Hawaii will cause bad luck to the person who takes it. It may seem enticing to take a souvenir home from Hawaii. But apart from being illegal, legend has it that taking volcanic rocks from Hawaii is bad luck. Lol. The wiki article says it was fabricated but my aunt took a volcanic rock and she got a divorce, my cousin had a heart attack and my other cousin totaled her car and had to be hospitalized within a few months. HAR 13-95-70 Rules pertaining to stony corals Unlawful to take, break or damage, any stony coral, including any reef or mushroom coral. Waving to the dolphins at a sea life park. By Rosti ... its really bad to take things out of the ocean and you shouldnt want to do it anyway ... Hotels and post offices constantly get sand and rocks mailed back asking to return them because of the bad luck the people who take them run into. I don’t want to find out… great read! If you visit a Hawaii Island volcano, offer ohelo berries to Pele. We did not know that was bad luck to take lava as a reminder of our trip. Here Are The 15 Worst Things You Can Possibly Do In Hawaii. Pele’s Curse . Me and my husband took a trip to Hawaii in Februar 2004 and had a wonderful time. It's tempting to take home a small lava rock or a handful of black, green, red, or white sand, but don't do it. Whether or not you believe in bad luck, below are a few reasons why you may want to think twice before taking some sand (or rocks) home with you as a souvenir. "According to legend, if you take something from the ocean, it brings bad luck" No it doesn't nor does taking lava rocks etc. Pele's curse says that any visitor who takes rock or sand away from the Hawaii islands will suffer … This is good to know – now there’s more of a reason to not take from a land that’s not yours! I took a baggy of black sand, from the black sand beach, along with coral and vilcanic rock from a beach.. No, but she thinks it is just nonsense…I hope she returns the sand before something happens to her girls or her. Anyway, Hawaii isn't a good place to find nice shells so the best place to find a shell souvenir is in a shop. Please do not take live coral or shells from the reef. There will be nothing left if everyone takes a little. It is well worth it About Pele: In Hawaii, Pele's fires develop and redevelop the islands, ... Bad luck is said to follow you from the moment that you leave with it! According to legend, Pele views the lava rocks as her children, and when the rocks / her children (or anything else that belongs to her) get taken away, she is so angered she exacts terrible revenge on the thief. We was on Honolulu couple years ago and we bring at home some rocks and coral and that year was really bad for my family one of our daughter has bad accident and more bad things happen to us. Never be thrifty in buying souvenirs to the point of giving away black sand or lava rocks. Your email address will not be published. It may seem enticing to take a souvenir home from Hawaii. Whether the curse has an ancient origin or a modern one, many have come to respect it thanks to the cascade of bad luck that descends upon those who take … We would do anything to get rid of it. Don't want to chance any bad luck upon us. Though Hawaii is safer than many other U.S. cities, ... Getting too close to the coral. Taking things from National Parks is against the law, so taking volcanic rocks from Hawaii’s volcanoes is illegal. Excellent read! Quote; Share this post. I have visited Big island and Maui in Hawaii and loved its natural and pristine beauty! Li, [[The best way to appreciate something is to live, You know what's really, powerfully sexy? The only problem is coral is illegal to take and it's illegal to have live coral shipped to Hawaii. Also taking home rocks from Hawaii is believed to be bad luck. And perhaps, to one person, taking a jar of sand or handful of rocks may not seem like a big deal. This is Hawaii’s State Gem. thousands have come to believe that yes, volcanic rocks taken from Hawaii fetch with them a curse of impressive proportions. We received a piece of coral that a friend poached from the Hawiian coast, over a decade ago. 10. So, whether out of respect for the island or fear of Madame Pele, please leave the rocks and sand (and plants, and animals, and anything else) alone for future generations to enjoy. Credit: CBS3 Don't want to chance any bad luck upon us. But apart from being illegal, legend has it that taking volcanic rocks from Hawaii is bad luck. I don’t care if it’s real or coincidence but I’m not into it ???? Wow! That’s so interesting. When I was in Malaysia, they told us that it is illegal to take any of the seashells we saw on the beach home with us and that there could be a fine and jail time. The legend is that if you take Black Sand from the beach in Hawaii the Gods of the Hawaiian people will bestow bad luck on you until you return it. The legend is that if you take Black Sand from the beach in Hawaii the Gods of the Hawaiian people will bestow bad luck on you until you return it. what about buying gifts online, are those also considered taking? There’s no harm in sending it back just to be safe? TSA just confiscated some small black stones I was bringing back from Maui today. Here Are The 15 Worst Things You Can Possibly Do In Hawaii. Pele has long been revered as the island matriarch and it is through her creative and protective power that the curse of Pele was said to have been born. We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It always makes me think of the Brady Bunch movie! We should respect nature and never ever remove anything from the island that was not ours to begin with. I don’t believe in curses at all (scientist here). By Rosti ... its really bad to take things out of the ocean and you shouldnt want to do it anyway ... Hotels and post offices constantly get sand and rocks mailed back asking to return them because of the bad luck the people who take them run into. Taking Lava Rocks and Sand Home With You. Can a rock or sand souvenir really bring misfortune to the unsuspecting tourist who casually pockets it from a Hawaiian beach or park? According to workers at Hawaii’s Hilo Post Office, ... “It often coincides with something people have read or heard on tabloid news about the myth of bad luck or a curse from Pelehonuamea, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. I have had bad luck for the last 21 years. These are all just made up stories, you can google if you don't want to believe me. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Since then my husband’s health has steadily declined; we have had financial woes of all kinds; and even more bad luck. I know that taking sand is supposedly bad luck, but... Watch this Topic. Turn off your cell phones. According to the Division of Land and Natural Resources, taking small amounts of sand, dead coral, rocks or other marine deposits for personal, noncommercial use is allowed. Whatever.. Now trust me when I tell you this. 10. it, Getting in the vacation (or, in my case, staycatio, [[I knew you would haunt all of my ‘What ifs’]. Hawaiian tradition holds this is where souls come to join their ancestors. Almost as if it’s a part of the family — and we must care for our family, in it’s many forms. ecology and conservation are a different issue from the luck. Love this! Don’t take sand from the beach or lava rocks from a volcano outside of Hawaii. Two Things I'd Improve In Maui - Kelley Rene, 7 Festivals From Around The World To Add To Your Bucket List, 21 Female Travel Bloggers Share Their Best Travel Tips, 7 Things You Need To Know Before Moving to Portland, Oregon, Hawaii Staycation with L’Oreal Lash Paradise Luggage, Tips For Visiting Giethoorn: The Dutch Village Without Roads, Fuji Rock Music Festival: A Beginner’s Guide To Japan’s Largest Music Event. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Be aware of coral while enjoying Hawaii’s crystal clear water. Hawaii is struggling with the environmental impacts of over-tourism. I pray it brings him back. Moreover, her revenge (like that of any woman scored) is not a mild-mannered one. Locals believe bad luck will fall on any who remove sand from the beaches of Hawaii. You can search for shells year-round, but to … Don’t whistle at night. (About 4oz total). It feeds them, provides for them, and is a part of them. are there any tours offered that include swimming with the dolphins? We have been to Hawaii over 8 times and have made this beach every time. The water near the beach is around 8 feet deep but deepens to around 25 feet around the point. If they cannot find their way, lost souls attach themselves to rocks. I took a heart shaped piece of coral from the big island and was in the icu for four days immediately after my return for kidney failure. You see, Hawaiians believe that everything has life force, or “Mana”, and that certain spirits or life forces can inhabit inanimate objects. People imagine we have beaches strewn with shells, not understanding how beaten up shells get in their trip to the shore. Credit: CBS3 Pele’s Curse Pele is the goddess of fire and volcanos who, according to legend, resides in the crater of Kilauea on Hawaii Island (which, today, is Hawaii Volcano National Park). taking coral from hawaii taking coral from hawaii. So basically no one in Hawaii is allowed to have an aquarium with live coral. from Hawaii because it is extremely bad luck to do so. Hawaii is big on the preservation of natural resources. You also can't taken any lava rock, coral etc. I took a rock on my honeymoon. All Rights Reserved. There are numerous stories equating Pele’s wrath to volcanic eruptions or calamitous lava flows. It supposedly is bad luck and that theory has been proved true. 6. When my family visited hawaii my mom brought one little piece of coral home from a beach in Hawaii..ever since she has had bad luck. We don’t believe to god o bad luck . It's actually against the law to remove objects from a … Wow – this is so interesting. We come back more times to Honolulu but we don’t bring at home any more souvenirs. I have always collected sand from the beaches I've been to. While you may think grabbing a lava rock or filling a small tube with sand is an awesome souvenir, it is extremely bad luck to do so. Well, if they start experiencing bad luck, they can send the rock back to Hawaii. This is really interesting, I don`t know much about Hawaiian culture and had no idea about this respect they have toward rocks. I’ve never heard of Pele’s curse, while no one knows if it’s true or not… I will definitely never take any sand for Hawaii. It's incredibly bad luck to take either from the island. We took home some Lava (enclosed) for souvenirs. Of course it isn’t really a gem at all, but rather a living sea creature. She was right! Yes, you can bring it back coral and sand but it'll be at your own risk. I wish more people indulged in responsible tourism! Second, some people think it is illegal to remove rocks or sea shells from the shore in Hawaii. It isn't necessarily illegal but if you take it from Hawaii. However, what I do know is that the state of Hawaii receives 9 million visitors annually. However you may want to find out what the rule is regarding this as you will pass through security. In fact, many of the Hawaiian words regarding stones are anthropomorphic (attributing human characteristics to a non-human being or thing). What if you take some sand from one island and leave it on another? Photo by Flickr User: J. Stephen Conn – http://bit.ly/2ya9qmuPhoto by Flickr user: Amy Meredith – http://bit.ly/2yZmB8X. Also taking home rocks from Hawaii is believed to be bad luck. I never heard of this before. haha, Wow this was such an interesting read. HAWAII (CBS) – Tourism officials in Hawaii are reminding visitors not to take lava rocks home with them. Seriously. Thanks for stopping by! I took a baggy of black sand, from the black sand beach, along with coral and vilcanic rock from a beach.. (As the saying goes, “Pele will either embrace you, or spit you out… and you will know if you are meant to be here or not soon after you arrive.”). It is an old legend that taking lava rocks from Hawaii results in being followed by bad luck. i was on the big island a few days ago and took a rock not knowing about this, i became sick about 5 hours after taking it and still am. This isn’t a spilled-your-coffee, lost-your-car-keys type of curse. You will often see it cut into a … Another version about the legend’s origin is that it was made up by bus drivers who grew tired of cleaning the dirt, sand, and rocks left behind by tourists (and their rock collection / sandy souvenirs). Don't Take The Lava Rock Home With You. Whether or not you believe in bad luck, below are a few reasons why you may want to think twice before taking some sand (or rocks) home with you as a souvenir. 6. I'm Brianne, the flight-risk writer behind Everyday Runaway. now im worried and really need to get that rock back. The bad luck associated with Pele’s curse is more of the egregious variety: Pets dying (one of the more common reported calamities), relationships ending, loved ones suddenly falling ill, etc. Even today, native Hawaiians and new island residents, leave gifts of gin, berries and red flowers for Madame Pele to show respect and ensure good luck. HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - For decades, visitor industry officials say tourists have been illegally taking pieces of Hawaii home with them -- in the form of rocks, sand, even coral. Copyright 2018 © Everyday Runaway. After all, it was her fires that developed and redeveloped the island through volcanic activity. Loved the feel of the sand against my fingers and took home lots of memories. Well darn I wanted to take some sand to give to my daughter with a note that read “someday go back and return this” like a relive the moment. You should never take sand or rocks from a destination because it can disrupt an ecosystem but the curse is a fun twist! I just want to be respectful. Cutting yourself could result in a serious staph infection if it is not cleaned properly. ↠ Just a girl who got tired of the 9 to 5 ✈︎ Travel Blogger, Digital Marketer + Content Creator ☼ Kona #Hawaii ☟ #TravelBlog: Everyday Runaway. Spend some money for decent souvenirs to give your loved ones. “Please take this sand and put it back somewhere on your island. It’s extremely bad luck to take any volcanic rock/ sand off the islands. And when you leave, please only take with you memories and photos (and maybe a souvenir keychain or coffee). No, she was fucking RIGHT! I’m sending it back Monday morning. I know about the curse from all my time as a kid on the Big Islands. I’m not sure if I believe there’s a “curse” per-say (but that’s just my personal skepticism! taking coral from hawaii taking coral from hawaii. It is considered bad luck to take away rock from the beach. What an interesting sacred spot in Hawaii. Sure I can blame everything that happens to me on the damn black sand. Taking things from National Parks is against the law, so taking volcanic rocks from Hawaii’s volcanoes is illegal. Nothing has happened to us. Taking Lava Rocks and Sand Home With You. Whatever.. Now trust me when I tell you this. Just “hanging out” at the top of a waterfall. (Bad things will start happening to you until you return it. Loved this article! Nor can I say whether it’s Pele or paranoia that drives thousands of people to mail purloined rocks and sand back to the islands every year. So we're returning the Lava back where it came from. Racist stories from the 40s and 50s that ironically now some Hawaiians and … The hard material can be cut and polished just like a hard stone. I’ve since divorced my soulmate with great regret. 7. While some swear by Pele’s curse, others believe the legend is of twentieth century origin — invented by park rangers who were fed up with watching an increasing amount of visitors take rocks (and other pieces of the island) home with them.