What Are Pōhaku Pele?
(And why are they more than “just rocks”?)
In Hawaiian, pōhaku means stone, and Pele is the powerful goddess of volcanoes, fire, lightning, and creation — basically the dramatic force behind the creation of all the Hawaiian Islands. Put them together and you get Pōhaku Pele: volcanic stones believed to hold mana, meaning spiritual energy, straight from the goddess herself.
These aren’t your average backyard rocks. According to the Hawaiians these rocks are sacred and full of history — remnants of the fury of Pele and the transformations that quite literally shaped this paradise.
Why You’ll See Them on Tour
On your Rappel Maui tour with us, you’ll descend through the heart of Maui’s rainforest that has been sculpted by centuries of water carving its way through ancient lava fields. These are Pele’s building blocks — and the pōhaku that line the streams, cliffs, and waterfalls are her brushstrokes.
Types of Lava Rock to Look For
Keep an eye out for:
🔸 ʻAʻā Lava – Rough, jagged lava that looks like it could shred your flip-flops. (Fun fact: it’s pronounced “ah-ah” — probably just what you would say if you stepped on it barefoot.) It is a good thing we provide you with footwear for this tour!
🔸 Pāhoehoe Lava – Smooth and ropelike in appearance, this lava cools in graceful, shiny folds. You’ll often see it in older formations or smoothed over by time and water.
🔸 Basalt River Rock – This is what you’ll mostly encounter on our tour! These rocks are smooth, rounded pōhaku shaped by the relentless flow of waterfall-fed streams. They’re ancient lava that’s softened by time and water.
Rock collectors beware
In Hawaiian culture, these rocks are more than scenery. Many are considered kinolau — physical forms of deities. Hawaiian legend warns that bad luck will follow anyone who removes rocks from Pele’s domain. Don’t just take our word for it, word on the street is there are about 3,500 packages received annually with rocks being returned for that very reason. (https://www.mauimagazine.net/dont-rock-the-volcano/)
So go ahead, snap a pic, soak in the energy, and leave the pōhaku where they are — in their rightful home. Your best souvenirs will be the stories you’ll get to retell, the laughs, and the memories you’ll take home with you!