Papa hōlua

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The reconstruction of a traditional lava slide in the Keauhou Museum in Hawaii
Keauhou Hōlua Slide - traditional lava slide (National Historic Landmark of Hawaii)

Papa hōlua ( Hawaiian ) is a sledge made of wood, with which one slides down over the mountain slopes that are overgrown with grass or covered with lava granules, usually lying on the stomach. Traditionally, the sled as a high-risk ritual is also a test of courage for Hawaiian warriors. It is still used occasionally today and is also available in a traditional handcrafted version.

The sled

The sleds are approx. 3.7 m long, but only approx. 16 cm wide and 10 cm high. The risk when driving with these sleds consists on the one hand in the small width and height, which leaves a large part of the body unprotected on bumpy lava slopes, and on the other hand in the high speeds of 80-100 km / h that are reached with it. The lava sleds consist of runners and a superstructure. They are made of hard, native woods, such as from Kauila or 'Ōhi'a . They are extremely resilient. The runners are slightly curved at the front, straight at the back and rounded at the bottom. They are fixed by cross braces. The superstructure consists of 2 rods that are shorter than the runners and are also held apart by cross beams. The construction parts are connected by traditional sennit ropes. The runners are waxed with nut oil. The sledges are driven standing, sitting or lying down.

Papa hōlua in mythology

The lava sled plays an important role in Hawaiian mythology . The sleigh races between the snow goddess Poliʻahu and the volcano gods Pele on Mauna Kea are particularly well known . The sporty Poliʻahu won two races. When Pele was behind in the third race, she hurled glowing lava at her competitor. This struggle led to the divine power sharing on the island of Hawaii . Pele rules Kīlauea and Mauna Loa , Poliʻahu the northern part of the Big Island.

literature

  • Holua sledding . In: David Malo: Hawaiian antiquities (Moʻolelo Hawaiʻi) . Honolulu, 1903, p. 294. (Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press, 2005, ISBN 9780910240154 )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ hölua in Hawaiian Dictionaries
  2. ↑ Kauila in Hawaiian Dictionaries
  3. ↑ Alexandre Da Silva: Thrill Ride . In: Honolulu Star Bulletin , July 24, 2005. 
  4. ↑ Martha Beckwith: Hawaiian Mythology, pp. 56-63
  5. ↑ Keawe Vredenburg: Poli`ahu and Pele: Legend as information science (www.mauna-a-wakea.info)